The inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme in chronic renal hypertension by a synthetic peptide. Renal hypertension was produced in 14 Sprague-Dawley rats by ligating both poles of one kidney followed in one week by unilateral nephrectomy. Biweekly subcutaneous injections of SQ 20858 reduced the blood pressure in the chronic renal hypertensive animals. Upon discontinuing the injections the blood pressure rose to pretreatment levels. No angiotensin II activity was seen in seven of the renal group treated with SQ indicating a complete block in serum converting enzyme activity. Likewise, serum with only angiotensin I activity when added to normal serum containing converting enzyme, continued to show angiotensin I activity. It is concluded that SQ 20858 is effective in lowering blood pressure in chronic renal hypertensive rats presumably by partially inhibiting converting enzyme.


Assay of kinins by their effects on canine femoral blood flow. In pentobarbital anesthetized dogs, close arterial injections of bradykinin and kallidin elicit a dose related increase in femoral blood flow. Treatment with the kininase inhibitor BPP9alpha augments the femoral blood flow responses to bradykinin and kallidin by five and threefold respectively. The sensitivity of the preparation permits the detection of 0.5-1 ng of either bradykinin or kallidin in untreated dogs and as little as 0.1 ng of kinin peptides in animals receiving BPP9alpha. This sensitivity and the steepness of the dose response curves make this procedure suitable for the assay of kinins.


Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity in the thyroid. Phosphoprotein phosphatase activity in the calf thyroid was found in various subcellular fractions. The relative amount in each fraction varied according to the substrate used: The 500g fraction had the highest specific activity when protamine was used, while the 5000g fraction was highest when histone was used. Triton X-100 tended to increase activity in all the particulate fractions, the greatest change being found in the 105,000g pellet. DEAE chromatography of the 105,000 g supernatant resolved at least three peaks of phosphoprotein phosphatase activity.


Enhancement and interference in chickens inoculated with Marek's disease herpesvirus and oncornaviruses. Enhancement of mortality rates and symptomatology was observed in isolator-held LSI-SPF chickens concurrently inoculated with MDHV and avian oncornaviruses (RAV-1, RAV-2, RAV-7, RAV-50, or REV). Interference with MD antigen production also was demonstrated in extracts of the feather follicle epithelium from chickens inoculated with both MDHV and RAV-1.


Feedback inhibition by 6-methylthioinosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate in tumor cells resistant to the nucleoside. The 3',5'-cyclic phosphate derivative (cMTIMP) of methylthioinosine (MTI) was shown to produce feedback inhibition of the de novo purine pathway in an Ehrlich ascites tumor subline resistant to MTI because of lack of adenosine kinase activity for the nucleoside analog.


Characteristics common to choleretic increments of bile induced by theophylline, glucagon and SQ-20009 in the dog. Theophylline, glucagon, and SQ-20009 induce a choleresis in the dog characterized by a proportionate increase in erythritol clearance and bile flow, no increase in bile salt excretion, and by an isosmotic solution of similar electrolyte composition. The increment in bile appears to originate at the canaliculus in response to increased cyclic-AMP.


The effect of octadecenoic acid on the growth of japanese encephalitis virus in Novikoff hepatoma cells. The growth characteristics of Japanese encephalitis virus cultivated in Novikoff hepatoma cells grown in shaker culture can be differentially altered by the presence of 6-cis or cis-9-octadecenoic acid in Swim's 67-G medium. The addition of 125 mug of the 6-isomer per ml medium reduced the number of infectious particles produced, whereas the same amount of the 9-isomer enhanced virus production. The virus was found to be more stable in cell-free spent medium than in fresh medium. The presence of 125 mug 6-18:1 per ml in fresh medium resulted in a rapid loss of virus infectivity.


Lethal synergy between sarcoma-180/TG cells and vesicular stomatitis virus in mice. An interaction between sarcoma-180/TG cells and vesicular stomatitis virus in adult mice resulted in the rapid onset of extensive mortality. This interaction, termed lethal synergy, occurred only at early stages of ascites induction in animals with no prior virus contact. A significant sparing effect conferred by the serotonin antagonist dibenamine was reversed by the administration of serotonin. The cause of death was not determined, but a mechanism involving hypersensitivity is indicated.


Genital infection of female hamsters with herpesvirus hominis type 2 (HVH-2). Intravaginal inoculation of female hamsters (40-65 g) with HVH-2 (6 X 105 PFU) results in an infection of 40-67% of the animals. The illness is characterized by vaginitis with discharge, paralysis, and finally death. Washing the vagina with saline 30 min prior to virus inoculation enhances the infection so that 80-100% of the animals eventually die. Virus can be isolated from the vagina within 1-2 days after inoculation. Evidence of infection of the spinal cord is apparent by the third day whereas virus could not be isolated from the brain until Day 5. Attempts to demonstrate virus in whole blood, spleen, kidney, or liver homogenates prepared from infected animals were negative.


Reticulo-reticular relationship during sleep and waking. The mode of interaction between so-called sleep-waking centers during different phases of consciousness was investigated in the cat. Averaged evoked responses were recorded from different centers to electrical stimulation of a center. The results showed that most sleep-waking centers are not simply engaged in the realization of a single phase, but operate during different phases in dynamic relationship with other centers. It was suggested that the mechanism of SS would be more diffusely distributed in the brain stem that presently conceived and that in contrast to the mechanism of PS, that of SS would have more extensive interaction with the mechanisms responsible to other phases.


[Possibility of thermography to differentiate pigmental skin tumors (author's transl)]. Problems and criteria to evaluate thermographic profiles and the differentiation of pigmental skin tumors are discussed.


Oncogenesis and other late effects of cancer treatment in children. Review of hospital charts of 168 patients surviving two or more years following the diagnosis of cancer and subsequent-examinations of 40 of these patients yielded these observations: (a) Hospital charts were adequate to ascertain the number of second primary neoplasms. Three malignant and eight benign tumors were found, an incidence of 6.5%. (b) The three patients with second malignant neoplasms did not receive chemotherapy and two of three were treated with radiation. (c) Abnormalities other than second neoplasms, which may have been delayed consequences of treatment, were infrequently noted in hospital records, but were subsequently detected on specific examinations.


[The effect of unsaturated fatty acids on the lipoprotein composition of rats]. Young male rats of the Long-Evans strain were fed 10% lard or corn oil diets for 4 weeks. Analysis of plasma cholesterol showed a decrease of 22%; a decrease of the same order of magnitude as also observed in the lipoproteins, particularly in the VLDL fraction, with the unsaturated diet. Plasma triglycerides were reduced by 50%; their fatty acids were found to contain a higher proportion of linoleate and arachidonate. Cholesterol ester of the HDL fraction contained mostly arachidonate which increased significantly with the substitution of corn oil to lard. Analysis of the lipoproteins indicated a reduction in VLDL and an increase in HDL with the unsaturated diet, whereas LDL remained unchanged.


[Mark's disease: V. Experimental behavior of 3 isolates taken place in the country]. Three experiments were designed to determine the parameters of virus infection, antibodies and mortality with three different MD isolates inoculated in one day old birds from commercial origin. The animals were divided in three inoculated lots (1-2-3) and three control groups (4-1, 4-2, 4-3) and were followed weekly from hatching through 17 weeks. The former were inoculated respectivelly with FOV-6, FCV-8 and FCV-9. Each day old bird received between 50-75 FPU/bird by I.P. route. Samples were taken from circulating blood of five birds by cardiac puncture with an heparinized syringe (20 U/ml), were centrifuged and the white cells inoculated to 5-15 four day old embryos by yolk salk route for virus detection; plasma was assayed by immunodiffusion against MD antigen in order to detect precipitating antibodies, and mortality was recorded after microscopical examination. Infection appeared to persist indefinitelly in the host chicken flock and coexist with (100%) precipiting antibodies, (Fig. 1-2-3). First virus isolation was accomplished after 4 weeks post-inoculation and the 100% porcentage of antibodies, was found only 1-3 weeks after the first peak of viraemia. With the most pathogenic isolate FCV-6 (ig. 1) the antibody response was significantly delayed. Maternal antibodies decreased more rapidly in inoculated than in control birds. Accumulative mortality showed isolate FCV-6 and FCV-8 as pathogenic strains and FCV-9 strain as less pathogenic. Mortality begun 1-3 weeks after the first peak of virus detection in the flock, independently of the pathogenic pattern of the isolate, but frecuencies of death were markedly different.


Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide degradation in infarcted cardiac muscle. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides (NAD, NADH2, NADP, and NADPH2) levels decrease in myocardial dog tissue after the ligature of the coronary artery branch. The activity of a glycohydrolytic enzyme acting on NAD and releasing nicotinamide in an equivalent amount was of the same order of magnitude in infarcted tissue, irrespective of the time elapsed after the coronary artery occlusion, as it was in normal tissue. Most of the NAD contained in normal heart muscle was hydrolyzed as soon as the tissue was disrupted in a homogenizer, whereas no hydrolysis occurred when the whole fragment was incubated for 1 hour. The enzymatic activity was found mainly in a membranous fraction seperated at 17,000 x g by  differential centrifugation. Acid phosphatase, K+ -activated phosphatase, and NA+-K+-ATPase specific activities were greater in this fraction. It is suggested that the structural disorganization of the heart elicited either in vitro or during the infarction process determines the conditions for a reaction between the enzyme which is localized in the membranes and the NAD which is mainly in the cytosol.


Metabolic and inotropic effects of verapamil in perfused rat heart. The effect of verapamil on myocardial contractility, heart adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and cardiac phosphorylase a activity was studied in isolated perfused rat hearts. In a concentration of 0.025 mug/ml, verapamil decreased force of contraction 50% and caused a significant fall in heart cyclic AMP within 4 to 5 min after perfusion with the drug was begun. When perfusion of the heart with medium containing verapamil was continued for 60 min, contractile force gradually returned to control. at the end of 60 min of perfusion with verapamil, the myocardial concentration of cyclic AMP was not different from that measured in hearts perfused with contro medium for a similar time period. Isoproterenol, given at the point of maximal contractile depression induced by verapamil, restored normal force of contraction and raised cardiac cyclic AMP to the same level as that observed when the catecholamine was given to untreated hearts; When methoxamine was administered to hearts depressed by verapamil, contractility returned to normal, but cyclic AMP content remained below control values.


