Contractility of the urinary bladder.

Contractility of the urinary bladder. Measurements have been made in vitro of the active mechanical properties of complete pig bladders, electrically stimulated to contract. The results are described with the aid of a model of the bladder wall consisting of a contractile element in series with an elastic element. For the contractile element the active force depends on the velocity of shortening. This relation is well described by a classical Hill equation, provided force is normalized by dividing it by the isometric force at the same bladder volume. The force-extension relation of the series elastic element is non-linear and can be described by an elastic modulus which depends monoexponentially on the extension. In the light of these findings the limitations of existing clinical methods of assessing bladder contractility, and the possibility of developing new methods, are discussed.


Effects of nifedipine in women with unstable bladders. A study of the effect of the calcium antagonist nifedipine on the detrusor contractions of 10 women with an unstable bladder is reported. An inhibiting effect was observed in all patients after intake of nifedipine. The number of contractions and the contraction amplitudes decreased, and the bladder capacity increased. Resting intraurethral and intravesical pressures were not affected. Subjective improvement was reported by all patients during a week of continuous nifedipine treatment. Side effects were few and tolerable. It is suggested that nifedipine can be of value in the treatment of unstable bladder.


Studies on intraarenal prostaglandins. Influence of unilateral ureteral obstruction on prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha in the rabbit kidney. Prostaglandins (PGs) E2 and F2 alpha in the rabbit kidney were determined by radioimmunoassay to study the effects of unilateral ureteral obstruction on intrarenal PGs. An increase of PGE2 in the inner medulla was observed in the hydronephrotic kidney. When isotonic glucose solution was infused after the release of ureteral obstruction, an elevation of PGE2 in the outer medulla occurred in the hydronephrotic kidney. Under water diuresis immediately following the release of obstruction, PGE2 in the inner medulla showed significant correlations to urinary flow rate, urinary osmolar concentration and free water clearance. The present study indicates that PGE2 in the inner medulla is enhanced by ureteral obstruction and may have a close relation to renal functional damage in mild hydronephrosis.


Renal elimination kinetics and plasma half-life of oxalate in man. The renal handling of oxalate was studied by the injection of 14C-oxalate together with inulin as a glomerular marker into the renal artery in 6 patients. From the recovered amounts of the injected substances in the urine, time-concentration curves were constructed. Oxalate was excreted into urine 2.31 +/- 0.05 (SE) fold when compared to inulin. The maximal concentration of oxalate occurred at the same time as inulin, and there was no urinary precession of oxalate in comparison to inulin. From this part of the study we conclude that oxalate in addition to its filtered amount can probably enter the early part of nephron. In a second type of study, plasma levels of oxalate and inulin were observed over a period of 180 min, following intravenous injections in 7 volunteers. The decline of oxalate plasma concentrations followed first-order kinetics. Calculation of the rate constants of elimination assuming the 'one compartment open' model resulted in an oxalate to inulin ratio of 1.21 +/- 0.05. The oxalate half-life of elimination was 92 +/- 8 min, whereas that of inulin amounted to 112 +/- 9 min. The higher value of the calculated volume of distribution of oxalate compared to that of inulin indicates that oxalate enters a larger space than the extracellular fluid volume. The urinary recovery of intravenously injected oxalate was 97.2 +/- 1.4%, indicating that oxalate is excreted exclusively by the kidney. The observed differences of oxalate excretion, obtained with these two methods, could be attributed to the higher amount of ionized oxalate in the disequilibrium technique (rapid injections), entering the urine in a higher rate. Such a mechanism could explain the hyperoxaluria in calcium oxalate stone-forming patients.


[Evaluation of accuracy comparing three types of urological manometers (author's transl)]. Manometrical examinations of the female urinary bladder are important in the field of urodynamic diagnosis. Accuracy in these measurements is a prerequisite for the reproducibility of the results. In this study, three types of urological manometers, differing in their principles of measurement, were tested for their physical and technical properties. Pressure was measured with a membrane manometer (instrument A) with Statham elements (instrument B), and with a micro-transducer (instrument C). The results using Statham elements and micro-transducers were exactly reproducible and varied only in their interference with external factors, which affect the quality of the results in clinical routine. Concerning the physical technique of measurement, instrument C with micro-transducers gives the most accurate results and is the easiest one to manage. For research and clinical routine it is superior to instrument B. It supplies reproducible data which are independent of external parameters such as the patient's position, attention and the way the instrument is set up. Our results only urodynamical measurements using micro-transducers can be taken as absolute measurements of excellent accuracy and are comparable among themselves as well as with other absolute measurements for long-term series of measurement. Using a membrane manometer (instrument A), measurements were hardly reproducible so that these results can be accepted as orienting data only.


[Indications, technique and results in treatment of hypospadias (author's transl)]. Surgical indications and results are reported in a 66 patients. The very suitable methods for distal hypospadias repair according to Hoffmann-Hall and Dettmar with their advantages are presented as a supplement to the genial method of Meyer-Burgdorff and Denis Browne. A schematic procedure is described for choosing the preferred method od operation, as illustrated by our good results.


[Transurethral electro-resection in patients with cardiac pacemakers (author's transl)]. Transurethral electro-resection of prostate and bladder in patients with cardiac pacemakers shows no higher risk in comparison with other patients as long as pre, intra- and postsurgical monitoring is strictly performed. The monitoring of intraoperative blood-loss as well as the use of a monitor, which shows no disturbances using high-frequency-current, is essential for the intraoperative control. At the Department of Urology, University Hospital r. d. Isar, Munich, Germany, 33 patients with cardiac pacemakers underwent transurethral surgery without any complications.


[Congenital distal stenosis of the female urethra and reflux (author's transl)]. The diagnosis and the results of treatment of congenital distal stricture of the urethra and vesicorenal reflux are reported. In 31% of our patients with congenital distal urethral stenosis a vesico ureteral or vesico-renal reflux was found. Following distal urethrotomy the reflux healed spontaneously in 40% of the patients. It is emphasized that before an antireflux plasty a subvesicale obstruction should be ruled out. This includes distal congenital stricture of the urethra and when this diagnosis is suspected a reflux cystogram should be carried out.


[Ectopia of vas deferens with opening into the ureter (author's transl)]. A 13 years old boy with a 2 year history recurrent rightsided epididymitis was found to have an ectopic orifice of the vas deferens opening into the distal part of the left ureter of a hypoplastic left kidney. Because of possible interference with fertility vasovesiculography was not done. Therefore it could not be identified whether the vas deferens was of right or left sided origin. The genesis of this extremely rare malformation is discussed.


[A problems in diagnosis of "leucocyturia". A simple method for a quantitative evaluation of urinary cell concentration (author's transl)]. The increased urinary excretion of white blood cells is usually associated with morphological features. The widely used urine sediment is not able to provide a proper diagnostic approach, but only some diagnostic aid concerning qualitative aspects (white blood cell casts). The ADDIS count is too elaborate for general practice and hospital management, even under simplified conditions. Neither have the visual field method using uncentrifuged urine and the counting of white blood cells in the counting chamber become routine diagnostic procedure. A new test strip for leucocytes is introduced. As a bedside test in hospital care and general practice it will be able to replace former methods regarding quantitative evaluation of leucocyturia.


A treatment of detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia: pudendal nerve block by phenolglycerin under the guide of direct nerve stimulation. While applying direct electrical stimulation to the pudendal nerve and recording of electromyographic reactions of bulbocavernosus muscle and/or transverse perineal muscle, pudendal nerve block by phenol was performed for the treatment of dysuria due to detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, resulting in a favourable response. The technique and the cases treated with this nerve block are presented.


[Electric shock waves crushing stones in the exposed kidney (author's transl)]. Highenergy shock waves can desintegrate human calculi of the kidney into fine fragments without direct contact. A closed reflector system which allows sterile contact with the exposed kidney is presented.


[Early changes of testicular tissue following experimental torsion of the spermatic cord (author's transl)]. A bilateral testicular torsion war carried out in 65 mature rats. The timing of testicular tissue changes was investigated. A complete human testicular torsion corresponds to a 270 degrees torsion in the rat. The earliest changes were found in the semineferous tubules. Interstitial edema with vasodilatation and hyperemia already occurred one hour following complete torsion. Degenerative changes in the nuclei of the spermatogonia and spermatocytes were found after one hour. After two to four hours necrosis of the epithelium was found. After six hours these changes appeared irreversible. The Leydig cells appear to be damaged 2--3 hours and the Sertoli cells 4--6 hours later than the spermatogenic epithelium. Chronic experiments should be carried out to determine the reversability of these early changes.


Insertion of Gibbons ureteral stents using endourologic techniques. We describe our technique for the antegrade insertion of the redesigned Gibbons ureteral stent. We have used this technique for 19 kidneys without failures or complications. The advantages of internal drainage and of antegrade stent placement are discussed.


Percutaneous pigtail nephrostomy.

Percutaneous pigtail nephrostomy. Practicing urologists have become more familiar with the use of angiographic equipment and techniques and proficient in their application to percutaneous nephrostomy. The advantage of pigtail catheters for that purpose is noted. Modification of available vascular equipment applicable to percutaneous nephrostomy is discussed, and a new standardized kit for such purposes is described. A logical sequence of steps taken to ensure proper placement of the tube and adequate urinary drainage is considered.


Secondary tumors of ureter.

Secondary tumors of ureter. Carcinoma metastatic to the ureter, representing hematogenous or lymphatic spread from a distant primary neoplasm, was diagnosed in 39 patients. Although the lesions are uncommon and usually represent late manifestations of malignant disease, earlier recognition and relief of urinary tract obstruction may allow for improvement in symptoms and survival.


Abdominoperineal-prostatocystectomy for infiltrating bladder carcinoma. Combined abdominoperineal prostatocystectomy was described eighty years ago but has fallen into disuse. The authors performed this operation, two surgeons working simultaneously, in 14 patients with deeply infiltrating bladder carcinoma. Although 1 patient died postoperatively, morbidity has been minimal. The combined approach makes the cystectomy easier and allows excellent drainage through the perineum.


Evaluation of partial cystectomy for carcinoma of bladder. We reviewed 117 patients who had undergone partial cystectomy for primary carcinoma of the bladder. The recurrence rate was 78 per cent. Treatment of recurrences included transurethral resection, radiation therapy, and total cystectomy. The five-year survival rate of patients treated for recurrent disease was 68 per cent for Stages 0 and A, 31 percent for Stage B, and 6 per cent for Stages C and D1. Total cystectomy gave the best salvage rate. The five-year survival rate of patients without recurrences was 4 per cent.