[Comparative study of biological case findings made with 1 and with 2 units of PPD]. Testings were carried out with one unit of PPD in 2865 children aged between 1 and 6 years in the course of 1972 and with two units of PPD in 2822 children aged between 1 and 6 years in the course of 1973. The aspect of the histograms of the two groups was clearly different, the one corresponding to 2 units, tested children showing a more marked bi-modal aspect due to the higher number of reactions of 10-11 mm in diameter (7,5%). The data resulting from the processing of the histograms, of the infecting density of the environment and of the median diameters of the reactions were not conclusive. Between the children tested with one unit 6 cases were detected (5 of which with active tuberculosis), while between those tested with 2 units 22 cases were found (one of wich with an active form of tuberculosis). Among the children tested with one unit of PPD contamination sources could be detected in 100% of the cases and in those tested with 2 units in 51,2% of the cases. The methodology based on the exclusive examination of hyperallergics to one unit of PPD and of their contacts, as compared with the examination of all positive reactions to 2 units and of their contacts has a resolution ability which is higher for an amount of work roughly 30 times less, but in the detection campaign it may omit sick children and contaminators that have not been known until the investigation. The author suggests for the examination of all positive cases with reactions to 2 units of PPD and of their contacts.


[Urogenital tuberculosis in antituberculosis dispensary practice]. The investigations carried out within the district depending upon the dispensary showed that urogenital tuberculosis incidence is in the second place, after respiratory tuberculosis; in 47% of the cases it was the only manifestation of the disease, in the other cases it was secondary to or accompanied other tuberculous localizations.


[Study of adverse reactions in pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated with rifampicin]. The present study concerns the clinical appraisal of adverse reactions reported in the course of Rifampicin (RMP) treatment, reactions which have given rise to conflicting reports. The lot studied included 243 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis of which 57 were treated according to the 7/7 regime (600 mg RMP), 152 according to the 2/7 regimen (900-1200 mg RMP) and 34 according to the 7/7 followed by the 2/7 regimen. Tolerance to RMP was followed up by a series of adequate tests and close clinical surveillance. Adverse reactions developed in 31.5% to 41.5% of the cases in terms of the treatment scheme. In the intermittent treatment adverse reactions occurred in 17.1% of the cases.


[Comparative immediate results after the use of several lyophilized BCG vaccines]. A number of 1928 children were vaccinated intradermally with 12 series of BCG vaccine produced by the Cantacuzino Institute and 2 experimental vaccines, prepared in the same laboratory by the same current technique, i.e. a Romanian strain and a French strain, lot 1173 P2. With the experimental vaccines 2 doses were used, with the other vaccines a single standard dose of 0.10 mg. Appraisal of tuberculin sensitivity 8-10 weeks after vaccination showed differences in tuberculin duration, varying between 13.23 mm and 16.27 mm in diameter with the selected vaccines (using 2 units PPD) and were much smaller (8.6 mm -- 12.28 mm) with the operational series of vaccines.


[Effects of ACTH on plasma insulin and glucose]. The authors studied the effects of intramuscular and intravenous administration of ACTH on plasma glucose and insulin in rabbits. They found well marked differences --specially in insulin behavior-- between the effects of ACTH in rabbits and in humans. In rabbits, the investigators observed hyperinsulinism unable to decrease glycemia levels. These data are discussed.


[Abacillary cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis not treated with bacteriostatics]. A study was carried out on 48 cases of tuberculosis with a clinical and radiologic symptomatology but negative at the repeated bacteriologic examinations. The results suggested that these might be cases of spontaneous recovery since there were no evolutive radiologic signs. Although the lack of contagion may be admitted these cases especially the young children should be isolated and kept under radiologic and bacteriologic surveillance for at least three years.


[Bacterio-epidemiological significance of diabetes mellitus-pulmonary tuberculosis syntropy]. The author discusses infectivity before and after complex treatment with the classical tuberculostatics in 42 diabetics with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis of the total of 78 subjects followed up for three years, the other 36 subjects being compensated metabolically and pulmonarily. Although the number of negative cases increased fourfold there remained a high proportion of bacilli eliminators, the diabetics becoming negative at a much slower rate.


Comparison of behaviour of very low density lipoproteins of type III hyperlipoproteinaemia on electrophoresis on paper and on agarose gel with a note on a late (slow) pre-beta VLDL liproprotein. The diagnosis of type III hyperlipoproteinaemia is based on the presence of a very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) that on electrophoresis has beta instead of the usual pre-beta mobility. This definition is based on paper electrophoresis. Lipoproteins of type III sera were studied by simultaneous electrophoresis on paper and on agarose gel. On paper the ultracentrifugally isolated VLDL had beta mobility, but on agarose gel their mobility was slightly more rapid than beta. It is thus important to consider the electrophoretic conditions in the diagnosis of type III. The diagnosis of type III is further complicated by the presence of agarose gel electrophoresis - contrary to paper - of a second, a 'late pre-beta VLDL' lipoprotein (LPbeta) in 20-30 per cent of both normal and hyperlipoproteinaemic sera. Quantitative lipoprotein analysis of 609 consecutive sera showed that when LPbeta was present, both in normo- and hyperlipoproteinaemia, certain significant lipoprotein changes occurred. Thus VLDL had a high cholesterol content and a raised cholesterol to triglyceride ratio. Furthermore, the triglyceride content of low density lipoproteins (LDL) was increased. These lipoprotein abnormalities are also seen in type III hyperlipoproteinaemia. With regard both to chemical composition of VLDL and LDL and to electrophoretic mobility on agarose gel of VLDL, type III hyperlipoproteinaemia and LPbeta are similar. The possibility of a metabolic relation is discussed.


Lecithin:cholesterol acyl transfer in plasma of normal persons in relation to lipid and lipoprotein concentration. Information concerning variation in the lecithin:cholesterol acyl transfer (LCAT) rate in normal persons is scanty. We have therefore analyzed the LCAT rate and the lipid and lipoprotein concentrations in the plasma of healthy normolipidemic persons 20-60 years of age, 40 men and 40 women. 10 per decade and sex. Interindividual variation in molar LCAT rate was 57-130 mumol-u(-1)-h-1 (mean +/- 2 S.D.) with no sex difference. Intraindividual variation of molar LCAT rate studied in 8 women and 9 men was shown to be greater than expected from methodological error and was not explainable by the small changes in plasma lipid concentration during the observation period. In the women the molar LCAT rat was lower during the preovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle than during the postovulatory phase. There was positive correlations between the molar LCAT rate and most of the lipid parameters in plasma. By partial correlation analysis a positive correlation was shown between LCAT rate and triglyceride concentration irrespective of other lipid parameters. Keeping triglyceride concentration constant, there was a positive correlation between molar LCAT rate and total phospholipid, unesterified cholesterol, esterified cholesterol, or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration. No correlation was found between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) lipid concentration and LCAT rate. Thus in normal subjects there seems to be a direct relation between very low density lipoprotein and LDL lipid concentration and molar LCAT rate but no relation between HDL lipid concentration and LCAT rate.


Substrate specificity of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase. Esterification of desmosterol, b-sitosterol, and cholecalciferol in human plasma. Desmosterol and beta-sitosterol were esterified when incubated with normal human plasma. The initial rate of demosterol esterification was 1.7 times faster, and that of beta-sitosterol 0.4 times slower, than the esterification rate of cholesterol. These ratios were found to be almost the same when plasma from different normal individuals was tested. Plasma from a patient with familial lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase deficiency did not esterify any of the sterols. The esterification of desmosterol and beta-sitosterol was considerably slower in normal plasma in which in vitro cholesterol esterification previously had taken place. The different esterification rates could not be explained by a different affinity of the plasma lipoproteins for the sterols tested. Cholecalciferol added to normal plasma did not become esterified.


Characterization of a cobalamin-binding plasma protein from a patient with hepatoma. A cobalamin-binding protein has been purified by affinity chromatography from plasma of a patient with hepatoma and a 10,000-fold increase in the concentration of the plasma cobalamin-binding capacity. The protein behaved as normal transcobalamin I in gel filtration, agar gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, precipitation by ammonium sulphate, and cobalamin-binding studies. The protein contained 38 per cent carbohydrate, and the relative molecular mass based on amino acid and carbohydrate analyses was 69,000. The molar absorption coefficient of cyanocobalamin bound to the protein was determined to be 36,000 at 362 nm. On amino acid sequencing, one amino terminal was found, and the first 13 residues were determined as Glu-Ile-Ser/Cys-Glu-Val-Ser/Cys-Glu-Glu-Asx-Tyr-Ile-Arg-Leu/Ile.


Methodological aspects of protein-binding assays for cyclic AMP in human adipose tissue. The specificity of the protein-binding assay for cyclic AMP according to Gilman's method (11) was studied in human adipose tissue. A kit assay obtained from Boehringer-Mannheim was used for the study. Impurities in the solvents used for homogenization and extraction influenced the assay and led to serious overestimation of the actual amount of cAMP. This was corrected for by treating the standard and tissue samples in the same manner. Extracts from human adipose tissue contained material that increased the binding of cAMP to the binding protein and let to underestimation of intracellular cAMP by 60-70 per cent. This was overcome by using a protein kinase inhibitor in the assay. Furthermore, when human adipose tissue was incubated in an albumin-containing medium, intracellular cAMP was underestimated by 30 per cent, since albumin increased the binding of camp to the binding protein.


Isotachophoresis: a new technique for determination of tissue metabolite concentrations. An electrophoretic technique, isotachophoresis, has been adapted for qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolites in human muscle tissue. Metabolite concentrations exceeding 0.1 nmol X kg-1 wet muslce could be determined in 5-10 mg muscle biopsy samples generally in good agreement with conventional analytical methods.


Herpes simplex virus type 2 and acute aseptic meningitis. Clinical features of cases with isolation of herpes simplex virus from cerebrospinal fluids. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) was recovered from the cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) of 10 patients with acute aseptic meningitis. HSV type 1 was isolated from the CSF of a 6-month-old boy. The other 9 HSV isolates from CSF were from adults in the age-group 15 to 29 years; 7 of these isolates were available for typing and were identified as HSV type 2. In a further 9 patients with acute aseptic meningitis and belonging to the same age-group a HSV infection was suggested by a significant titre rise in complement-fixing antibodies against HSV. The clinical features of the 10 patients with HSV isolation from CSF are presented. The 6-month-old boy with HSV type 1 had an acute benign aseptic meningitis. Seven of the 9 adults with HSV isolation from CSF (type 2 in all isolates available for typing) had an acute uncomplicated aseptic meningitis, one patient (with type 2 isolated) had an acute meningoencephalitis and one (isolate untyped) an acute meningomyelitis.