Fibroma of tunica albuginea.

Fibroma of tunica albuginea. A case of fibroma of the tunica albuginea is presented with a review of the literature on previously reported cases of this rare entity. The characteristics of this lesion, its pathogenesis, and its treatment are considered.


Hemosiderosis of urinary bladder.

Hemosiderosis of urinary bladder. We believe this is the first case of proved hemosiderosis of the bladder to be reported. The clinical presentation, radiographic findings, and cystoscopic appearance suggested a primary bladder neoplasm.


Gallbladder visualization after intravenous pyelography. Gallbladder visualization using the newer IVP contrast materials is rare, and occurs in cases of depressed renal function or acute ureteral obstruction. Mechanisms are discussed.


Light and ultrastructural studies of renal oncocytic adenoma. An asymptomatic renal oncocytoma was found in the upper left quadrant of an eighty-five-year-old woman during a routine physical examination. Ultrastructurally, the tumor was composed entirely of epithelial cells filled with normal and abnormal mitochondria. Selective renal angiography showed two renal arteries supplying a lobulated, highly vascular mass. The mass contained irregular and tortuous vessels without any arteriovenous shunting.


Oncocytoma of kidney.

Oncocytoma of kidney. Oncocytoma is a rare, benign tumor of the kidney of which only 20 cases have been reported previously in the literature. We document 2 additional cases of renal oncocytoma and review the salient gross and microscopic features which characterize this tumor.


Amyloidosis of renal pelvis and urinary bladder. We describe a patient with amyloidosis of renal pelvis and 2 patients with urinary bladder amyloidosis. Clinical presentation in all of the cases mimicked cancer of the respective sites. Clinical diagnosis of amyloidosis is not possible, making biopsy mandatory. Immunology of amyloid formation and treatment of amyloidosis are discussed.


Permanent percutaneous antegrade ureteral stent placement without transurethral assistance. A simple, one-step, permanent, percutaneous, antegrade insertion of a ureteral stent is described, utilizing a double, pigtail catheter. No transurethral assistance is necessary. The advantages of this simplified technique are presented, and the necessary prerequisites for its application are discussed.


Improved radiographic visualization of calculus in distal ureter. Roentgenographic visualization of a calculus in the distal ureter is often made difficult by gas or bowel contents in the region of the pelvis. Filling the bladder with sterile water raises the bladder dome and displaces the bowel upward. Any calculus in the lower 4 to 5 cm. of the distal ureter is then clearly demonstrated on roentgenograms taken against the water-filled bladder instead of against the bowel filled with gas and feces. This maneuver also aids in differentiation of a calculus in the distal ureter from a phlebolith in the bladder wall, and has improved visualization of distal ureteral calculus in 50 patients during the last six years.


Lead poisoning in Canada geese: a case report. A case report of lead poisoning in Canada geese at Cheyenne Bottom Wildlife Management Area in Kansas is presented. Seventy-nine dead geese and 10 geese too weak too fly were found by management personnel. Clinical signs in the live geese were weakness, lethargy, anorexia, emaciation and bile stained diarrhea. Seventeen geese were necropsied. Lesions were impacted roots and fibrous stalks in the esophagus and proventriculus and numerous lead shot in the gizzard. One to 44 lead shot (mean 13) were found in the 17 gizzards examined. The concentration of lead in liver and kidney was 9.21 to 102.56 ug/g (wet weight). The presence of lead shot in the gizzard, characteristic clinical signs, and the concentration of lead in the liver and kidney confirmed the diagnosis of lead poisoning.


Combinative effects of hexachlorobenzene and crowding on rat adrenal cell mitochondria. The effects of social stress (crowding) on hexachlorobenzene (HCB) toxicity in male rats was evaluated by a morphometrical analysis of adrenal cortex mitochondria. The social stress was produced by transferring singly-housed rats from cages of ample size (1000 cm2 floor space) into small cages (100 cm2 floor space) each containing four rats. Differences in cage design as well as size may have contributed to the overall stress experienced by the rats. The food of the treated rats was supplemented with 250 ppm HCB. Structural changes in mitochondrial volume, surface area, or cristae area were not significant in HCB-treated or in crowded animals when compared with those of the controls. However, increases in mitochondrial volume and diameter were significant in those animals simultaneously challenged by HCB and crowding. The results strongly suggest that even a relatively mild social stress may adversely affect the ability of an animal to resist the effects of some exogenous chemicals.


The acute toxicity of ethanol: dosage and kinetic nomograms. We are concerned with the frequency of potentially lethal ethanol intoxications (about 1 pint of hard liquor) in teenagers. We present 2 illustrative cases, discuss the acute toxicity of ethanol, and present 2 simple calculating charts for dosage and kinetics. The widespread use and economic impact of ethanol have kept this potent sedative-hypnotic free of the same federal regulations that control the availability of other drugs with a similar potency and margin of safety.


Tumor-specific transplantation and surface antigen in cells transformed by the adenovirus 12 DNA fragments. Adenovirus type 12 (Ad 12) tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA) and the surface (S) antigen were examined using rat cells transformed with Ad 12 DNA and its fragments. WY3 (3Yl cells transformed with Ad 12 whole DNA), CYl (3Yl cells transformed with the EcoRI-C fragment of Ad 12 DNA), and GY cells (3Yl cells transformed with the HindIII-G fragment of Ad 12 DNA) contained TSTA and S antigen, but HY cells (3Y1 cells transformed with the BpaI-H fragment of Ad12 DNA) did not. These results suggest that TSTA and S antigens contain a protein(s) coded for by a portion of the transforming gene.


[Effect of deficient and excess thiamine on the lipid makeup of the rat liver plasma membranes]. Single administration of thiamin at a high dose (40 mg) 100 g of body weight into rats led to an increase in content of phospholipids in liver plasmatic membranes; cholesterol and the ratio between phospholipid fractions were unaltered. Maintaining of rats on a rice diet (dietary B1-avitaminosis) as well as a single administration of hydroxythiamin into animals at doses 10 mg and 40 mg per 100 g of body weight did not affect the content of cholesterol and phospholipids in liver plasmatic membranes. At the same time, the ratio of the phospholipid fraction was altered in plasmatic membranes: in dietary B1-avitaminosis content of lecithin was decreased and the content of lysolecithin was increased, high of hydroxythiamin decreased the content of sphingomyelin. Hydroxythiamin at a dose of 10 mg/kg of body weight did not affect these patterns.


[Mitochondrial energy processes of the visual system in the rabbit brain normally and under conditions of light deprivation]. A rate of endogenous respiration in mitochondria of rabbit brain visual system (visual cortex, forebrain) was higher under conditions of light deprivation (from birth up to 2.5 month) as compared with the mitochondria of control animals. The mitochondria of experimental rabbits were characterized by distinct alteration in oxidative phosphorylation of glutamic acid, by an increased rate of electron transport at the step between cytochrome c-cytochrome oxidase-succinate dehydrogenase of the respiratory chain as well as by the peculiar effect of rothenone and DNP on the chain. All the patterns studied approached the control value within the period of restoration of light impulsation. Nonlinear type of the regenerating processes was observed. Role of specific impulsation and compensatory reactions in the age-dependent development of energy processes in brain mitochondria is discussed.


[Mechanism of the effect of immobilized noradrenaline on the contact phase of blood coagulation]. A deficiency in the contact phase of blood coagulation, depending on the specific isolation of Fletcher's factor (prekallikreins) from blood plasma, was observed after chromatography of blood plasma on a column with noradrenaline-Sepharose. Activation of kalliklein and dekinination of high-molecular kininogene occurred after the interaction between proenzymes of contact phase of blood coagulation (factor XII, prekallikreins, high-molecular kininogene).


[Effect of sterols on erythrocyte membrane properties in experimental rickets]. Experimental rickets in rats was accompanied by a distinct increase in content of cholesterol and its esters, scvalene, lanosterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol in erythrocyte membranes with simultaneous decrease in content of total phospholipids. The alterations in lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes led to an increase in osmotic stability, to a decrease in glucose utilization and 45Ca incorporation into the erythrocytes. Acidic erythrogramms indicated an appearance in circulation of erythrocytes resistent to the effect of acidic hemolytics. Content of all the sterols studied was decreased in erythrocyte membranes after administration of liposomes into animals with experimental rickets; this demonstrates the relationship between the properties of the arythrocytes and sterole composition of their membranes. Incubation of erythrocytes with liposomes containing cholesterol or free from cholesterol caused a decrease or accumulation of cholesterol in the cell, respectively.


[Polarographic determination of lipid hydroperoxides in the liver of guinea pigs on a varying allowance of ascorbic acid]. As shown by polarographic method, administration of high doses of ascorbic acid into guinea pigs (100 mg per 100 g of body weight) within two weeks led to a distinct increase (2-fold) in concentration of endogenous peroxides in liver tissue. Maintaining of the animals on a diet, deficient in vitamin C, within 4 weeks (scorbutic animals) was accompanied by 1.6-fold decrease in content of lipid peroxides in liver tissue as compared with control group.


[Hexokinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity and isoenzymatic makeup of the smooth gastric muscle in intact and sympathectomized rabbits]. After immunological sympathectomy in rabbits activity and isoenzyme spectra of hexokinase (HK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied in smooth muscle of stomach. Activity of KH in the muscles was statistically significant due to increase in content of a single isoenzyme of HK occurring in the tissue. Activity o LDH was unaltered. However the isoenzyme apectrum of the enzyme was changed: content of M-subunits was decreased and the content of H-subunits was increased. These alterations may lead to an increase in redox potential in cells of the tissues.


[Effect of thyroxine on the protein makeup of condensed and diffuse chromatin from the liver of rats of different ages]. Contant composition of histones and marked alterations in the non-histone proteins were found in condensed and diffuse chtomatins of rat liver tissue during postnatal ontogenesis both in normal state and in treatment with thyroxine. Thyroxine affected the ratio histones (non-histone proteins in condensed chromatin of animals of the all age groups studied, except the old rats, in which the ration did not differ from the control values. After thyroxine administration the ratio histones) non-histone proteins was increased in diffuse chromatin of predolescent rats; the ratio was slightly decreased in diffuse chromatin of puberal rats and it was remarkably unaltered in the chromatin of adult and t was remarkably unaltered in the chromatin of adult an old animals. Considering the fact that thyroxine increased in the condensed chromatin the content of non-histone proteins and decreased the content of histones, the data obtained suggest that the hormone caused a shift in the ratio condensed/diffuse chromatin towards the increase in content of the diffuse chromatin.