[Functional aortic systolic murmurs in the elderly]. The authors report a clinical and phonocardiographic study of functional aortic systolic murmurs in 26 elderly patients, in 19 of which the lesion was confirmed pathologically. Systolic murmurs radiating across the chest in elderly have the same clinical characteristics as aortic stenosis from which they may, however, be distinguished owing to the: absence of a thrill during systole. The brief duration and the proto-meso-systolic position of the murmur with early inscription of maximal oscillations on the phonocardiogram. Conversion of the second aortic sound. Almost constant absence of a diastolic murmur. Normal carotid arteriogram, including normal ejection time after correction and time of half rise. "Innocent" systolic murmurs are due to calcification of the aortic valve without stenosis, and/or dilatation of the ascending aorta. There is no systolic pressure gradient between the left ventricle and the aorta during cardiac catheterisation. No lesions were found in the mitral valve suggesting mitral incompetence, therefore, we consider the term mitro-aortic murmur used by Huchard should be dropped; Radiation of the murmur from the apex of the heart up into the neck may be explained by the simultaneous occurrence of anatomical changes due to age and/or hypertension and by the vibratory nature of the murmurs which become propagated above and below their origin, as shown by the intracardiac recordings.


[Various etiologies of systolic murmurs radiating from the apex of the heart to the neck]. The authors studied systolic murmurs in 89 cases, 50 of aortic stenosis, 14 cases of obstructive cardiomyopathy and 20 cases of mitral incompetence. This systolic murmur is characterised by its exceptional intensity, its raspy character at the base, becoming softer at the apex and in the axilla, the presence of a thrill and irradiation into the neck in 50 to 75% of cases. The etiological diagnosis was ensured precisely by 1) pharmaco-dynamic tests: amyl nitrite accentuates the systolic ejection murmurs and attenuates murmurs due to mitral regurgitation. 2) careful analysis of diastole: a systolic murmur extending into early diastole, a third sound or an opening snap and a low-pitched diastolic murmur, suggest mitral incompetence. A high-pitched diastolic murmur is in favour of aortic stenosis. 3) the carotid arteriogram and catheterisation show the characteristic abnormalities of the carotid arteriogram found in aortic valve disease and the existence of a trans-aortic or intra-ventricular pressure gradient, when there is an obstruction to left ventricular jection. The F wave of the apex cardiogram or left atrial reflux of the contrast medium during cineangiocardiography, confirm mitral incompetence. The main phono-hemodynamic and phono-anatomical correlations have been emphasized: 1. The intensity of the systolic murmur is directly proportional to the degree of obstructive cardiomyopathy or mitral incompetence, but does not parallel the degree of the sub-valvular apparatus. 3. The maximum intensity of the murmur occurs all the later when the stenosis is tight, whilst it is earlier in severe obstructive cardio-myopathy. 4. The lozange shape of the murmur of mitral incompetence on phono-cardiography is, above all, due to those cases with lesions of the sub-valvular apparatus. Finally, a study of the sound recorded by the Allard-Laurens micromanometer permitted us to determine the mechanism of this irradiating systolic murmur.


[Supravalvular ring type aortic stenosis with hypoplasia of the ascending aorta and stenosis of the origin of the innominate artery. Surgical correction]. The authors report the case of a 19 year old woman with supravalvar aortic stenosis and hypoplasia of the ascending aorta with stenosis at the origin of the innominate artery. This was a sporadic form, without mental deficiency nor facial dysmorphia. No similar case was found in the family. The patient had three attacks of bacterial endocarditis over a period of 3 years and became cured without any cardiac sequelae. In view of the onset of left ventricular failure and sequelae. In view of the onset of left ventricular failure and syncope, operation was decided. A lozange-shaped patch was placed on the aorta from the narrowed supravalvar part to the origin of the innominate artery and prolonged on the latter vessel after relief of the stenosis. This gave an excellent result.


[Istope examinations in coronary intensive care units]. Radio-isotopes may be of use in investigation of patients with heart disease on an intensive care unit. These investigations are not traumatic. The radio-isotopes are innocuous and reliable, the examinations may be easily repeated and are therefore of great interest in diagnosis and prognosis of cardiovascular disease.


[Indications for permanent electrosystolic pacing in arrhythmia revealed or aggravated by treatment]. The authors report 25 cases of patients, average age 67 years with severe coronary or valvular heart disease, with conduction disorders. The conduction disorder occurred alone in 8 cases and was associated with a disorder of excitability in 17 cases. It was either obvious, as in 14 cases, or latent, as in 11 cases, and precipitated by various forms of treatment, the disadvantage of which was the negative dromotrope effect. This treatment was prescribed for permanent resting angina (amiodarone and prenylamine), heart failure (digitoxin) or excitability disorder (beta-blockaders or procainamide). 11 patients had one or several fainting attacks. Permanent electro-systolic pacing with stimulation on demand, is necessary in all patients to palliate the consequences of treatment. In 11 cases out of 25, prior temporary pacing permitted the authors to assess the efficacy of treatment. The high post-operative mortality (40%) is not due to the apparatus but depends on the severity of the coronary heart disease or heart failure in these patients, In 60% of cases, the result of stimulation was excellent and was maintained permanently.


[Reye's syndrome: pathological study of 2 cases]. The authors report two personal cases of Reye's syndrome, one of which was studied by electron microscopy, and comment on the pathological characteristics of this disease. The hepatic lesions are most important and resemble fatty degeneration rather than simple steatosis. This notion is confirmed by data obtained by electron microscopy which revealed marked abnormalities of the cellular organites, in particular, mitochondria. The nervous involvement included mainly, oedema of the nerve sheath. These facts emphasize the importance of metabolic disturbances in the physiopathology of the disease.


[Destructive lesions of the middle and lower part of the cervical spine during rheumatoid arthritis. Study of the neurological complications. A case with quadriplegia]. Lesions of the middle and lower part of the cervical spine during rheumatoid arthritis are less frequent than those of the cervico-occipital joint. They concern the discs on the one hand, the posterior inter-apophyseal joints, on the other hand. The authors report a case of rheumatic spondylodiscitis of C5-C6 with dislocation, complicated by quadriplegia, and review other published cases of rheumatoid lesions of the middle and lower cervical spine with neurological complications. The mechanisms of these lesions and their complications are then discussed.


[Different pathogenic power of the original BCG strain of the Pasteur Institute and of an isoniazid resistant strain. Histopathological study and significance of local abscesses after inoculation of guinea pig]. The inoculation into guinea pigs of 10 mg of BCG, obtained either from the Pasteur Institute original strain, or from a mutant isoniazid resistant strain, B1 catalase positive, caused in 40.4% of cases, the onset of abscesses at the point of injection. The frequency and course of these abscesses appear quite different with the two strains, 92.8% with the classical strain, persisting in more than half of the cases after one year, and 23.5% with the INH-resistant strains which regressed within 6 months. Histologically, the structure of the recent abscesses, with a large histiocytic wall often rich in bacteria, and a very cellular necrotic content, appears different from that of old abscesses with a thin wall and a heterogeneous content, calcification with reaction to foreign bodies, and presence of granules due to the persistance of bacteria. The INH-resistant strain is thus in the guinea pig, less aggressive and more rapidly eliminated than the classical Pasteur strain. The course and morphology of abscesses in guinea pigs are very similar to certain old lesions of human tuberculosis and involve, in all strains, phenomena of cell immunity both general and local.


[Camptodactyly. Apropos of 25 cases].

[Camptodactyly. Apropos of 25 cases]. In a group of 120 mental patients, the authors found obvious camptodactyly in 65 patients (46%), especially in psychopaths, neurotics and related conditions. Clinical, psychological, radiological and laboratory investigations were carried out in 25 of these cases. The disease was accompanied by disorders of glucose metabolism, endocrine abnormalities, EEG and bone abnormalities together with arthrosis. The mental disorder, causing an inability to return to work, attracted our attention to the series of abnormalities found in these subjects investigated.


[Prenatal diagnosis of genetic diseases. Results of 57 early amniocenteses]. The authors report the results of anmiocenteses carried out early in 57 cases, in order to detect hereditary disorders in high risk pregnancies. They emphasize the necessity of prior genetic consultation and obstetric examination. Among the 57 cases, 53 had the examination carried out in order to seek a chromosome anomaly. The techniques of removal and culture are described. One pregnancy was interrupted, the foetus had a chromosome abnormality. The psychological aspect and the necessity of close cooperation between gynecologists and geneticians are discussed.


[Cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Apropos of 2 cases]. The authors report two cases of cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas and review the clinical, radiological and angiographic findings. The pathological study may be first disappointing, especially on frozen sections in the operating theater. The diagnosis depends essentially on the finding of an epithelial border which is difficult to demonstrate for it is often interrupted on one part of the circumference. Malignancy is suggested by the characteristics of the cells and the structural disorganisation. Total removal is necessary to avoid relapses, provided one removes neighbouring organs and all invaded lymph nodes. Cystadenomas and cystadeno-carcinomas are very rare tumours. The passage from one to the other seems inevitable. The necessity for surgery is thus absolute. However, if the malignant tumour is irremovable, an anastomosis between the cyst and the digestive tract may temporarily relieve the patient, especially as the course is sometimes rather slow.


[Chronic tubulo-interstitial nephropathy and tapetal-retinal degeneration. Senior's syndrome?]. Following Contreras and Espinoza in 1960, Senior and Loken, in 1961, described a new familial entity in which were associated renal and eye involvement in addition to Alport and Lowe's syndromes. About 30 cases of this syndrome have been reported until now. We report here a new case discovered with very advanced renal failure. No metabolic or enzymatic abnormality of the lysosomes was discovered. The family history and an investigation of the parents and six other siblings, did not reveal any similar case. Frequency of the morbid association, interstitial nephritis and retinal degeneration, is definitely underestimated. It raises numerous problems concerning the hereditary causes and the metabolic nature of both conditions, together with its place in classification of tubulo-interstitial nephritis described under the term of nephronophtisis. In practice, recognition of this association should permit early detection of the various components and assessment of the prognosis and family risk.