[Comparative electrophoretic analysis of plasma histonelike proteins and other basic proteins in rats with fibrosarcoma]. Histone-like proteins were isolated from blood plasma of rats with tumors. By polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis the proteins were separated into two fractions, resembling in their mobility histone fractions H1 and H2b+H2a. Basic proteins, occurring in blood plasma and used as standards (globulin, interferon, RNAase, lysozyme), were markedly distinct in their electrophoretic properties from both histone fractions and the histone-like proteins isolated from blood plasma. These histones apparently originate from nucleoproteins of blood plasma.


[Lipid content in the blood serum of children and adolescents]. Content of lipids was studied in blood serum of 350 practically healthy children and teen-agers of both sexes at the age of 5-14 living in Moscow. The mean content of cholesterol was 169 mg per 100 ml in blood serum of the children; it did not depend on the age and sex. The upper level of the normal cholesterol content was about 205 mg/100 ml. Concentration of triglycerides was gradually increased in children blood serum with an increase in age from 51 mg/100 ml in 5-9 year old children up to 68 mg/100 ml at the age of 10-14 years and did not depend on sex. The increase in concentration of triglycerides correlated with an elevation in pre-beta-lipoprotein fraction in blood serum. The mean content of triglycerides was 60 mg/100 ml in 5-14 year old children. The upper level of normal triglyceride content was 115 mg/100 ml of blood serum for children of the age group studied.


[Effect of taurine on 45Ca2+ binding by the microsomal membranes of brain cells]. Effect of taurine o binding of 45Ca2+ and 8-aniline-I-naphthaline culfonate by microsomes of rat brain cells was studied. Increased accumulation of Ca2+ in phospholipids of microsomes as well as a distinct decrease in the number of sites for binding of 8-aniline-I-naphthaline sulfonate were observed in presence of taurine. Activity of Ca2+-ATPase was simultaneously increased. The data obtained suggest that the effect of taurine on biomembranes is related to local alterations in their surface charge.


[Effect of early visual deprivation on glutamate decarboxylase activity in the visual analyzer of the brain]. Early vision deprivation decreased in dogs (45-days age) the activity of glutamate decarboxylase in all the structures of brain visual analyzer studied as well as decreased the enzyme activation by exogenous pyridoxal-5-phosphate. With areing (in 90-days old dogs) the deprivation proved to be less effective in relation to decrease in the glutamate decarboxylase activity in external geniculate body but caused the same affect in the visual zone of brain cortex and in anterior mesencephalon. The deprivation exhibited similar effect on formation of asparaginic acid.


[Purine and pyrimidine bases entering the composition of DNA and RNA studied by gas-liquid chromatography]. A methods for gas chromatographic analysis of purine and pyrimidine bases, occurring DNA and RNA, is described. Preparation of samples for analysis is discussed. Procedures are described, which enable to perform rapid and quantitative analysis of the nitrogenous bases. Minimal volumes of the materials to be studied might be analyzed with high reproducibility.


[Change in aldolase activity in the organs of mice in the process of hepatoma 22a development]. The aldolase activity was measured using two substrates fructose-I-phosphate (FIP) and fructose-1,6-diphosphate (FDP) in the supernatant fraction of homogenates of different mice organs (liver, muscle, brain) and hepatoma tissues during growth of hepatoma 22a. Kinetic parameters Km and Vmax were calsulated. The most essential changes in the activity of aldolase were found during the latent and terminal stares of the hepatoma development. The changes in the aldolase activity observed during development of hepatoma 22a were characterized by altered substrate specificity VFDP /VFIP activity gatio). This ratio was not changed distinctly in liver tissue; in muscles the value decreased from 50 (tumor-free control) to 15 during terminal stages; in brain, to the contrary, it was increased from 20 to 50. The values of Km, Vmax and VFDP /VFIP were similar both in the hepatoma at the eleventh day  and in normal brain tissue. The specific inhibition of FDP aldolase activity by ATP was found. Substitution of aldolase B by aldolase AC apparantly ossurred in hepatoma 22a. The data obtained suggest that alteration in the parameters studied may be due to variation in the ration of isozymes.


[Isolation, purification and the physicochemical properties of the monoamine oxidase from the myocardium]. A preparation of monoamine oxidase, purified 20-fold with a yield of 20%, was isolated from mitochondrial fraction of bovine heart after treatment with a nonionic detergent Triton X-100 combined with sonication followed by gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and Sepharose 6B. By the data of gel filtration molecular weight of the preparation was 330,000. Two protein fractions with molecular weights of 84,000 and 90,000 were found using disc electrophoresis in 7.5% polyacrylamide gel containing 2-mercaptoethanol and sodium dodecylsulfate. The purified enzyme contained 8.6 mol of SH-groups per 100,000 daltons of protein, 4.1 micrograms of inogranic phosphate per 1 mg of protein; Km value was 37.6 microM for benzylamine as a substrate. In experiments with elective inhibitors of monoamine oxidases the enzyme from bovine heart muscle exhibited high sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of deprenyl, which characterises the monoamine oxidases of the B type.


[RNA and nuclear protein synthesis in regenerating and uninjured rabbit tissues]. Synthesis of RNA and nuclear proteins was activated in regenerating rabbit muscles within 2-8 days after trauma; within the subsequent periods (13-31 days) it was comparable with control values in most cases. The trauma affected the RNA synthesis in several other nontraumatized tissues of animals.


[Topography, physicochemical and kinetic properties of the branched amino acid transaminases of the gastric and pancreatic mucosa]. About 40% of transaminase of branched amino acids were shown to be localized in mitochondrial matrix of pancreatic gland. The transaminases from pancreas and gastric mucosa had pH optima around pH 8.6. The enzymatic activity was increased with an increase in temperature to 50 degrees. In presence of 10 microM concentration of alpha-ketoglutarate Km volume of these two enzymes from postmitochondrial fraction of gastric mucosa and of pancreas were equal to 9.7 . 10(-4)M and 9.0 . 10(-4)M for leucine, 1.1.10(-4) M and 4.10(-3) M for valine, 6.4.10(-4) M and 8.5.10(-4) for isoleucine, respectively. The reaction or transamination proceeded via formation of a substituted form of the enzyme. The transaminase activity was inhibited by capronic acid (I506.8.10(-4) M), valeric acid (I508.10(-4)M), butyric acid (I50 5.8.10(-3) M) and propionic acid (I50 2.10(-2) M).


[New aspects in the development and standardization of a method for determining prostaglandins in biological fluids and tissues]. A new method is described for separation of prostglandines (PG) of the A, E and F groups using microcolumns with silicic acid. Various concentrations of methanol in chloroform (2.5%, 4% and 20%) were used for reproducible elution of PG. The new method provides considerable advantages as compared with the previously published procedure. The data on quantitative estimation of PG by the newly developed method are compared with the conventional methods of column chromatography. Optimal conditions for preparation and storage of biological samples, methods for extraction of PG from blood plasma and tissues are recommended on the basis of the data published in the literature and of the results obtained.


[Change in the free amino acid concentration of the developing brain under the influence of antenatal hypoxia]. Concentration of free amino acids was studied in various parts of brain (hemisphere, brain stem) of 14- and 30-days old rats with antenatal hypoxia. In hemispheres of 14-days old rats concentrations of 5 amino acids were altered, in the brain stem content of 3 amino acids was altered. In the pool of free amino acids of the 30-days old gats content of 7 amino acids was altered in hemispheres and content of 9 amino acids - in the brain stem. More rapid accumulation of cystathionine in hemispheres and of glycine in the brain stem was observed in animals with antenatal hypoxia. In these conditions accumulation of glutamic acid in hemispheres and of taurine - in the brain stem was retarded as compared with control animals.


The utilisation of a new strength citrate anticoagulant during centrifugal plateletpheresis. III. Assessment of in vitro platelet metabolism. Employing the Haemonetics Blood Processor (IFC), a relatively pure platelet concentrate can be prepared by collecting only the first portion of the PRP leaving the centrifuge bowl (Fraction I). A subsequent fraction containing RBC and WBC contaminants (Fraction II) can be purified by means of a second centrifugation, using a conventional blood bank centrifuge (Fraction II), if transfusion of these contaminants would be detrimental to the recipient. Utilising the new 1.4% Na3-citrate anticoagulant, platelet metabolic parameters (ATP, ADP, AMP, lactate and pyruvate) as well as O2-uptake, were determined in Fraction I and II prepared from 10 normal healthy subjects. In contrast to previous studies reporting marked dysfunction in platelets contained in Fraction II when standard ACD-A was used during IFC, we observed no significant difference (Student's t test) in the present study between Fractions I and II, in regard to platelet metabolism, when using the new anticoagulant. It is further concluded that the second centrifugal manipulation does not exert a detrimental effect on platelet metabolism.


HLA antigens in HBsAg infection.

HLA antigens in HBsAg infection. The HLA typing of hemodialysis patients and normal subjects suggests a negative association of B8 and positive association of B5 with the development of anti-HBs and a negative association of BW35 with HBsAg antigenemia.


Red cell enzyme activities and properties of mutant pyruvate kinase after long-term storage of red cells in liquid nitrogen. After 8 months of storage of normal red cells in liquid nitrogen, red cell enzyme activities were essentially unchanged, except for triose phosphate isomerase which was reduced by about half. Mutant pyruvate kinase (PK), PK Tokyo I, showed no changes in kinetic or electrophoretic properties after 8 months of storage. These findings indicate that red cells stored for a long term in liquid nitrogen can still be used for the study of mutant PK.


Protease inactivation of the red cell antigen Xga. The study of the agglutinability of Xg(a + ) cells by several examples of anti-Xga and absorption-elution tests showed that the red blood cell antigen Xga is destroyed by proteases commonly used in blood group serology but not by neuraminidase.


Preparation of stable intermediate-purity factor VIII concentrate with a note on high-purity factor VIII. Cryoprecipitate prepared by a rapid thawing technique was pooled in batches of 600--720 donor units and washed with ice-cold Tris-citrate-NaCl solution. After dissolving at 37 degrees C, it was adsorbed with Al(OH)3 and kaolin, and cleared by centrifugation. The supernatant, diluted with 5% dextrose was passed repeatedly through a bed of Celite, filtered through a 293 mm X 0.3 micrometer membrane disc and lyophilized. Typical composition was 15 U . ml-1 factor VII, and 40 mg . ml-1 protein with a yield of 300 U/l of starting plasma. The crude factor VIII concentrate was also a suitable material for preparation of high-purity factor VIII by controlled pore glass chromatography.