[Complications of lymphography. A propos of 5 cases]. Complications noted following lymphography have been published by several authors. The authors report here a series of 5 cases occurring in patients with mediastinal and lung cancer. They report the various clinical manifestations resembling fat embolism, the free interval and general signs, pulmonary, neurological, hematological and dermatological symptoms associated with inconstant laboratory abnormalities which permit one to suggest a complex pathogenesis: --Immuno-allergic (early shock due to circulating antibodies). --Mechanical and vascular: incomplete removal of low viscosity lipiodol by the pulmonary macrophage system permits liberation of micro-vascular emboli. --By abnormality of blood coagulation and the onset of a syndrome of widespread intravascular coagulation. Better recognition of the pathogenesis associated with the development of new therapeutic principles, should permit better prevention and control of these complications.


[Association of multiple basal cell carcinomas of the face and spinocerebellar degeneration. Study of 4 familial cases including an anatomo-clinical description]. The authors report 4 cases of the morbid familial association revealing itself late in life (average age 37.7 years) including multiple basal cell carcinomas of the face and neurological and psychiatric symptoms, the most complete examples of which were severe, including mixed cerebello-spinal ataxia, involvement of the anterior horns of the spinal cord, a pyramidal syndrome and extra-pyramidal syndrome, abolition of the osteo-tendinous reflexes, dementia, paralysis of certain cranial nerves. These are associated constantly with increased glucose concentration in the cerebro-spinal fluid and dilatation of the cerebral ventricles. The course is unusual. The skin signs always occur first. There is a definite parallel between the severity of the skin involvement and that of the central nervous system. A neuropathological study of one case (case 2) showed lesions of degenerative type resembling spino-cerebellar degeneration of Menzel type with supramedullary diffusion to the locus niger, locus coeruleus, cranial nerves and thalamus. From these clinical and pathological findings, the authors noted an original pathological and clinical entity and consider certain diagnostic and pathological problems. The precise relationship between the skin and nervous lesions is unknown, but may be due to abiotrophic processes. Concerning the classification, this disease should not be included among the phacomatoses for there is no biastema tendency, and should be included among the more general group of neuro-cutaneous dystrophies or genoneurodermatoses.


[4 cases of osteomalacia during anticonvulsant or sedative treatment]. The authors report osteomalacia in 3 cases of epilepsy and one case of coronary heart disease treated with phenobarbitone, either alone or associated with other anticonvulsants. There were clinical signs in all cases and typical radiological signs in 3 cases, a characteristic laboratory syndrome in 4 cases. In the 3 cases where it was estimated, serum levels of parathormone were high. Finally, in 3 cases where it was measured, daily  urinary excretion of glucaric D acid was increased. The bony histological signs studied in 3 cases, were similar to those in deficiency osteomalacia. A study of Ca45 metabolism in one case, showed the characteristic changes found in osteomalacia. Finally, a study of the metabolism of tritiated vitamin D, or tritiated 25 OH CC, carried out in 3 cases, gave 3 different patterns; only one of them was characteristic of enzyme induction under the dependency of anticonvulsant. Started in 2 cases, treatment with 125 OH2CC, brought about a rapid fall in blood PTH levels which then rose again before falling progressively in one case, under treatment with 25 OH CC. The bony histological signs of hyperparathyroidism then regressed whilst serum PTH levels remained high. Phosphorous and calcium balance improved in only one case. Treatment with 25 OH CC in high dosage brought about clinical, radiological and laboratory cure of osteomalacia in both cases, reducing the frequency of fits in the epileptic patient.


Ultrasonic and radionuclide scanning in pancreatic disease. Ultrasonic examination of the pancreas is rendered difficult by the echogenic characteristics of the organ, by its depth, by the overlying gas, and by bony structures and anatomic variations. The reintroduction of gray-scale imaging promises to simplify the technique and expand its usefulness. The 75Se-/-selenomethionine scan is a reliable test when performed after effective pancreatic stimulation with a scintillation camera that permits the angulation required to separate pancreas from liver. Gallium-67-citrate may be important for both mapping inflammatory processes and imaging some tumors. Retrograde pancreatography has developed into a rather reliable and sensitive method of visualizing pancreatic duct abnormalities. Angiography remains the most reliable technique for finding small lesions, while computerized axial tomography appears a promising modality in the near future. In acute pancreatitis, gallium scanning may find a place alongside plain films, GI series, and echography. Chronic pancreatitis appears best studied by pancreatography, possibly with selenomethionine scanning as a function study and echography to find associated mass lesions. Pseudocysts are most easily located by ultrasound examination. Screening for pancreatic carcinoma is done most effectively with selenomethionine scanning when the index of suspicion is low and with pancreatography or arteriography when it is high. Echography is useful for localization for aspiration biopsy and for sequential evaluation of therapeutic response. Islet-cell tumors are best found by angiographic studies.


Bone trauma and related benign disease: assessment by bone scanning. The radionuclide investigation of skeletal trauma in the past was confined generally to scintimetry and an occasional bone scan. The development of improved radiopharmaceuticals, including 99mTc-labeled compounds with their enhanced sensitivity, and the refinement of imaging devices offering superior resolution and speed have allowed a more detailed assessment of conditions resulting from trauma. Practical approaches to the diagnosis of subtle bone injury resulting in stress fracture, the differentiation between delayed healing and nonunion, and early recognition of avascular necrosis and osteomyelitis are now available. The changing pattern of radionuclide uptake in bone following damage by radiation and other abnormalities as a consequence of trauma also can be easily studied.


Bone scanning: radionuclidic reaction mechanisms. One of the major successes of nuclear medicine in recent years has been the clinical utility of the 99mTc-labeled bone-imaging agents. This article is concerned with the evidence available for the mechanisms by which these and other such radiopharmaceuticals localize at sites in the skeleton.


Observations on the mechanism of 99mTc-labeled phosphate complex uptake in metabolic bone disease. This communication describes a series of clinical and animal in vivo and in vitro investigations designed to elucidate the mechanism of 99mTc-Sn-phosphate complex concentration in metabolic bone disease. Rachitic and lathyritic animals were used as experimental models. Based on these studies it is concluded that 99mTc alters the pharmacology of the phosphate complexes, in particular pyrophosphate, which was the test agent most extensively employed, so that the usual affinity for mineral is for the greater part replaced by organic matrix binding. There is also evidence to suggest the immature collagen moiety of the organic matrix is the prime target of 99mTc-Sn-phosphate complex binding. Specifically, the aldehyde groups of the collagen molecule are suspected as being the major site of interaction.


Idiopathic neurotrophic feet in blacks.

Idiopathic neurotrophic feet in blacks. Black patients with idiopathic neurotrophic feet are described and analysed. Evidence is presented to show that the essential pathological lesion is a peripheral neuropathy caused by an excessive consumption of alcohol and a poor diet. It is characterised clinically by a peripheral neuropathy, perforating septic ulcers over pressure points, resorption, and clawing of toes, bilateral foot involvement, usually good foot pulses, and an offensive odour.


Effect of natural oestrogens on blood pressure and weight in postmenopausal women. An investigation of the effect of conjugated oestorgens (USP) on the blood pressure and weight gain of postmenopausal women was undertaken. Fifty-one unselected women were treated for one year with cyclically administered conjugated oestrogen. Both the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures of those in the group increased, but only the diastolic was significantly elevated. Individual evaluation revealed that this was largely owing to an idiosyncrasy among certain women. Age is probably a predisposing factor, for hypertension occurred more frequently among the older women. The significance of the change in blood pressure is commented upon, and the recommendation that postmenopausal women on oestrogen replacement therapy should have their blood pressure measured every 6 months is made. Weight gain is not affected by long-term treatment with conjugated oestrogens.


Liver cell carcinoma during the prime of life. During a 23 year period at Memorial Hospital, the diagnosis of liver cell carcinoma was made in 42 patients who were 11 to 40 years old. Ninety per cent were Caucasian, mostly born in the United states. No occupational hazard was detected. Serum hepatitis antigen was demonstrated in only one patient. Alpha fetoprotein was found in the serum of 55 per cent of nine patients tested. Eight-three per cent were Rh positive, 43 per cent were ABO groups, A or O, respectively. Twenty-three per cent of 13 patients with sufficient material for study had an associated cirrhosis. Of these, active hepatitis with cirrhosis was present in one patient; postnecrotic cirrhosis was present in another. Approximately 7 per cent had a history of previous liver disease. One patient had infectious mononucleosis,  and nearly 13 per cent gave a family history of cancer. Weight loss or pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant was present in 65 per cent, and hepatomegaly was found in 88 per cent. Only one patient presented with hemoperitoneum simulating an acute condition within abdomen. The liver profile examinations characteristically revealed an elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase, 5 nucleotidase, and Bromsulphalein retention with normal bilirubin level. The most common finding, upon roentgenographic examination, was an elevated right hemidiaphragm. Selective celiac and superior mesenteric angiography and 99mTc sulfur colloid liver scans were both done in 13 patients. There was a 75 per cent accuracy rate in localization of the tumor. At laparotomy, the tumor was found to be confined to one lobe in seven patients and involved both lobes in ten. Twenty-seven patients were thought to have multicentric tumors and 15 unicentric lesions. Only ten were found to be candidates for hepatic lobectomy. Five and ten years survival rates were 20 per cent; the operative mortality rate was 40 per cent. Twenty per cent died within a year, ten per cent, one patient, is alive with disease at 28 months and another is free of disease at 31-months. Paraneoplastic syndromes were erythrocytosis in two patients, terminal stage of hypoglycemia in one patient, and hypocholesterolemia with associated excess beta globulin in one patient.


Ruptured abdominal aneurysms presenting with unilateral peripheral neuropathy. Neurologic deficits uncommonly occur following successful aortic surgery for aneurysm. Two cases are presented in which peripheral neuropathy precipitated the diagnosis of ruptured aneurysm. Both patients had large retroperitoneal hematomas at operation, and the neuropathy was due presumably to compression of the femoral and obturator nerves. Neither patient has shown significant improvement in function in the affected muscles after operation. This represents an important diagnostic sign with leaking or ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.


Culture of arterial endothelial cells: characterization and growth of bovine aortic cells. Arterial endothelial cells were obtained from bovine aortae by mild treatment with collagenase and medium perfusion. These cells were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium containing 15mM Hepes buffer and 35% fetal calf serum at pH 7.35. Essentially all (90-95%) the effluent cells were viable and 80% of these cells attached to the substratum within 1 hour. Small patches of attached cells coalesced to form confluent monolayers in 3-5 days. Confluent monolayers of endothelial cells consisted of a homogeneous population of tightly packed, polygonal cells. Selected cultures were serially subcultured (trypsin-EDTA) for 12-14 months (30-35 passages) without any apparent change in morphology or loss of growth characteristics. Primary and three-month old (15 passages) cultures had population doubling times of 32-34 hours and 29-31 hours, respectively. These cells (primary and subcultures) did not require a minimum cell number to become established in culture. Bovine endothelial cells (primary, first, fifth and thirteenth passages) were characterized ultrastructurally by the presence of Weibel-Palade bodies, pinocytotic vesicles and microfilaments and immunologically by the presence of thrombosthenin-like contractile proteins and Factor VIII antigen. The intercellular junctions of post-confluenct cultures stained specifically with silver nitrate. From these data, we concluded that identifiable endothelial cells could be obtained from bovine aortae and cultured and maintained for prolonged periods of time.