Immunological identification of blood group Pk antigen on normal human erythrocytes and isolation of anti-Pk with different affinity. The P1 and Pk blood group glycolipid antigens have the common terminal disaccharide, Gal(alpha, 1-4)Gal, but previous studies indicated that anti-P1 from P2 individuals does not cross-react with Pk antigen. In this paper, the specificities of anti-P1 and anti-Pk were analyzed carefully by complement fixation and hemagglutination techniques and the following results were obtained: (1) Anti-P1 from P2 serum was not absorbed with the Pk glycolipid (CTH), but this antigen absorbed all anti-P1 and anti-Pk (anti-P1Pk) antibodies from the sera of four p individuals. Most of the anti-P1Pk antibodies were IgG, but the anti-p1 from the P2 individual was IgM. (2) The Pk antigen on normal P2 erythrocytes was not 'cryptic'. It was reactive with p serum from which the anti-P antibodies were removed by absorption with the P glycolipid (globoside). This was not appreciated previously because, in order to make anti-Pk reagents, p sera (anti-P1PPk) were absorbed with P1 cells which contain CTH. (3) The anti-P1Pk antibodies in p sera were separated by partial absorption with P1 erythrocytes and elution from the absorbing cells, into two fractions that differ markedly in their affinity for alpha-methyl-D-galactoside and the oligosaccharides prepared from CTH.


Kell phenotypes in 15 Japanese patients with chronic granulomatous disease. The red cell Kell phenotypes were examined in 15 Japanese patients with chronic granulomatous disease. No McLeod type was found. A low incidence of the association of chronic granulomatous disease with the McLeod type in the Japanese is suggested.


Expression of T-antigen on polyagglutinable erythrocytes and carcinoma cells: preparation of T-activated erythrocytes, anti-T lectin, anti-T absorbed human serum and purified anti-T antibody. Recent interest has been revived in the human MN blood group system due to the discovery of the MN precursor substance (T-antigen) on certain malignant, but not benign or normal tissues. Methods for preparing T-activated erythrocytes, anti-T lectin, anti-T absorbed human serum and purified anti-T antibody are described and should be useful not only to the researcher involved in this new line of investigation, but also to the routine blood bank faced with the occasional problem of erythrocyte polyagglitinability.


Impact of the protein content of red cell concentrates on the optimum use of blood. It was previously shown, in theory and in practice, that a blood component program utilizing 80--85% of all donations as red cell concentrates with a hematocrit of 70% contributes substantially to the coverage of national albumin demands without increasing the need for that protein. The current trend towards the production of red cell concentrates with hematocrits around 85% by the removal of more plasma prompted a computer simulation study of the effects of this modification on the protein and monetary economy of a component program. The results suggest that a hematocrit around 70% constitutes an optimum in these respects. In a general way, they point to the desirability of examining the repercussions of isolated modifications of the processing of blood donations on the system as a whole prior to their large-scale application.


Changes in the inhibition of specific agglutination by plasma due to microvesicles released from human red cells during storage for transfusion. The progressive appearance of erythrocyte antigenic activity in plasma from donations of human blood taken into acid citrate-dextrose (ACD) and stored at 4 degrees D for transfusion has been studied. It has been shown by specific inhibition tests that A, B, H and P1 activities are associated with membrane-bounded microvesicles which are released from the red cell membrane during the disc-echinocyte-spherocyte shape transformation. Although M group activity appears to be lost from the red cell membrane during storage, significant recovery on the microvesicles is not obtained even though these seem to contain the M and N group intrinsic protein, glycophorin.


Gn allotypes in mother-father-cord trios. A selective transfer of autologous, fetal IgG to the mother. When tested at a standard dilution (1:30), mother-cord Gm phenotypes are identical. A more sensitive assay reveals that the fetus does possess paternal antigen, that is, does produce small amounts of autologous IgG. The paternal antigens, in both the mother and the cord plasma, appear in a mosaic, one that suggests the fetus has the ability to selectively transfer his own IgG subclasses to the mother.


Survival studies of 51Cr Ch(a+) red blood cells in a patient with anti-Cha, and massive transfusion of incompatible blood. Survival studies of 51Cr, Ch(a+) red blood cells in a patient with anti-Cha, showed normal survival time in the observation period of 6 days. Successive massive transfusion of Ch(a+) blood was performed without any complication. A very strong secondary immune response to the Ch antigen was observed.


The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen and its antibody in blood donors and high risk groups in Iran. The prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs among voluntary blood donors, professional blood donors, INBTS laboratory staff, haemophiliacs and the patients and medical personnel of three haemodialysis centres was compared. The 3.4% incidence of HBsAg found among 168,890 voluntary donors was significantly less than the 8.4% found among 378 professional blood donors. The prevalence of HBsAg was higher in male than in female donors, and also higher in single than in married donors. Prevalence of HBsAg was unrelated to ABO-Rh blood group but was related to age. Anti-HBs was found in 30% of voluntary blood donors, 67% of professional donors, 68% of haemodialysis patients, 39% of haemodialysis staff, 86% of haemophiliacs and in only 4.8% of HBsAg carriers. Subtyping of HBsAg found in 100 voluntary donors showed 65 were ay; 5 ad; 10 ad + ay and 20 were untypable.


An evaluation of N-ethyl-maleimide-induced lipid peroxidation in platelet concentrates stored at 4 or 22 degrees C. A method for the quality control of platelet viability, based on N-ethyl-maleimide (NEM)-induced lipid peroxidation, is reported. Duplicate platelet concentrates from individual donors were stored at 22 and 4 degrees C, respectively. At time 0 and at 24-hour intervals, pH, O2  and CO2 tensions, ADP-induced aggregation, glass adhesivity, hypotonic shock response (HSR) and NEM-induced lipid peroxidation were measured. A highly significant correlation between NEM-induced lipid peroxidation and HSR was established, which suggests that the former method can be used for the in vitro prediction of posttransfusion survival of preserved platelets.


HLA antigens and the response to influenza A virus. An attempt was made to confirm a previously reported association between HLA type B16 and resistance to infection with live attenuated influenza A virus vaccine. No differences were found either in the ability of influenza virus to attach to fractionated white blood cells from HLB B16 subjects compared to cells from subjects of other HLA types, nor in the incidence of antibodies to three consecutive epidemic strains of influenza in sera from B16 subjects and control subjects. The association between HLA B16 and resistance to influenza could not be confirmed in a retrospective analysis of a clinical trial of a live attenuated influenza vaccine.


HLA antigens on red blood cells. Two donors with extraordinarily strong reactivity. We have shown exceptionally strong HLA reactivity of the red blood cells (RBC) of two healthy blood donors, concerning several HLA antigens. HLA antigens not usually detectable on RBC are also expressed on the RBC of these donors. The RBC show a broad spectrum of reactivity with sera containing HLA antibodies. Absorption/elution experiments with these RBC and HLA antisera proved successful. Absorption studies with leucocytes showed that HLA-A2 and A28 behaved as separate specificities also on RBC, even though antisera always seem to contain heamagglutinins that react with both specificities. We found no evidence that HLA is associated with beta2-microglobulin on the RBC membrane.


A large-scale survey on the prevalence of HBeAG and anti-HBe among asymptomatic carriers of HBV. Correlation with sex, age, HBsAG titre and s-GPT value. During September and October of 1977, a total of 342,407 apparently healthy blood donors were screen for HBsAG by reversed PHA, and 6,342 (1.9%) asymptomatic carriers of HBV were identified. Prevalence of HBeAG and anti-HBe among HBV carriers was tested by our immunodiffusion method after serum samples had been concentrated threefold. The results were evaluated with reference to sex and age of donors, as well as HBsAG titre and s-GPT level in the serum. HBeAG was found slightly but significantly more often in male donors than in female donors (19.1 vs. 16.7%). In contrast, anti-HBe was found less frequently in males than in females (49.6 vs. 53.1%). Frequency of HBeAG decreased, while frequency of anti-HBe increased with age both in male and female carriers. The prevalence of HBeAG increased in parallel with the titre of HBsAG, whereas the prevalence of anti-HBe was approximately reciprocal to it. An abnormally high value of s-GPT (41 KARMEN U/ml or more) was found in 10.0% of the carriers with HBeAG, contrasting with 3.4% of those with anti-HBe.


[Our experience with outside laboratory quality control]. The results from the national outside laboratory qualitative control of the clinical diagnostic laboratory investigations for the period September 1975 -- May 1977 were described. The following interlaboratory discrepancy was found on base of a systematic analysis of the data from the last two ring-like check-ups, November 1976 and May 1977, exressed by the variation coefficient (V.C. %); total protein, sodium, potassium and chlorides -- under 10%; cholesterol, urea and total fats -- between 10 and 20%; calcium, phosphorus, iron and creatinine -- over 20%. The highest per cent of admissible results are found with total protein -- to 85%; cholesterol -- to 70.38%; glucosa -- to 73.17%, urea -- to 69.23%, potassium -- to 59.46%, chlorides -- to 57.9%. With sodium, phosphorus, calcium, iron creatinine and uric acid the "admissibility" fluctuates about or under 50 per cent. The values of the qualitative-control indices discussed are comparable with the values obtained from them in the interlaboratory comparisons of other countries.


[Level of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (F/FDP) in certain internal diseases]. Serum FDPs were investigated in 30 healthy and 95 patients with pulmonary thrombembolia, not-stabilized angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematodes and dermatomyositis. FDPs are determined by hemagglutination inhibition according to Merskey. They are found in the sera of the healthy in average values of 3.73 mkgr/ml. The highest average values in the first 24 h were found in case of pulmonary thrombembolia up to 106.64 mkgr/ml, followed by rheumatoid arthritis 26.3 mkgr/ml, myocardial infarction with complication 22.4 mkgr/ml, rheumatism +5.58 mkgr/ml, not-stabilized angina pectoris 5.5 mkgr/ml; and noncomplicated myocardial infarction 4.3 mkgr/ml. By the third day of the disease FDP in pulmonary thrombembolia decreased, whereas a negligible elevation was observed in case of non-complicated myocardial infarction. The results were interpreted as well as the cause for the presence of the mentioned products in those groups of diseases. FDP determination is recommended as a routine method in case of: diagnosis of pulmonary thrombembolia, differentiation of myocardial infarction with or without complications, differentiation of pulmonary thrombembolia from myocardial infarction in emergency states, progressing with chest pain, collapse phenomena, dyspnea and establishment of the activity of the process of rheumatoid arthritis. FDP determination in stenocardia and rheumatism is not expedient.


[Fibrin degradation products in the urine in diabetic nephropathy]. An immunologic methods was used in the assessment of FDP (fragments D and E). Urine of 15 diabetics with diabetic nephropathy was investigated. FDP findings are compared with the clinical picture and needle renal biopsy in some of the patients. The method is recommended as a sensitive diagnostic tests for the clinical practice.


[Cytogenetic and hormonal studies of persons occupationally irradiated with ionizing radiation]. Cytogenetic investigations were carried out on 23 subjects and hormonal -- on 18 of them, working in the sphere of ionizing radiation at medical institutions. After the quantitative processing of the results from the cytogenetic investigations, statistically significant differences were established to exist in cell obtaining with aberations, chromozome and chromatide fragments as compared with the spontaneous frequency of healthy subjects. Statistically significant differences were observed also in the group with length of service over 10 years as regards the dicentrics obtaining as well. With the follow-up of hormone concentrations in blood plasma a statistical decrease was found in the level of sex hormones -- testosterone in males and progesterone in females, accompanied by increased level of FSH, suggesting a primarily damage of gonads (testis and ovaries). Plasma cortisol level is statistically significant increased in all subjects examined whereas aldosterone level is normal in subjects with a length of service to 10 years and statistically significant decrease with a length of service over 10 years.


[Echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function in mitral valve prolapse]. Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricle functions was performed in 52 cases with idiopathic prolapse of mitral valve, confirmed on the base of the simultaneous presence of the well known auscultatory, phonocardiographic and echocardiographic criteria. Mitral prolapse was established not to be a homogenous group as regards left ventricle function. The majority of the cases (80.7%) had normal EchoC-indices for the pump and total and local contraction function of left ventricle. The cases without (25%) or with light stage (55.7%) mitral regurgitation are included here. In the presence of hemodynamic significant mitral insufficiency -- 13.5% of the cases. EchoC-manifestations for volume left-ventricle loading were found -- enlarged telediastolic dimension and volume of the left ventricle cavity, light hypertrophy and hypercontractility of the interventricular septum and/or the unattached posterior wall of left ventricle, enlarged left ventricle, increased velocity of EF-segment of the anterior mitral cusp. As a rule, a moderate mitral regurgitation is concerned in those cases. In a small number of cases with mitral prolapse (5.8%) EchoC-manifestations for a light to moderate pump and general and/or local contraction function of left ventricle was established without clinical data for a stasis in left ventricle cardiac insufficiency. Grounds exist to admit that in the last cases, a rather not severe local or more diffuse lesion of the left ventricle myocardium is concerned, its relationship with the mitral valve prolapse remaining obscure.


[Observations of the mitral valve prolapse syndrome. 14 cases of inheritance of the syndrome]. The author, for a short period of several months, found 129 cases with the syndrome of mitral valve prolapse. A case is described with a combination of the syndrome with congenital complicated cardiopathy: pulmonary arterial stenosis, interventricular defect and persisting arteriarl low. A considerable part of the patients had dysplastic growth anomalies. In 13, out of the 14 inquired families, the syndrome was found simultaneously in the father or mother and the child. The significance of the hereditary anomaly of the connective tissue in the syndrome genesis is emphasized.


[Clinical use of electrical atrial stimulation]. Electric auricle stimulation (EAS) was realized in a total of 77 patients. In 60 of the patients EAS was performed as a hypoxic test (step-wise increase of heart rate, with ECG registration and in many of the cases -- registration of certain indices of general and intracardial hemodynamics) with a view to precise diagnosis of ischemic heart disease and assessment of myocardial contraction function. In 91 per cent of the patients with stenosed coronary pathology on coronarogram, the symptoms of coronary insufficiency were positive (pain attack, ECG changes via ischemic type and/or deterioration of the myocardial functional curve) with the aid of EAS. Various correlations were established between the manifestations of coronary insufficiency and the deterioration of the functional curve of left ventricle. Furthermore, in the majority of the cases, one way results, among the data of veloergometry, coronarography and EAS, were recorded. In some cases EAS provided additional data for coronary insufficiency with negative veloergometric test (7 patients) and negative coronarography (5 patients). EAS could be applied in the diagnostics of ischemic heart disease, and in a hemodynamic aspect, via EAS a myocardial loading is realized with a minimum change of cardiac index and aortic pressure. In 16 patients EAS was applied with a view to the investigation of the functional state of sinal node and heart conduction system. In 13 patients, data about the syndrome of morbid sinal node were found (pathologic time of sinal node restoration) or for a latent lesion of heart conduction system. In the other three patients the suspicion of syndrome of morbid sinal node was not confirmed. The data obtained contributed to the determination of the therapeutic approach of those patients. In 5 patients a high frequency auricle electrostimulation was applied successfully in the interruption of paroxysms of supraventricular tachycardia. EAS was concluded, on the base of the data obtained, to be appropraite for application and precise diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, as well as in the studies on sinal node state and heart conduction system. In some rhythm disturbances, resistant to medicamentosus treatment, the electric auricle stimulation could prove a valuable therapeutic method.


[Tuberculosis in patients treated with chronic dialysis]. Four cases with tuberculosis, not differentiated clinically and one case with ordinary septic process, falsly diagnosed as tuberculosis are described in patients treated with long-term hemodialysis. The errors admitted are analyzed, the significance of the atypical tuberculosis forms being stressed upon, especially miliary tuberculosis, pulmonary uremic edema, resembling disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis as well as of reduced activity in searching and diagnosis of tuberculosis. A plan and indications for the treatment of those infections in patients with kidney diseases are presented, treated with long-term hemodialysis.


[Factors leading to a delay and errors in the diagnosis of cancer of the digestive system]. The investigation covers 96 patients from Sofia, with cancer of the digestive system, with unsatisfactory early diagnosis -- 3.6 per cent and operability -- 36 per cent. The diagnosis was made after about an average of 6.4 months of the clinical onset of the diseases. Time loss is mainly due to diagnostic errors and less to late asking for doctor's attendance. More than 1/2 of the patients were treated "blindfold" without the proper X-ray and endoscopic investigations and specialized consultations. The most frequent diagnostic errors are: in case of gastric cancer -- "chronic gastritis" and "ulcer disease", 38.9 per cent and 30.6 per cent resp. and in case of cancer of colon and rectum -- "chronic colitis" 37 per cent and "hemorrhoids" -- 22.2 per cent. The patient's delay in the first examination shows an indirect dependence on education and health culture but is conditioned by a complicated complex of solial and psychological moments.


[Infrared spectroscopy of the dry urinary residue of healthy persons]. Dry urine residue and mineralized dry urine of clinically healthy subjects, aged from 2 months to 94 years were investigated by the method of infrared spectroscopy in Nujol and in tablets of potassium bromide. The subjects examined were subdivided into 4 age groups -- I group, children aged from 2 months to 12 months: II group -- 1 to 3 years: III group 20--80 years and IV group 80--94 years. The regions 900--1000 cm-1, where phosphates are absorbed, called "phosphate" region and 1500--1700 cm-1, where protein components are absorbed, called "protein" region were followed up. The following was observed with both methods: a) the maximum of "phosphate" band is shifted to the greater value of the wave number with age advancing, b) "protein" component intensity grows with age advancing. The general form of the spectra both in Nujol and in potassium bromide is characteristic and almost identical with both methods for each age group. The identity of the spectra enables the application of Nujol method in the practice as less labour consuming, not requiring special apparatuses and cheaper. The information obtained could be used as a comparison in urine tests of patients with bone tumours, where, according to literature data, characteristic spectra are observed.


[1 case of chronic active hepatitis].

[1 case of chronic active hepatitis]. A female patient is described, aged 18, with chronic active hepatitis post viral hepatitis, that led to exitus lethalis within one year and a half. Besides the numberous icteric periods and symptoms for intrahepatal cholestasis, the disease advanced with joint complaints, cardiac pulmonary and adrenal lesions. HBsAg is absent from blood but the latter was found in the nuclei of hapatic cells via electron microscopy. Diffusive hemorrhages were found in both adrenals as well as cortex thinness, reduction of fascicular zone and reduced lipids in cells. The role of the long-term immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolon and immuran is discussed in the origination of liver, adrenal, cardiac and pulmonary lesions (delayed type medicamentosus supersensitivity).


[Malignant tumor originating from the interstitial cells of the testis (leydigoma)]. The authors describe a very rare and very interesting case of malignant tumour, originating from the interstitial cells of the testis, developed in a male of 53, with multiple metastases. The patient developed chronic hypocorticism, owing to bilateral metastases in adrenal glands and finally followed by an Addison coma. The case is of interest because no data are available in literature about metastases in adrenals with and adrenal insufficiency advancement.


Polygraphic analysis of sleep and wakefulness in patients with Parkinson's syndrome. The present work is an analysis of 30 patients with Parkinsonian syndrome and 10 healthy persons during different functional states (aroused wakefulness, relaxed waking state, various phases and stages of nocturnal sleep, hypnosis). By means of polygraphic recordings and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) it has been shown that motor, emotional and autonomic activity during sleep as well as EEG changes in parkinsonism are uniformly related to the nature and extent of the pathologic alterations in the non-specific, predominantly activating brain systems.


[Individual evolution of idiopathic insomnia]. "When a patient comes to us with the complaint of insomnia, we have to consider 5 items: 1) the psychological structure; 2) the existence of sleep disorders in the family; 3) the antecendents of sleep disorders in the childhood; 4) the appearance (or reappearance several years later) of the insomnia; 5) the present situation. In our research, we have studied the evolution of a group of insomniacs, since the appearance of the symptom until the time when they came to our department. In order to define this evolution, we have compared these two successive situations, having choosen as criteria, the opposition existing between the motivation and problematic on the one hand, and the exterior constraints on the other hand."


Circadian rhythm in gonadotropin secretion in children with constitutional stature delay. Plasma levels of luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones were measured for 24 hours in six subjects affected by constitutional stature delay associated with sexual maturation delay. The children in pubertal stage exhibited fluctuating plasma concentrations of these hormones which significantly increased during sleep, as in healthy pubertal subjects. Thus in this type of delayed puberty, the synchronization of augmented gonadotropin secretion with sleep develops later in chronologic age but it is strongly related to bone age.