The compound eye in the opaque-eye phenotype of Drosophilia melanogaster. The compound eye of the opaque-eye mutant of Drosophila melanogaster was investigated by means of electron microscopy to determine the morphological and physical properties of ommatidial elements. These elements in the mutant were found to differ from those of the wild-type flies in the following ways: (1) The cuticular lens was thinner than that of the control and lacked the typical lamellar construction. (2) The Semper cells were irregular in shape and contained many membranous inclusions similar to those found in degenerating cells; also their nuclei contained virus-like particles. (3) The primary pigment cells contained an abundance of drosopterin-containing granules which were lacking in those of wild-type flies. (4) The superior and inferior central photoreceptor cells were misplaced and their rhabdomeres evidenced some degeneration. (5) The secondary pigment cells had only one type of pigment granules instead of the three types found in the control. These morphological changes in ommatidial elements induced physical abnormalities such as the apparent opaqueness of the eye, the lack of a pseudopupil, the probable disability of the photoreceptor cells to respond to light and the inability of the dioptric system to produce utilizable geometric images.


Effect of partial thyroidectomy, propylthiouracil or thyroxine on estrogen-induced intranuclear inclusions in mammotrophs of the Mongolian gerbil. Partial thyroidectomy caused a significant increase in the number of intranuclear inclusions per field (2-83 +/- 0-10 inclusions as compared with 0-15 +/- 0-03 inclusions for sham-controls). The inclusions occurred exclusively within mammotrophs. Thyrotrophs were stimulated: an increased cell size, numerous secretory granules, an enlarged Golgi apparatus and hypertrophic rough endoplasmic reticulum. Propylthiouracil caused similar ultrastructural changes although sighificantly fewer inclusions were observed (0-64 +/- 0-06 inclusions). Suppression of thyroid function with thyroxine produced no change in the number of inclusions (0-17 +/- 0-03 inclusions) although when combined with estrogen there were significantly fewer inclusions (1-62 +/- 0-07) when compared to estrogen alone (2-69 +/- 0-09). Intranuclear inclusions appear to be a unique reaction of mammotrophs to cellular hyperfunction in the Mongolian gerbil.


Intranuclear inclusions in mammotrophs of the Mongolian gerbil: effect of low doses of estradiol benzoate and a study of females before weaning. The effect of dose of estrogen on induction of intranuclear inclusions was studied in mammotrophs of the Mongolian gerbil. The number of inclusions per high power field increased significantly with 0-5 and 1-0 mug/day of estradiol benzoate but not with the 0-05 mug dose. A form of inclusion was seen in young female gerbils before weaning which suggests that inclusions arise from the cytoplasm. Intranuclear inclusions develop soon after weaning of gerbils (0-06 +/- 0-01 vs. 0-19 +/- 0-03 for young mature females).


Experimental study of dibutyryl cyclic AMP; its metabolic effects observed in anesthetized human subjects. Metabolic effects of N6,O2-dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (DBcAMP) were studied in 10 anesthetized patients who were divided at random into two groups each consisting of 5 patients. DBcAMP dissolved in 200 ml of physiological saline was administered intravenously at a rate of 10 mg/min for 20 min in one group and 20 mg/min for 20 min in the other group. DBcAMP infusion at either rate increased levels of blood glucose, immunoreactive plasma insulin, blood pyruvate and blood redox-potential while it reduced levels of glycerol, non-esterified fatty acid and inorganic phosphate. These findings suggest that 200 and 400 mg of DBcAMP stimulates glycogenolysis and glycolysis but inhibits lipolysis in man.


Primary cytomegalovirus infection and liver involvement in early infancy. Virus isolation and determination of serum transaminase activity in 237 patients under one year of age were undertaken to clarify the etiologic significance of primary infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) in infancy. The rates of virus recovery from infants with liver involvement were 37% (29/78) and 42% (28/66), as determined by serum glutamic oxaloacetic (S-GOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic (S-GPT) transaminase values. In contrast, CMV was recovered from 14% (18/127) and 13% (18/141) of infants with normal S-GOT and S-GPT values. The differences in the rates of virus recovery between both groups were more pronounced in infants under three months of age, that is, 5 to 7 times higher rates in infants with liver involvement. Correlation between complement-fixing antibody and liver involvement, however, was not significant, probably because of the influence by maternal antibody. Majority of infants infected with CMV are postulated to involve liver during immediate months after onset of virus excretion.


A profound deficiency of (CH3-14C)choline sphingomyelin-cleaving enzyme in Niemann-Pick disease type B. [Methyl-14C]sphingomyelin was synthesized by the method of Stoffel et al. (1971). A profound deficiency of sphingomyelinase activity was found in liver tissue from two sibling patients with Niemann-Pick disease type B.


Kinetics of microcolonies of cultured mammalian cells after gamma irradiation. The time of cell destruction was determined by pedigree analysis before macrocolony formation immediately after irradiation of gamma rays (400-900 R) in cultured rat hepatoma cells. Cell destruction occurred and was distributed to various generations in proportion to dose. The loss of reproductive integrity resulting in an extinction of a clone was limited in earlier generations, 0 to 2, but the loss of reproductive capacity was observed in later generations. It seems probable that two types of loss of reproduction come from random transmission of lethal signals produced in parent cells irrespective of the pattern of pedigrees.


Measurement of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in serum of normal and tumor-bearing rats. The level of serum fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) in rat was quantified by hemagglutination-inhibition immunoassay which utilized anti-rat-fibrinogen antiserum of rabbit and fibrinogen-coated rat erythrocytes. The sensitivity of this method was high enough to detect minute amounts of serum FDP in rats. The normal value ranged from 1.25 to 10 mug/ml with a mean value of 5.7 mug/ml as expressed as fibrinogen equivalents. The changes in FDP level were noted in tumor-bearing rats which were transplanted subcutaneously with 10(6) tumor cells (AH-109A, a strain of Yoshida rat ascites hepatoma). The FDP level was unchanged in an early stage, elevated to 56 mug/ml on 12th day and to 92 mug/ml on 16th day on an average. These elevations were statistically significant.


Investigation of hexachlorophene for dominant lethal effects in the mouse. Hexachlorophene (HCP) was studied for mutagenic effects in the dominant lethal test on mice. Groups of male mice were treated with either 2.5 or 5.0 mg hexachlorophene per kg body weight as a single intraperitoneal injection. Control animals were treated with the propylene glycol vehicle. Each male was mated with 3 untreated females for each of 8 consecutive weeks with the uterus of the females examined at mid-pregnancy for signs of early embryonic death. Treatment did not alter mating capacity and fertility of the males. The administration of hexachlorophene had no influence on pre- or post-implantation losses. An increase in early resorptions among female mice bred to males treated with the reference compound, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) given a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg, indicated the susceptibility of the mouse strain used to a known mutagen. It is concluded that hexachlorophene at maximally tolerated doses is not mutagenic in the dominant lethal test in mice.


Psychophysiologic effects of early lead exposure. In several separate experiments neonatal rats were intubated daily with 9, 27 or 81 mg lead acetate/kg of body weight throughout their 3-week postnatal period of development. Based on average body weights, the total daily lead intake was 0.156, 0.454 or 1.384 mg lead per animal, respectively (in addition to normal lead intake from the environment). Subtle and specific behavioral changes, involving an inability to attenuate inappropriate behavior in a two-way shuttle or a habit-reversal operant task, occurred in offspring following exposure to a minimum of 0.454 mg lead per day. The specificity of this central dysfunction was such that motor activity was normal, stress responsiveness remained unaffected and simple learning ability was comparable to that of controls. The only indication of a central neurochemical modification accompanying this behavioral defect was a tendency for telencephalic acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities to be depressed, suggesting a possible involvement of the cholinergic system. Steady-state levels of brain monoamines were unaltered. The experimental weanlings displayed an inhibition of blood delta-amino levulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, a parallel reduction in regional brain ALAD activity, a moderate reduction in hematocrit and hemoglobin and an increase in kidney weight. This latter effect occurred even at the lowest level of lead intake, 0.156 mg lead per day.


Exposure to an environment containing the aromatic red cedar, Juniperus virginiana: procarcinogenic, enzyme-inducing and insecticidal effects. (1) Shavings from the Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) were examined for three diverse biological properties, i.e. enzyme induction, procarcinogenicity and insecticidal activity. (2) The ability of a cedar environment to stimulate liver drug-metabolizing enzymes in mice was confirmed by lowered values for barbiturate sleeping time. (3) In susceptible strains of mice (C3H-Avy, C3H-AvyfB and CBA/J) the use of cedar shavings as bedding increased significantly the incidence of spontaneous tumors of the liver and mammary gland, and also reduced the average time at which tumors appeared. (4) Cedar and some of its derivatives (Oil of Cedarwood, cedrene, cedrol) disrupted the reproductive and developmental cycle of a number of insects, including the Peanut Trash Bug (Elasmolomus sordidus), the Indian Meal Moth (Plodia interpunctella) and the Forage Mite (Tyrophagus putrescentiae).


[Xeroradiographic field control in telecobalt therapy of the cranial and ear-nose-throat regions]. The possibility of direct field verification by xeroradiography in Co-60-teletherapy of the head- and ENT-regions is described. By the effect of intensified contours, anatomical details may present themselves sufficiently as to make possible an objective verification of the irradiation. The particular advantages of this method consist in the simple handling and in the acceleration of the therapy preparations as well as in the possibility of documentation of the radiotherapeutic treatment. It has to be examined if the xeroradiographical procedure can be utilized for direct verification of the fields in other regions of the body too.


Enhanced growth of tumor isografts in rats after skin allografting. Full-thickness skin grafts from either BN (Ag-B3) or WF (Ag-B2) rats were transplanted to WF recipients of the same sex. Six to seven days after grafting, recipients were challenged with isografts of a chemically induced rat colon carcinoma, NG-W1. In three of four experiments, mean challenge tumor volumes were greater after allografting than after skin isografting. Tumor incidences, however, were no different in rats after skin allograft or isograft placement. When isografts of a polyoma virus-induced sarcoma, P-W13, were used to challenge WF rats after skin grafting, tumor incidence was significantly greater in animals which has received allografts, whether or not they also had been immunized to P-W13 before challenge. Thus, in otherwise untreated inbred rats, grafting of full-thickness skin from donors differing at a major histocompatibility locus led to facilitated growth of solid tumor isografts in animals undergoing allograft rejection.


[Effect of ultrasound on MG 2+, Na+, K+-ATPase and K+-acetylphosphatase activities of brain subcellular membrane structures]. Mg2+, Na+, K+-ATPase and K+-acetylphosphatase activities in the brain subcellular membrane structures were studied as affected by ultrasound. Effect of ultrasound depends both on the conditions of sonication and the initial state of membrane fractions. The ATPase activity in the NaI-treated microsomal fraction decreases after sonication. The treatment of microsomal myelin, synaptosomal and mitochondrial fractions with EDTA solutions (5-10(-5)--2-10(-2) M) causes an inhibition in the Mg2+, Na+, K+-ATPase. The ATPase activity of these so-called EDTA-fractions increases after a short-term sonication. Activation of the Mg2+, Na+, K+-ATPase of EDTA-microsomal fraction with a sonication is accompanied by an activation of K+-acetylphosphatase. In contrast to the ATPase activity, the acetylphosphatase one is manifested after a longer effect of ultrasound as well. The maximum of acetylphosphatase activation with sonication coincides with the maximum of Mg2+, Na+, K+-ATPase activation. The content of unmasked SH-groups in the studied fractions decreases after sonication. When EDTA-fractions are affected by sonication, which is accompanied by an increase in the ATPase activity, the number of SH-groups in all the fractions, except for mitochondria, increases.


Effect of levodopa on urinary bladder.

Effect of levodopa on urinary bladder. Levodopa therapy enhanced the ability of the bladder to store urine in two parkinsonian patients. In vitro canine muscle bath studies with the two major metabolites of levodopa, dopamine and norepinephrine, indicate that the effects of the drug on the peripheral sympathetic nervous system may play a major role in the improvement of urinary symptoms observed with levodopa therapy.


[Effect of ACTH on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and transketolase activity in mitochondria and hyaloplasm of rabbit liver]. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and transketolase activities in mitochondria and hyaloplasm of the rabbit liver were studied as affected by ACTH injected daily in a dose of 10 u/kg of weight for two weeks. It was shown that the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was unchanged neither in mitochondria nor in hyaloplasm. The transketolase activity in hyaloplasm was not changed as well. But in mitochondria it decreases by 47% (by an increase of sedoheptulose-7-phosphate S-7-P) simultaneously the ribose-5-phosphate (R-5-P) conversion is inhibited by 35%. The ratio of converted R-5-P and formed S-7-P became 2:0.68 (instead of theoretical 2:1). Administration of ACTH has no effect on the total concentration of acid-soluble ribose-containing compounds in both mitochondria and hyaloplasm.


Interaction of ultrasound with neoplastic tissue. II. Systemic effects after local sonic irradiation. Local sonic irradiation was applied to subcutaneously implanted Furth-Columbia rat Wilms' tumor. The weight and the rate of tritiated thymidine uptake were measured in host organs distal to the application field. Kidney and spleen weights were inhibited by the Wilms' tumor, and sonication of the tumor removed all or part of this inhibition. Liver weight was increased after sonication of tumor-bearing rats but not in nontumor-bearing rats. This may have been a response to tumor-specific substances released into the circulation by sonic destruction of tumor tissue. The adrenals enlarged as a response to the stresses of both tumor-bearing and of sonication. Animals were implanted on both sides with the Wilms' tumor and on without any break in the growth curve while the sonicated right tumor was inhibited. These data suggest that the therapeutic effect of ultrasound is due solely to local factors and that systemic sequelae of some irradiation are unrelated to tumor inhibition.


A new mucolipidosis with psychomotor retardation, corneal clouding, and retinal degeneration. A man now 22 years of age had slow psychomotor development about 6 months after birth and developed intermittent corneal clouding at about 18 months. He developed truncal ataxia, hypotonia of the limbs combined with spasticity, and active deep reflexes. These have not progressed. His skeleton and facies are normal. Between his first and thriteenth year he developed sev ere optic atrophy, absence of retinal blood vessels, and an extinguished electroretinogram. Biochemical analysis of cultured fibroblasts indicated no lysosomal hydrolase deficiency; cellular metachromasia was absent and there was no mucopolysaccharidoses. Ultrastructural studies indicated single membrane vacuoles containing lamellated membranes and a polymorphous substance in tissue cultured cells and conjunctiva.


Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis due to adenovirus type 19. A new type of epidemic kerotoconjunctivitis, caused by adenovirus type 19, is currently present in this country. It can be spread by tonometry, but in this report, appeared to be more likely to be spread by finger to eye contact.


[Determination of riboflavin kinase activity in yeast]. It is established that the main reason of the riboflavin kinase (RFK, EC 2.7.1.26) low specific activity in the cell-free extracts of the yeast Pichia guillermondii Wickerham ATCC 9058 is the presence of alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1), effectively destructing flaven mononucleotide. By chromatography of the cell-free extracts of P. guillermondii on DEAE-Sephadex A-50, CM-Sphadex C-50, CM-cellulose, Sephadexes G-75 and G-100 RFK and alkaline phosphatase may be separated completely. Any of these procedures results in a several times increase of the RFK activity as compared with the initial preparation. One failed to obtain a similar effect by fractionation of the extracts with amminium sulphate and by hydroxylapatite chromatography. A simple method is developed for determining the activity of RFK in the cell-free extracts of yeast on the basis of negative adsorption of this enzyme on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. A selective inhibition of alkaline phosphatase by ions Be2+ and F- yields a less satisfactory result. The data are presented on the PFK activity of certain species of flavinogenic (Pichia guillermondii, Torulopsis camdida) and non-flavinogenic (Pichia ohmeri, Candida utilis, Saccharomyces cervisiae) yeast.


[Carbohydrate metabolism in the liver in acute ischemia]. The article deals with oxidation of different substrates, intensity of glycolytic and glycogenolytic processes in mitochondria and homogenates of dog liver with its 2-hour exclusion from circulation under conditions of endotracheal ether-oxygen narcosis. It was established that already 30-60-minute ischemia causes a decrease in intensity of succinate, alpha-ketoglutarate oxidation and acceptor respiration, inhibiton in the activity of the citrate cycle enzymes; succinate dehydrogenase, alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, isocytrate dehydrogenase. The activity of NAD-dependent malate dehydrogenasedehydrogenase and Mg2+-ATPase as well as intensity of NADN oxidation in mitochondria increase. After 2-hour ischemia the activity of Mg2+-ATPase, cytochrome oxidase and peroxidase lowers. A sharply developed glycogenolysis is accompanied by inhibition of phosphorylase activity and a two-fold stimulation of the glycolytic reactions. Peculiarities in regulation of enzymatic reactions under conditions of ischemia and their role in origin of metabolism disturbances in the liver are under discussion.


[Effect of detergents and ultrasound on NAD-glycohydrolase activity in rat liver cell nuclei]. The NAD-glycohydrolase activity of freshly isolated adult rat liver cells nuclei was studied as affected by the ionic (dodecyl sulphate and deoxicholate) and non-ionic (Triton X-100 and digitonin) detergents as well as by ultrasound (15 and 22 kHz). The obtained data permit the detergents to be divided according to the character of their effects on the nuclear NADase activity into "decreasing" and "increasing" ones. Dodecyl sulphate and to a less extent deoxicholate are in the first group of the detergents. Triton X-100 and much more digitonin are in the second one. Sonification of the rat liver cells nuclei (15 and 22 kHz) from 3-10 s and further induced a decrease in the NADase activity with its subsequent complete loss. The treatment of the intact nuclei suspension with DNase leads to a 50% decrease in the NADase activity and the treatment of the sonificated nuclei suspension-- to a complete loss of the activity. Undet these conditions RNase does not affect the NADase activity.


[Study of the symplast-forming activity of terpene and standard strains of Aujeszky's disease virus]. Studied were the cellular changes and, more specifically, the production of symplasts as a particular form of manifesting the cytopathic effect of some strains of the Aujezsky's virus. Experiments with eight strains of the virus in tissue cultures confirmed the concept of a number of authors that in given tissue cultures virulent strains show a well pronounced trent toward the formation of symplasts containing numerous nuclei, while the latent strains stimulate the production of sporadic, rounded giant cells with a few nuclei in the aggregated cytoplasm. In the course of the investigations the primary cultures of rabbit kidney proved very suitable to demonstrate the presence of Aujeszky's disease and differentiate latent and virulent strains because of the cultures exceptional receptivity to the Aujeszky virus.


[Porperties of a strain of Herpesvirus suis isolated in cases with various epizootologic and clinical courses of the disease]. A varying epizootologic, clinical and morphologic picture was established in studying the course of the disease on six pig-breeding farms. The isolated strains showed differences in their virulence, cultural properties and physicochemical behaviour. Two of them had lowered virulence, and one showed affinity to the respiratory organs which corresponded to the peculiarities and course of the disease. It is concluded that the interaction between the virulence of the strains and the herd immunity results in the varying epizootologic course of the disease.


[Use of the direct immunofluorescence method for determination of the TGE viral antigen in swine]. Followed up were the appearance and accumulation of the transmissive gastroenteritis (TGE) virus antigen in infected cells of pig kidney and thyroid. Used were specific conjugates, such introduced by the authors and some imported from Czechoslovakia. The cell cultures were infected with strains of the TGE virus, isolated in Bulgaria or supplied from Czechoslovakia. It was found that the Bulgarian strains were the same as those from Czechoslovakia and the United States. A viral antigen was found as early as the sixth hour following the infection of the cell cultures and it appeared under the form of cytoplasmatic yellow-green fluorescence. By the 12th, and up to the 18th hour the number of the specifically fluorescing cells as well as the intensity of fluorescence itself increased. Highest values in this respect were noticed in the interval between the 36th and 48th hour after the cultures had been infected.