Perceptions of fatigue as related to alcohol ingestion. An experiment is reported in which the role of alcohol in the emergence of fatigue was studied. Eleven (11) participants were requested to operate a driver trainer until they found the task too adverse to continue under conditions of high blood alcohol (BACL greater than 0.08%), low blood alcohol (BACL less than 0.08%), and no blood alcohol. Skill and heart rate were monitored and any personal distresses or observations made about performance were reported to an experimenter who acted in the role of 'passenger'. Results show decline in endurance as blood alcohol increases, but that a higher level of personal distress is endured by drivers who have imbibed, as compared to those who have not. Systematic discrepancies occur between the impressions gained by the experimenter (passenger) from verbal reports made by the driver, and the kinds of self-ratings drivers provide. Features of fatigue are analyzed theoretically as perceptual phenomena as related to alcohol and accidents.


Stages of sleep evolution (facts and hypotheses). The paper contains new data concerning the peculiarities of sleep in poikilotherms (fish, amphibians, reptiles). A conclusion is drawn that sleep and the activation spontaneously arising against its background are the universal phenomena in vertebrates. A supposition is argued about the existence of evolutionary succession between the forms of sleep inherent in lower vertebrates and the quiet and active phases of homoiotherms' sleep.


Formation of the sleep-regulating mechanisms in vertebrates. The paper presents new data concerning the mechanisms of regulation of sleep-like states in vertebrates. Somato-vegetative and behavioral correlates of primary sleep (fish, amphibians), intermediate sleep (reptiles), slow-wave and paradoxical sleep (birds) are described. The evolutionary more ancient hypothalamo-cortical and young thalamo-cortical levels of regulation of different forms of sleep are examined. Problems of existence of functional analogues of homoiotherms' sleep are discussed.


Evoked potential study of the synchronizing and hypnogenic areas in the basal forebrain. On stimulating various basal forebrain structures, characteristic cortical evoked potentials, basic elements of the synchronization elicited, were studied in acute immobilized cats. Stimulation of the LH/10 cps/ resulted in short latency positive-negative evoked potentials, similar responses of increased latency were elicited from the RPO and TbOf. The laterobasal RPO and TbOf, the only areas able to induce cortical synchronization upon high frequency stimulation, could be clearly distinguished on the basis of evoked potentials. The laterobasal RPO was characterized by short latency, long-lasting positive potentials, while stimulation of TbOf elicited negative-positive responses. The relationship between the evoked potentials and the synchronizing mechanism of the basal forebrain is discussed.


Rapid melatonin transients.

Rapid melatonin transients. Two normal male subjects exhibited rapid pulses of melatonin concentration in plasma, apparently unrelated to stages of sleep and undisturbed with spontaneous waking during the night. Pulse intervals of approximately 8 and 12 min., respectively, for subjects 1 and 2, were associated with excursions of 35% and 33% of the nadir or 28% and 26% of the mean value. The pulses were detected with a 2.5 min. sampling interval.


[Proliferative diabetic retinopathy for over twenty years without glomerulosclerosis (author's transl)]. Proliferative retinopathy and glomerulosclerosis (Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease), crucial prognostic features in determining morbidity and mortality of diabetics nowadays, appear to be closely related: joint inadence, parallel progression and similar histological findings. A report is given on four cases suffering from proliferative retinopathy for 20 to 26 years, yet without any signs of glomerulosclerosis. The patient are all advanced in age (68 and more) and in relatively good general condition, but have, tragically, been blind for many years. Hence proliferative retinopathy, though part of diabetic angiography, is proved to originate independently from glomerulosclerosis although apparently so closely related to this syndrome. Nothing can be said in explanation of this fact, neither on a metabolic nor an organic basis.


[Carbohydrate metabolism investigations in children of diabetic mothers (author's transl)]. A follow-up examination was conducted in 65 children aged up to 7 years whose mothers manifested diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and who had to be transferred to the Children's Hospital at Glanzing, Vienna for post partum complications. No case of manifest diabetes mellitus was recorded. Carbohydrate metabolism was investigated by determining immunological insulin (IRI) and the insulinogenic index during an oral glucose tolerance (OGTT). Three children showed pathological findings; two of them showed incomplete or delayed insulin secretion during the OGTT. One child displayed an inadequate rise in the insulinogenic index with high individual insulin values during the OGTT, which gave border line results. We support the point of view that children of diabetic mothers should be controlled with regard to carbohydrate metabolism regularly to recognize premanifest diabetic states at an early stage.


Techniques for the computation in demographic projections of health manpower. Some basic principles and algorithms are presented which can be used for projective calculations of medical staff on the basis of demographic data. The effects of modifications of the input data such as by health policy measures concerning training capacity, can be demonstrated by repeated calculations with assumptions. Such models give a variety of results and may highlight the probable future balance between health manpower supply and requirements.


Working life of health professionals.

Working life of health professionals. A comparison was made between the indirect method of preparing a profession-specific working-life table and the direct method. The former uses data on the number of physicians per 1,000 population by age and assumes that the mortality rate for the profession is equal to that of the population as a whole. The latter method makes use of information on profession-specific mortality and on active and inactive status of living physicians. These two approaches were applied to physician data for the United States of America and it was noted that the direct method gives estimates of working life and total life expectancy that are significantly higher than by use of the indirect method. The likely magnitude and directions of the biases inherent in each of the methods are then discussed. A comparison is then made of the estimated working life for Colombian, French and US physicians using the indirect method.


Women in the health professions.

Women in the health professions. There is a very great diversity at international level with regard to the percentage of women in each of the three professions considered. As time goes on, however, this diversity appears to be slowly diminishing, partly as a result of an overall rise in the rates. Apart from a few cases, of which the most striking is that of physicians in the USSR, the proportion of women in the health professions increased, sometimes considerably, during the 1960s. In most cases, this growth was dependent on the following processes: --after the age of 50, the number of women at times declined less quickly than that of men, perhaps as a result of excess male mortality, --after the age of 35 and up to the age 50, the number of women in some cases declined less quickly than that of men, in particular as a result of a return to the profession by mothers once their children had grown up, --under the age of 35, the number of women in almost all cases increased much more rapidly than the number of men. The first two of these three processes were only of secondary importance, and in some cases, indeed, of no importance. The third was the one with the most pronounced effect on overall growth in the degree to which women were represented in the three professions considered by the study. This degree did not seem at any given time, to be linked to the proportion of members of the profession in the population (as expressed by the ratio of members of the profession to the population) nor to the proportion of women in gainful occupation (expressed as the female activity rate) nor to the national level of economic development (expressed as the national per capita income). It did, on the other hand, appear to be directly affected by each country's own policy decisions and academic traditions.


Studies related to the metabolism of anabolic steroids in the horse: testosterone. 1. After intramuscular administration of [4-14C]testosterone to two cross-bred gelded horses, 45% of the radioactivity was excreted in urine in 96 h. Small amounts of urinary activity could still be detected at 200 h. 2. Neutral metabolites obtained after both enzyme and acid hydrolysis of urine samples have been investigated by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. 3. 5 alpha-Androstane-3 beta, 17 alpha-diol was found only in the enzyme-hydrolysable extract and testosterone only in the acid-hydrolysable extract. 5 alpha-Androstane-3 beta, 17 beta-diol and 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-17-one were found predominantly in the acid-hydrolysable extract.


Metabolic fate of 3-(3-methylphenyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone (toloxatone), a new antidepressant agent, in man. 1. In man, the antidepressant agent 3-(3-methylphenyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone (toloxatone) on oral dosing was mainly eliminated in urine (80% dose in 12 h). 2. Plasma concn. of total radioactivity was max (5.8 micrograms equiv./ml) at 30 min to 1 h after administration and declined rapidly (t1/2, 1.25 h). Unchanged drug accounted for 48, 32 and 13% of plasma radioactivity at 15 min, 1 h and 6 h, respectively. 3. The drug was extensively metabolized. The major urinary metabolites were 3-(3-carboxyphenyl)-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinone and a glucuronide of toloxatone. A minor urinary metabolite, characterized as a phenolic derivative, was also excreted conjugated.


Mechanism of formation of mercapturic acids from (1-bromoethyl)benzene and (2-bromoethyl)benzene in the rat. 1. Three hypotheses have been proposed for the mechanism of metabolism of alkylhalides to hydroxy-alkylmercapturic acids, two of which involve the intermediate step of dehydrohalogenation and formation of an epoxide. 2. After injection of (1-bromoethyl)benzene in rat, the only mercapturic acid appearing in the urine was N-acetyl-S-1-phenylethylcysteine. After injecting (2-bromoethyl)benzene in the rat only N-acetyl-S-2-phenylethylcysteine and N-acetyl-S-(2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl)cysteine were found in the urine. 3. Since the principal mercapturic acid formed from both styrene and styrene oxide could not be detected in the urine of rats receiving either 1- or 2-bromoethyl benzene, the intermediate formation of styrene or styrene oxide from the arylalkylhalides does not occur.


Structural requirements for the inhibition of phthalate ester hydrolysis in rainbow trout by methylenedioxyphenyl compounds. 1. The ability of a number of methylenedioxyphenyl compounds and paraoxon to inhibit the hydrolysis and oxidation of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate by rainbow trout tissue preparations was examined. 2. In addition to paraoxon, only the methylenedioxyphenyl compounds with long side-chains (piperonyl butoxide and tropital) inhibited the hydrolysis of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate by trout liver subcellular fractions and trout serum. 3. Paraoxon decreased the production of the major metabolite of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate by trout liver microsomes (+ NADPH) suggesting that this metabolite arises via further metabolism of mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate.


Inhibition of thiabendazole metabolism in the rat. 1. A single oral dose of desmethylimipramine (80 mg/kg) administered to rats inhibited the hepatic microsomal hydroxylation of thiabendazole (45%), aniline (30%), biphenyl (30%) and ethylmorphine (15%) in vitro at 5 h after dosage; there was no decrease in cytochrome P-450 or b5. 2. A single oral dose of ethoxyquin (200 mg/kg) to rats inhibited the hepatic microsomal hydroxylation of thiabendazole (65%), aniline (40%) and biphenyl (40%) in vitro at 1 h after dosage; inhibition was less at 5 h. There were no changes in the contents of cytochromes P-450 and b5. 3. The max. plasma  concn. of thiabendazole occurred 2--4 h after oral dosing (50--200 mg/kg) to rats. Thiabendazole (100 mg/kg) administered orally 30 min after oral ethoxyquin (400 mg/kg) or thiabendazole (200 mg/kg) administered orally 30 min after oral desmethylimipramine (80 mg/kg) delayed absorption of the thiabendazole and resulted in markedly markedly decreased plasma concentration of the anthelmintic. 4. Simultaneous administration of ethoxyquin (300 mg/kg) potentiated the anthelmintic effect of thiabendazole (750 mg/kg) on the helminth parasite, Nematospiroides dubius, in the mouse. Desmethylimipramine showed no similar potentiation.


The disposition of spirohydantoin mustard (NSC 172112) in rats and dogs. 1. The disposition of spirohydantoin mustard (SHM) has been examined in rats and dogs after i.v. administration of (hydantoin-4-14C]SHM and [2-chloroethyl-U-14C]SHM. 2. Four hours after dosing to rats and dogs, renal clearance of the ethyl-14C moiety (14--21%) is lower than that of the hydantoin-14C moiety (29--68%). In contrast, biliary excretion of the ethyl-14C in rats is greater, and there appears to be enterohepatic circulation of the ethyl-14C. 3. Less than 1% of the radioactivity appearing in rat bile is unchanged SHM. Two major metabolites containing the ethyl-14C moiety are conjugates of glutathione or cysteine. 4. Levels of 14C in plasma decline in a biphasic manner. No difference in the initial plasma disappearance of the two labelled moieties is observed, but disappearance of the ethyl-14C During the second phase is slower. 5. Concentrations of ethyl14C and hydantoin-14C in the brains of rats and dogs, 4 h after i.v. administration, are equivalent to those in plasma. 6. Radioactivity is also distributed to the brain of rats after oral administration of [2-chloroethyl-J-14C]SHM, but at a concn. less than half that of plasma.


Determination of loxapine in human plasma and urine and identification of three urinary metabolites. 1. A g.l.c. method for quantitative determination of loxapine (2-chloro-11-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)dibenz(b,f)(1,4)oxazepine), in human plasma and urine is described. 2. Preliminary pharmacokinetic data on plasma concn of loxapine over 12 h from five psychiatric patients who received a total average dose of 80 mg of loxapine succinate per day orally for twelve weeks are presented. 3. In addition to unchanged loxapine, three urinary metabolic products, namely aromatic ring-hydroxy loxapine, desmethyl loxapine and loxapine-N-oxide, were identified using g.l.c.--mass spectrometry.


Transplacental disposition of phencyclidine in the pig. 1. Phencyclidine concn in plasma of pregnant and non-pregnant sows and in umbilical cord and neonatal plasma was determined by g.l.c. after a single intramuscular dose of phencyclidine hydrochloride. 2. The rate of elimination of the drug, as determined from plasma phencyclidine concn, was unchanged by pregnancy. 3. Phencyclidine concn in piglet plasma was approx. 10-fold higher than in maternal sow plasma and declined more slowly (t 1/2 about 6 h) than the concn. in adult sows (t 1/2 about 2 h). 4. Studies of phencyclidine uptake by piglet and sow plasma in vitro indicate that the higher concns in piglet plasma are due to a marked affinity of piglet plasma proteins for the drug, although both total protein and albumin concn is lower than in sow plasma.


Campylobacter fetus septic arthritis: report of a case. We report a case of septic arthritis caused by the fastidious gram-negative rod Campylobacter fetus. We suggest that the organism may be part of the endogenous flora and that the clinical infections tend to occur in compromised hosts. Our patient is the first to be described with multiple myeloma and C. fetus septic arthritis. The documented cases of culture-proven C. fetus septic arthritis reported to date have occurred in three men and one woman, all in the seventh and eighth decades of life, with a mono-articular large joint distribution. The septic arthritis always occurred in previously injured joints and curiously enough need not be associated with a toxic-appearing patient. C. fetus infections are also associated with the signs and symptoms of clinical thrombophlebitis. We stress caution in establishing this diagnosis of phlebitis on clinical evaluation only and urge differentiation of true deep vein thrombophlebitis from pseudothrombophlebitis or dissected popliteal synovial cyst. This latter diagnosis may be made non-invasively by ultrasound techniques.


[An unhomogeneous model of the respiratory mechanics (author's transl)]. Mechanics of the respiratory system was simulated on analogue computer by a two-compartmental model. Each compartment expresses a functionally (not anatomicall) different part of the lungs, corresponding to some unhomogeneity within the system. The influence of this unhomogeneity on characteristics parameters of the lung (resistance, compliance) was analysed in simulated experiments. This seems to show the way how to express the degree of the lung function disturbance by some quantitative relations.


[Peculiarities of personality and neuro-psychical disturbances in bronchial asthma (author's transl)]. Premorbid pecularities and types of reaction of personality in bronchial-asthma are considered. Neuro-psychical disturbances in differenet stages of disease are demonstrated by the majority of explored patients (92--47, 4+/-2.6%). The development of psychical disturbances is connected with the combined influence of psychogenic and somatogenic factors, what finds its expression in the clinical picture and in the current of this disturbances. The role of the taking part in ethiopathogenese factors is shown. It had been directed on the matter that the combined diagnosis and treatment of bronchial-asthma by therapeutists and psychotherapeutists should be instilled in the practice of all large institutions.


[Morphological investigations of bronchial biopsy material in chronic bronchitis and asthma bronchiale (author's transl)]. Morphological investigations (light microscopy, enzyme histochemistry, immunopathology) were carried out in cases with asthma bronchiale and chronic bronchitis. According to the histological picture no additional parameters were found with enzyme histochemical and immunopathological methods to specify the diagnosis asthma bronchiale and chronic bronchitis. The most important diagnostic factors in chronic bronchitis are hyperplasy of mucous bronchial glands and atrophy of serous bronchial glands with a loss of activity of acid phosphatase. Diffuse thickenings of basal membrane were more often in asthma bronchiale, localized thickenings more often in chronic bronchitis. Hypertrophy of goblet cells, infiltrations with round cells and metaplasia are found both in asthma bronchiale and chronic bronchitis in different degree. Correlations exist between the activity of leucine aminopeptidase in the stroma of the bronchus and degree of cellular infiltration with lymphocytes and plasma cells.


[Experimental findings after application of Kveim antigen. II. Sensibilization of mice and guinea pigs by Mycobacterium avium (serotype I) (author's transl)]. Mice and guinea pigs were sensibilisized by intraperitoneal injection of Mycobacterium avium (serotype I). Three and five weeks later (guinea pigs) and four weeks later (mice) the animals received kveim antigen into the footpads (guinea pigs) and into the perianal fat tissue (mice). Three and five weeks later (guinea pigs) and four weeks later (mice) the exstirpated material was investigated by light microscopy and enzyme histochemistry. Guinea pigs showed three and five weeks after injection of kveim antigen a lot of questionable positive and positive kveim tests and mice a high percentage of granulomatous changes, resembling a positive kveim reaction. With histochemical methods leucinaminopeptidase is a valuable diagnostic aid for detection of granulomatous changes in mice but not so good in guinea pigs.


[Problems on cortison therapy of obstructive pulmonary diseases (author's transl)]. The use of cortison derivates is connected with some problems also in therapy of obstructive pulmonary diseases. Considering the multiplicity of new preparations and the variability of their application it is necessary to give this drugs under control depending individually on the stage of the disease. The present knowledge of pharmacodynamic actions of cortison therapy is mentioned. Refering to 30 own cases it is confirmed that depot cortison derivates have not fulfilled the expectations.


[Biosynthesis of hyaluronic acid in parietal pleura of the rabbit (author's transl)]. The parietal pleura of rabbits was incubated with 14C-glucosamine. It was found that 14C-glucosamine was incorporated into the fraction of crude glycosaminoglycans. Then the crude glycosaminoglycans were fractionated by using specific mucopolysaccharide-lyases (hyaluronidase from streptomyces hyalurolytics, chondroitinase AC and chondroitinase ABC). As a result, evidence was obtained that hyaluronic acid was synthesized in parietal pleura and was released into the surroundings.


[Mucoepidermoid tumors of bronchi (author's transl)]. A report is given on the histological picture of two cases of bronchial mucoepidermoid tumors. The tumor is composed of two kinds of cells: formations with cylindric epithelial cells and solid parts with epidermoid cells. By the hand of two own cases and informations from literature opinion is expressed on frequency, sex and age distribution, duraction of symptoms and behaviour of this rare tumor.


[Extrathoracic mesothelioma by inhalation of asbestos dust (author's transl)]. Report on 22 cases of malign peritoneal mesothelioma, their occupational, epidemiological, differentialdiagnostic, and oncologic aspects being discussed. For expert opinion the special criteria for acknowledging a peritoneal mesothelioma as an occupational disease are formulated (time and level to asbestos exposition, presence of pulmonary asbestosis and/or asbestos needles, latency time of about 20 years, and malignancy of the very often diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma).


[Report on multilocated nonspecific coin-like pneumonias (author's transl)]. A report is given about case-histories of coin-imitating pneumonias. The problem of differential diagnosis are discussed. Special emphasis is put on the combination of peripheral bronchial carcinomas with coin-like accompanying pneumonias. Because of different therapeutic consequences a differentiation from metastases seems usefull.


Eimeria tenella: anticoccidial action of drugs in birds with surgically closed ceca. Surgical ligation of chick ceca was used to study the role of absorption and extraintestinal transport in the action of anticoccidial drugs. The administration of drugs in the feed was started after ligation of one of the paried ceca. Birds were inoculated orally with oocysts of Eimeria tenella before cecal ligation or were given bilateral cecal injections of sporozoites after ligation. Cecal lesions caused by the coccidia were evaluated and compared on day 6 postinoculation. Lesions in ligated and unligated ceca were reduced by feeding robenidine (33 ppm), arprinocid (70 ppm), zoalene (125 ppm), aklomide (250 ppm), clopidol (125 ppm), nicarbazin (125 ppm), monensin (120 ppm), salinomycin (60 ppm), and lasalocid (75 ppm). The lesions were more severe in the ligated cecum than in the intact cecum, whether in nonmedicated or medicated birds, but the differences were statistically significant only upon treatment with amprolium, aklomide, robenidine, and clopidol. Generally, however, all drugs except amprolium, significantly reduced the lesions in the ligated cecum in comparison with the control, nonmedicated ligated cecum. Therefore, we concluded that the systemic absorption of most anticoccidial drugs contributes significantly to their efficacy against coccidia in the intestinal mucosa.