[Experience in the complex vaccination of birds against pseudoplague, infectious laryngotracheitis and diphtheria pox]. The immunity was studied as conferred by the simultaneous vaccination against Newcastle disease (strain La Sota), infectious laryngotracheitis (strain "TsNIIP"), and fowl pox (strain FK), applied at different sites. The vaccine against Newcastle disease was diluted at 1 : 10 and was applied nasally through instilling one drop in each orifice. When it was mixed with a vaccine against infectious laryngotracheitis at a ratio of 1 : 1 it was applied via the cloaca or nasally, orally, muscularly or through the ocular sinus. The vaccine against fowl pox was applied at the same time at dilution of 1 : 50 through the wing web. The effectiveness of the immunity conferred was checked through challenge infection, haemagglutination inhibition reactions, and virus-neutralization in chick embryos. It is stated that the resulting stress accompanying every vaccination was not stronger with the combination used than that in other cases. This was also an advantage over the alternative of administering the vaccines alone. The immunity against the three diseases, obtained at the simultaneous application of the vaccines, did not differ from that resulting from administering the vaccines alone. This, XXX indisputably, points to the fact that the method is equally useful from an epizootiologic and an economic standpoint.


[Determination of the subtype membership of the epizootic foot-and-mouth disease virus by means of the agar gel diffusion test]. Comparative studies were carried out by means of the agar gel-diffusion technique (AGDT) to establish the antigenic identity between the epizootic foot-and-mouth disease strain (the Nch/73 representative strain) and the standard viruses of type A. The epizootic strain was found to belong to the subtype group A5. Discussed is the usefulness of AGDT in determining the antigenic relations between the foot-and-mouth disease viruses.


[Changes in carbohydrate metabolism in hens experimentally infected with Pasteurella multocida kokoshki]. Studied were the concentration of blood sugar, the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase, and the level of glycogen in the liver of P. multocida infected chickens. An abrupt decrease of the liver glycogen was found as well as a negligible rise of the blood sugar. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase remained unchanged, and that of glucose-6-dehydrogenase was twice as high. It is concluded that the intense exhaustion of liver glycogen is in connection with the activation of the pentosephosphate pathway.


[Ultrastructure and morphogenesis of ceroid pigment. II. Late changes of lysosomes in Kupffer cells of rat liver after phagocytosis of unsaturated lipids (author's transl)]. Wistar rats were injected intravenously with cod liver oil emulsion. The lipid droplets ere phagocytized by Kupffer cells and stored in lysosomes. The transformation of these lipid-containing lysosomes into ceroid pigment granules was studied electron-microscopically and cytochemically for a period of 12 weeks after the injection. The lipid droplets enclosed in lysosomes show an increasing and continous condensation from the periphery towards the center due to oxidation and polymerization of unsaturated fatty acids. During the first week almost the total amount of the stored lipids is transformed into an amorphous, highly electron-dense material which disintegrates into cloddy and globular fragments during the following time. The fragments are embedded in a fine granular, slightly electron-dense matrix showing a marked activity of acid phosphatase. The lysosomal structures which contain remnants of condensed oxidized and polymerized lipids are the electron-microscopic equivalent of the granules as seen by light microscopy. These lipids, which have been changed in their molecular structure, cannot be hydrolized by lysosomal enzymes. They remain as an indigestible material, as a waste product in lysosomal residual bodies. Both lipofuscin and ceroid are lysosomal structures containing oxidized and polymerized lipids. The differences between these lipogenous pigments are due to their different formal and causal genesis. Lipofuscin develops in parenchymal and muscle cells by autophagocytosis and by subsequent oxidation and polymerization of segregated membrane lipids. Ceroid is formed in macrophages by heterophagocytosis of unsaturated lipid material which is also oxidized and polymerized.


Intraalveolar foam cells associated with lipidosis-like alterations in lung and liver of rats treated with tricyclic psychotropic drugs. Histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural examinations were performed on pulmonary and hepatic tissues of rats after prolonged oral treatment with several tricyclic antidepressants and two neuroleptics, which are all of amphiphilic character. The antidepressants ipindole, imipramine, clomipramine, 1-chloro-amitriptyline, and 1-chloro-10,11-dehydro-amitriptyline were found to cause an accumulation of intraalveolar foam cells accompanied by the formation of abnormal lamellated and crystalloid cytoplasmic inclusions in most pulmonary and hepatic cell types. The ultrastructural and histochemical findings in both tissues point to generalized, abnormal intracellular storage of polar lipids, i.e. to drug-induced lipidosis. The foam cells are not regarded as an isolated pulmonary alteration but rather as an easily obtainable indication of generalized lipidosis, under the present conditions. They are thought to represent alveolar macrophages stuffed with non-digestible phospholipids. On the other hand, the tricyclic antidepressants noxiptiline and amitriptyline, and the neuroleptics chlorpromazine and thioridazine caused neither formation of foam cells nor of any lipidosis-like ultrastructural alterations. These negative results are tentatively ascribed to a more rapid biotransformation of the amphiphilic drug molecules into more hydrophilic metabolites which no longer have a high affinity to polar lipids. Two main conclusions can be drawn from the present ovservations: (1) Intraalveolar foam cells must not be regarded as a fortuitous alteration but rather as a first indication of generalized phospholipidosis, when they are found in animals treated with an amphiphilic drug. (2) Closely related compounds of amphiphilic character do not necessarily have the same potency to induce a phospholipidosis under in vivo conditions.


Myeloid bodies formation in triparanol treated cultured cells. Cultured cells (chicken embryo liver cells and rat embryo fibroblasts) were treated with triparanol (MER-29) for various lengths of time. Both types of cells have developed numerous membranous whorls-myeloid bodies in the cytoplasm. Various stages in myeloid bodies development are described. Acid phosphatase activity was cytochemically demonstrated within the myeloid bodies, indicating their lysosmal nature. This activity appeared only at a late stage of the myeloid bodies formation.


[Clinical characteristics of unclassified soft tissue tumors]. The authors have analysed the data obtained in 462 patients with malignant tumors of soft tissues, operated upon in this Institute during the period of 1948-1973, inclusively. Some features of the clinical picture were revealed that might allow the investigators in some cases to suggest the histological type of the tumor, referred to as a nonclassified group. Such pinpointing further of the diagnosis is of some practical value from the point of view of selecting indications to some or other method of treatment in patients with malignant tumors of soft tissues.


[Inositol containing phospholipids in brain and liver tissue of rats in prolonged alcoholic intoxication]. In brain and liver tissue of rats, treated repeatedly with alcohol, alterations in content of total phospholipids and polyphosphoinositols were reproducibly different. In the tissues studied content of polyphosphoinositols were distinctly decreased. Independent function of phosphoinositols in tissue metabolism as an auxiliary energy system in addition to the universal adenylate system is considered. These concepts are in agreement with observations on development of rough morphological alterations (fatty degeneration) in liver tissue. The fatty degeneration developed in the liver tissue in response to deficiency of oxidative potential in the organ.


[Tomizine--a new inhibitor of folate metabolism enzymes possessing an antitumor activity]. In the experiments on enzymic systems functioning in the metabolism of folic acid and on transplantable tumors in animals the preparation thomizine (chlorohydrate 4-methoxy-6-aminopyrimido (4,5-b) (1,4) thiazine) was worked out. Thomizine, as well as the known antimetabolite of folic acid-methotrexate, suppresses the activity of dihydrofolate reductase, but contrary to it suppresses FAP enzymic system, inhibiting aminopterin in the organism. Thomizine differes from methotrexate by another spectrum of antitumor effect, selective suppression of the tumor tissue growth, compared with the normal in vitro, it does not inhibit leucopoiesis, shows less toxicity and insignificant cumulative properties.


[Study of mechanisms of regulation of disulphide reductase in mouse liver]. An increase in activity of disulphide reductase system (DRS) in supernatant of liver tissue was caused by 3',5'-AMP, ATP, GTP, UTP, Mg2+, Ca2+, EDTA, protamine, noradrenaline and F-. The effect was connected with arsenite resistant fraction of DRS. After rapid homogenization the effect of noradrenaline disappeared and the effects of ATP, GTP, UTP and Ca2+ were distinctly decreased. Treatment with adsorbents prevented the effects of 3',5,-AMP, ATP and EDTA and markedly decreased the effects of protamine and Mg2+. A protein inhibitor of protein kinase prevented completely the activation of DRS with 3',5'-AMP, ATP, GTP, UTP and noradrenaline and distinctly decreased the effect of protamine, Mg2+ and Ca2+ but did not alter the influence of EDTA. Addition of 2',3'-AMP blocked the effect of 3',5-AMP, ATP and Mg2+ but did not influence the effect of protamine and EDTA. The data obtained suggest that protein kinase participated in activation of DRS by most of the regulators.


[Effect of pyridoxine on patterns of lipid metabolism in patients with alimentary obesity]. Studies of patients with alimentary-metabolic obesity, which were treated with pyridoxine and were maintained on a reduced diet, revealed a normalizing effect of the vitamin on some patterns of lipid metabolism. In patients, treated with pyridoxine, body weight, content of total lipids, cholesterol, phospholipids, glycerids and beta-lipoproteins in blood serum were decreased more distinctly as compared with patients, which were only maintained on a reduced diet. In hyperlipidaemia the positive effect of pyridoxine was more pronounced than in the cases with normal content of lipids in blood.


[A micromethod for determination of the adenylate cyclase activity by chromatography on silufol UV-254 plates]. A method is developed for micro-scale separation of the products of enzymatic degradation of ATP (ADP, 5'-AMP, adenosine 3',5'-cytophosphate, adenosine and adenine) by one-dimentional thin-layer chromatography on Silufol UV-254 plates. The method is applicable for determination of activity of adenylate cyclase and of other enzymes involved in metabolism of adenylic derivatives, including the diesterase of 3',5'-cyclic AMP.


[Several properties of the nucleic acide of nuclei and mitochondria from hepatoma induced by N-nitroso-N-diethylamine]. The work was undertaken to estimate quantitatively the functional activity of tumor cell genome and possible variations in the relationship between nuclear genome and mitochondrial genetic determinants in tumor cell. For this purpose in mice C3HA tumors of hepatocellular origin were induced with N-nitroso-N-diethylamine, tissues of one of which were subjected to successive isologous transplantation during the period over 3 years. Normal hepatic tissues were taken for the control. As a result of a series of independent experiments (actinomycin D spectrophotometric titration, acridine orange binding, template activity, nuclear RNA/DNA hybridization) the results were obtained indicating a decrease in the amount of active loci in tumor hepatocytes genome. Hybridization data also indicate that in the tumor the derepression of chromosomal genes responsible for the genetic control over mitochondria and a non-regulated de-repression of mitochondrial genetic determinants take place.


[The work capacity and working arrangements of patients following stomach resection for cancer]. In 282 patients, subjected to gastric resection for cancer, the working capacity was examined according to the data of the Medical Expertise within different terms after surgery. It was found that most of patients in primary examination were acknowledged as disabled workers of the first and second group (70.1%). A dynamic follow-up of patients in late postoperative periods revealed a tendency toward an improvement of their working capacity in a group of patients previously considered as totally disabled. However, in terms over 5 years following the operation more than half of patients proved to be disabled. A comparative estimation of the working capacity in these patients according to the Medical Expertise and personal authors' data has revealed a discrepancy between the group of disability and the work accomplished, i.e. a considerable number of patients, considered as group II, resumed their former activities (as prior to surgery) or did easier jobs. This discrepancy seems, to a certain extent, to be the result of underestimation of the patients' state by the Medical Expertise Commission and overrating the group of disability in them.


[Differences in the buoyant density of mitochondria from hepatoma, Krebs ascitic tumor II and normal liver]. Mitochondria isolated from normal liver, experimental hepatoma, and Krebs II ascites tumor tissues in mice were examined by isopycnic centrifugation in a sucrose density gradient (25--50%). Normal liver mitochondria were shown to be characterized by two visible zones, while those of tumors were distributed homogeneously. Such a distribution pattern was also confirmed by the investigation of marker enzyme activities (glucose-6-phosphatase and cytochromoxidase). A comparison of homologous tissues (hepatoma--liver) has evidenced that hepatoma mitochondria are "lighter" even than the "light" fraction of normal ones, that seems to evidence the disturbances in the biogenesis of these organelles. The results obtained are in a good agreement with the data reported by S. A. Neifakh on alterations in the structure of tumor mitochondrial membranes.


[The damaging effect of the sodium salt of nystatin on ascitic tumor cells]. The experiments in vitro have demonstrated that an application of 0.1 mg/ml of nistatine into ascitic cells suspension would result in swelling of cells and 80% loss of intracellular potassium, associated with a considerable reduction of Na+K+-ATP-ase activity, the intensity of respiration and glycosis being changed but insignificantly. Thus, the influence of a polyene antibiotic - nistatine on the water-salt balance of ascitic cells under study is likely to be somewhat related with inhibition of NA+K+-dependent ATP-ase.


[Inhibition of the growth of spontaneous mammary gland tumors in mice by acetylated corticotropin]. As a result of chronic administration of acetylated corticotropin (anahormone), a decrease in the incidence of spontaneous mammary tumors in C3H/He mice has been noted. An administration of anahormone after a surgical removal of tumor either pre-or postoperatively) prolonged the free period in the development of recurrences and improved the survival rate of operated mice. It is presumed that inhibition of the tumor process by an anahormone is related with its suppressive action on the adrenal function and activity of the ovarian-gonadotropin system.


[A change in the relative concentration of individual fractions of low molecular weight nuclear RNA in tumor tissues]. Low molecular weight nuclear RNAs (LMWN RNAs) of normal and neoplastic tissues: the rat liver and Zajdela hepatoma, mouse spleen and NK/Ly ascites tumor, as well as the cultures of normal chick embryo fibroblasts and of those transformed with Rous sarcoma virus were studied by electrophoresis in 8% and 15% polyacrylamide gels. As a result of the study no qualitative differences, i.e. differences in the number of LMWN RNA main fractions and their electrophoretic mobility were found. But there were revealed quantitative variations in the relative amount of definite fractions of these RNAs. An increase of the U3 RNA content in ascites tumors may be connected with an enhancement of the ribosomal RNA synthesis. Variations in the content of low molecular weight RNAs in oncogenic virus transformed cells may reflect an excessive synthesis of low molecular weight viral RNAs during the process of virus reproduction. The quantitative alterations observed seem to be of special value since LMWN RNAs are likely to perform regulatory functions.


[Hypocholesteremic action of trepang (Stichopus japonicus) lipids]. The hypocholesteremic effect displated by the Japan Sea trepang is shown. The experiments were carried out on rabbits with hypocholesteremia caused by fasting. Total cholesterol, beta-lipoproteids, lipoid phosphorus, total phospholipids and the cholesterol/phospholipids ratio were determined in the blood of hypercholesteremic animals. The introduction of total trepang lipids to the hypercholesteremic fasting rabbits resulted in normalization of the lipids metabolism, this being indicative of the favourable effect produced by such lipids.


[Redox state of the hepatic cells in rats kept on a diet containing 1,2-propanediol]. A comparative characterization of the redox condition and phosphate potential of the hepatic cells in rats kept on two experimental diets (low- and high-carbohydrate) is given. Intensification of the glucogenesis in the liver of rats kept on a low-carbohydrate diet is determined by lower values of the ratios /NAD+/: (NADH/ and /ATP/:/ADP/P1, the cells acquiring more marked reducting properties. Incorporation of 1,2-propanediol, as a source of metabolized energy, in the composition of the low-carbohydrate diet (20 per cent of the fat content) produces a rise in the level of glycogen and a fall of the liver lipids. The reducing capacity of the cytoplasma diminishes, this being borne out by the ratio of /NAD+/:/NADH/. An increase of the phosphate potential and of the ratio /NAD+/:/NADH/ is in these conditions similar to the one observed with a greater amount of carbohydrates in the diet. The phosphoenol-pyruvate-carboxykinase activity and concentration of malate in the liver diminish with rising concentration of oxaloacetate. When superimposed upon a high-carbohydrate diet 1,2-propanediol causes an increase of the /NAD+/:/NADH/ and /ATP/:P1/ ratios with the lipids content in the liver mounting too. The significance of shifts in the redox state and of the phosphate potential in regulating the 1,2-propanediol metabolism is discussed.


[The effect of egg white on the phospholipid level in blood plasma, erythrocytes and beta-lipoproteins of healthy children]. A single taking by children of eggs' white in an amount of 2 g/kg of the body weight resulted in that the blood plasma experienced a decline in the relative content of phosphatidylserine, lecithin and a rise in the level of phosphatidylethanolamine. In the membranes of erythrocytes there occurred a rise in the proportion of phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and a fall of the share of lecithin and sphyngomyelin. In the composition of beta-lipoproteins the level of phosphatidylethanolamine was up with a marked drop of phosphatidylserine. Variations in the content of sphyngomyelin and lecithin showed no characteristic features.


A method of isolating enteroviruses from meat. A method of isolating the virus ECHO II in specimens of stewed beef and cutlets is assessed. The procedure involves obtaining extracts of the meat with the saline (in ratios of 1:2 and 1:4) in combination with processing with freon 113. This method failed to detect in the meat samples analyzed 20-30 CPD50 of the virus in 1 g. Experiments demonstrated that eluation of the poliovirus from the meat into an aqueous saline depended on the proportion of meat and the eluating solution. It was shown that the optimal extraction of the poliovirus from meat into the solution was seen to occur with the proportions of meat and the eluating solution of 1:8-1:9.


[Analysis of cultures infected by vaccinal strains of viruses for detecting in them the integrated genome of these viruses (author's transl)]. White mice of 10-12 g were immunized with one of the three virus vaccines (vaccines against poliomyelitis, measles, smallpox) at various intervals. Poliovirus type II and measles virus, Edmonston strain, were labeled in tissue culture with 3H-uridine (30/uCi/ml). Smallpox virus (rabbit strain) was labeled with 3H-thymidine (30/uCi per ml) also in tissue culture. After purification and concentration of labeled poliomyelitis and measles viruses, viral RNA was isolated by double extraction with phenol, and precipitation with alcohol to which a yeast RNA-carrier was added. Isolation of 3H-thymidine-labeled viral RNA from smallpox virus was carried out by the same method with the addition of SDS to the final concentration of 1%. From the brain and lung cells of the vaccinated animals DNA was extracted by the kinetic reassociation method and hybridized with labeled viral nucleic acids. The formation of a hybrid with DNA-containing vaccine virus was controlled by chromatography in hydroxylapatite. No integration of viral and cell nucleic acids was demonstrated in our experiments, however, it cannot be ruled out completely, because this method does not detect homologous sequences if they occur in a small number of cells tested.


[Some physicochemical properties of the dysenteric therapeutic--prophylactic Newcastle phages H-17 and H-18 (Author's transl)]. Some physico-chemical properties of dysentery therapeutic-prophylactic Newcastle-phages H-17 and H-18 were studied. Both phages were shown to be resistant to sodium dodecyl sulphate at room temperature. Phage H-17 at room temperature was completely inactivated and phage H-18 inactivated by 40% by 1 M sodium hydrochloride. Phage H-18 was completely inactivated by 4 M sodium hydrochloride. Morphology and sizes of the phages are described. The buoyant density of phage H-17 was found to be 1.497 g/cm3,  and of phage H-18 1.504 g/cm3. DNA of both phages were identified as double-stranded on the basis of the pattern of melting curve, of interaction with formaldehyde and absorption spectrum in solutions with various ionic strengths. The melting point of DNA of phage H-17 is 83.63 degrees C, phage H-18 89.67 degrees.


[Cryomethod of concentrating interferon (author's transl)]. The fact of non-simultaneous thawing of protein and water was used for concentration of interferon from pre-frozen preparations. As thawing proceeded, 5 sequential fractions equal in a volume were removed from preparations of human leucocyte, mouse macrophage and tissue chick interferons; the titers of their antiveral activity in the first fraction were 4--8-fold higher than the initial titer, and this activity decreased gradually to a titer which was 2-fold lower than the initial in the fifth fraction. The total amount of interferon units in all the fractions was 1.8--3.8-fold higher than in the initial preparation taken in a volume corresponding to the total volume of all the fractions. As addition of the Vth fraction to the Ist fraction reduced the titer of interferon in it to the initial level, it is suggested that in interferon preparations there is an inhibitor of its effect, "anti-interferon".


[Study of the organotropic and oncotropic properties of human type 16 adenovirus in the body of Syrian hamsters and mice (author's transl)]. Human adenovirus type 16 was studied in Syrian hamsters bearing SV40 virus induced transplantable tumour and in mice of Black line with Lewis cancer. Despite its tropism to the tumour tissue, the virus injected into the blood stream was first accumulated in the lung tissue and in organs of the  reticuloendothelial system (the spleen and liver). When the tumour was in the lung tissue of mice, the virus content in it was much higher than in a similar tumour of subcutaneous localization.