Acute Babesia bovis infections: renal involvement in the hypotensive syndrome. Splenectomised calves in metabolism cages were infected with Babesia bovis. During the infection, urine samples were collected and analysed for electrolytes, proteins, kinin, and urinary kallikrein. During the later stages of the infection there were significant reductions in urinary volume, water intake, urinary kinin, kallikrein, and electrolytes. Proteinuria was detected from 3--8 days postinfection of which 15--20% was haemoglobin and most of the remainder was albumin (70--75%). Fibrin degradation products, fibrinogen-like products, and haptoglobin were not detected. Degeneration of cortical tubules was detected by histological studies. As these tubules produce urinary kallikrein it seems probable that diminished glomerular blood flow and hence glomerular filtration rate are due to decreased production of this enzyme.


Observations on the ultrastructure of Haemogregarina simondi in the marine flatfish Solea solea (L.). Developing stages of Haemogregarina simondi from the marine fish Solea solea (L.) were examined by electron microscopy. Merozoites lay in a parasitophorous vacuole and were bound by a pellicle of three unit membranes beneath which lay a ring of 45--61 microtubules. The cytoplasm contained 4--6 rhoptries, more than 169 micronemes, several mitochondria, and amylopectin granules. A conoid and one polar ring were observed at the anterior end. Intraleucocytic and intraerythrocytic schizonts with up to eight merozoites were described also. Intraerythrocytic and free gametocytes were characterized by distinct refractile bodies and a pellicle consisting of only two unit membranes. The number of micronemes was in excess of 194. The results were discussed in comparison with other members of the Haemogregarinidae.


Redescription of the life cycle of Haemogregarina simondi (Laveran and Mesnil, 1901) in its vertebrate host the marine fish Solea solea (Linnaeus). The life cycle of Haemogregarina simondi is described in its vertebrate host the marine flatfish Solea solea. An intraleucocytic schizogony is followed by an intraerythrocytic schizogony giving rise to eight gametocytes. A differentiation into micro- and macro-gametocytes was also observed and thus confirms the results of other authors for H. aeglefini, H. bigemina, and H. sachai. It is postulated that most if not all of the haemogregarines of marine fish undergo similar life cycles as the one described here.


[Evolution of the tegument of Polystoma (Monogenea Polystomatidae) during the cycle. Persistence of the nucleated embryonic epidermis in oncomiracidia (author's transl)]. The evolution of tegument ultrastructures during development was studied in two Polystome species, Polystoma integerrimum and Polystoma pelobatis. It differs from Monogenea and other Platyhelminths in the presence of nuclei in the tegumentary syncytium of the oncomiracidium and their deferred elimination which occurs in the post-larva attached to the gills of the tadpole. This represents a delay in the loss of embryonic characteristics in Polystoma larvae which may be related to the possibility of neotenic development of these larvae. This delay allows us to follow naturally the considerable cytoplasmic changes which accompany the elimination of embryonic nuclei (disappearance of the ergastoplasm, golgi complexes and ribosomes, and of the vacuoles) and the transfer of control of this "enucleated" cytoplasm to nuclear information from tegumentary parenchymatic cells (appearance of new inclusions in the "annexed" cytoplasmic zone, maintenance of numerous organelles involved in the formation of these inclusions in the deep perinuclear region). The ultrastructual characteristics of ciliated cells and the tegumentary syncytium are discussed from the general point of view of the Platyhelminths and with respect to their adaptative function in the Polystomatidae. The originality of the Polystomatidae among the Monogenea is emphasized.


[Influence of the cymothoid isopods Meinertia oestroides, Meinertia parallela, and Anilocra physodes (Crustacea; parasites of fish) on the growth of hosts, Boops boops and Pagellus erythrinus (Sparidae) (author's transl)]. Studies of weight-size (W = aLb) and growth (L = aT + b) in fish (Boops boops and Pagellus erythrinus), potential hosts of some Cymothoid isopods (Meinertia oestroides, Meinertia parallela, and Anilocra physodes) have been performed. Infested fishes show a slight decrease in weight compared to normal fish. Cymothoid do not exert a significant influence on the weight-size ratio; on the other hand, a delay in growth does occur.


[Relationship between level of vigilance and changes in the receptive fields of the cat visual cortex]. The activity of 118 neurones of the primary visual cortex (17th field) was studied in unanesthetized cats, immobilized with d-tubocurarine, in a state of calm wakefulness and in strained attention, alarm. The strained attention was elicited by an air-puff directed to the corner of the closed eye, not used for the photic stimulation. Considerable rearrangments of the receptive field of neurones (94%) were observed in the state of strained attention. In the majority of the studied cortical cells (75%) during 10-30 minutes the excitatory centres of their receptive fields became narrower while their inhibitory periphery widened; in the cells with the inhibitory centres of the receptive fields they were larger in 80% of the cases. It is shown that with dark, mesopic and scotopic adaptation the major characteristics of the changes in the receptive fields remain unaltered. It is assumed that these effects have a behavioural value for the organism, because the created rise in the level of alertness is accompanied by a sharpening of the receptive fields, i.e. by a greater ability to a fine analysis and recognition of visual images.


[Characteristics of the neuronal activity of structures of the hippocampal formation (subiculum)]. Spontaneous and evoked neuronal activity of subiculum was investigated in chronic unanaesthetized rabbits. Rhythmic components of two different types were observed in the spontaneous activity of 58% of units: 4.5-6.0 cps bursts (13%) and 2.0-3.8 cps (45%). Besides their basic frequency, these types of rhythmic activity were differentiated by several additional criteria. 63% of the cells responded to applied sensory stimuli, among which auditory stimuli were the most effective. Multimodal units were slightly more numerous (59%) than unimodal ones. In 50% of the recorded units responses were of tonic type, in 31%--of phasic type, and in 19%--specific on-off responses were observed. In majority of units with repeated stimulations relatively rapid process of habituation developed after a short incremental phase. Interruption of septal afferents resulted in disappearence of 4.5-6.0 cps (theta) bursts, in reduction in the number of tonic responses and in absence of habituation. Similarity of neuronal characteristics in the field CA1 and subiculum is discussed.


[Dynamics of rabbit visual cortex neuron reactions to repetitive nonvisual stimuli and their complexes with light]. The experiments revealed two forms of dynamics of responses to sounds and electro-cutaneous stimulation of the rabbit's leg and their complexes with light--rapid and slow ones. Assumptions are made on different mechanisms of these forms of dynamics. 37% of all studied cells showed different direction of the discharge dynamics in responses to the sound and electro-cutaneous stimulation or the discharge dynamics only in response to one type of stimulation. This may suggest a modal specificity of responses to different non-visual stimuli.


[Glutamate dehydrogenase activity in motor cortex neurons during restoration of disrupted visual function]. The recovery of the visual function of rats throughout two weeks after deprivation period (keeping animals in dark chambers for 8 weeks from their birth) leads to a significant normalization of the activity level of glutomatedehydrogenase in the neurones of the III and V layers of the motor cortex. The changes of the enzyme activity in the neurones are accompanied by a diminution of their sizes. The obtained data together with the results of the previous studies (Busnuk, 1976), suggest that the elimination of the visual impulse activity in the early ontogenesis exerts a specific and reversible influence on the morpho-chemical differentiation of neurones both in the visual and in the motor cortical areas. The functional factors determining the direction of changes in the studied parameters of cortical neurones during deprivation and in the rate of their normalization during recovery of the visual function are discussed.


[Spectral correlation analysis of the potentials of the neocortex and certain subcortical structures during low-frequency electrical stimulation of nonspecific thalamic nuclei]. The spectral-correlation analysis of biopotentials in the cortex and some other brain structures (the anteroventral thalamic nucleus, dorsal hippocampus, lateral geniculate body, mid-brain reticular formation), in chronic experiments on alert rabbits, revealed that during electrical stimulation of thalamic mid-line nuclei within the ranges of 1-3, 4-7 and 8-10 c/s, there occured a rearrangement of the EEG frequencies; a dominant, narrow-band peak at the stimulation frequency, appeared. The coherence of the biopotentials of different cortical areas, of the cortex and subcortical formations increased during the stimulation at the frequency of the stimulation, reaching maximum values between the potentials of the visual and sensorimotor cortical areas.


[Postnatal development of the scratch reflex in rabbits]. The development of the scratch reflex was studied in newborn (up to 2 months old) rabbits in norm and after elimination or activation of some parts of their nervous system (reticular formation, cerebellum, caudate nucleus, cerebral cortex, superior cervical sympathetic ganglia). The experiments with the section of the brain stem at the border between the medulla and the midbrain showed that in very young (5-10 days old) rabbits in norm the scratch reflex is controlled by the spinal cord with no influences of structures situated above the section's level. Later on the spinal mechanism of the scratch reflex becomes subject to supraspinal influences, among which in 2-3 weeks old animals facilitatory effects are predominant produced, in particular, by the reticular formation and the cerebellum, whereas in older age prevail inhibitory influences of the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, caudate nucleus and the sympathetic nervous system.


[Elementary transcallosal connections of the rabbit sensomotor cortex]. Antidromic responses of two callosal neurones to a local electrical stimulation of the rabbit sensorimotor cortex may be recorded simultaneously with one microelectrode in the homotopic cortical area. In such recording conditions the relative amplitude of extracellularly recorded action potentials of the two neurones is determined primarily by the distance between these neurones and the electrode's tip. In response to the stimulation of the symmetrical area transcallosal monosynaptic excitation of the callosal neurone may occur; two callosal neurones may exite monosynaptically one and the same recorded neurone. The results suggest the existence of clusters or columns, formed jointly by the bodies and terminals of callosal neurones; a functional interconnection between symmetrical clusters or columns may exist, in particular a positive feedback.


[Effect of electric stimulation of the somatosensory cortex and caudate nucleus on extinctive inhibition of a conditioned alimentary reflex to sound]. In experiments performed on 9 dogs with alimentary method, extinctive inhibition was deepened and its elaboration was aceelerated by electrical stimulation of somatosensory and motor cortical areas and ventral segment of the caudate nucleus head. The extinction of the conditioned reflex was slowed down by stimulation of the anterolateral gyrus and the central segment of the caudate nucleus head. General motor excitation of animals during stimulation of the dorsal zone of caudate nucleus head impaired the elaboration of extinctive inhibition.