[Rhodosporidium Banno: dose-effect relations, mutagenic efficiency, and spectrum of mutants in the induction of auxotrophic mutants by ultraviolet light and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine]. The kinetics, efficiency, and specificity of induction of forward mutations to auxotrophy by ultraviolet light (UV) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) was examined in stationary phase cells of Rhodosporidium (Rhodotorula) wild strain Rg1. In comparison to the spontaneous level the frequency of auxotrophic mutants was increased more than 1000 times by both mutagens, however, the mutagenic efficiency of MNNG was higher than that of UV. We found that the forward mutation rate is a linear function of the applicated UV and MNNG doses in the range to 600 J m-2 or 25 mM X min, respectively. The 35 studied biosynthetic pathways to amino acids, purines, pyrimidines, and vitamins are genetically blocked at different frequencies, but there is not any significant difference between UV and MNNG induced frequencies of mutants with a specific requirement. However, in difference to the approximately equal distribution of the MNNG-induced nic mutants among the genetic blocks of the tryptophan-nicotinamide pathway, UV-induced nic mutants occurred with a higher frequency in the genes of the tryptophan pyrrolase and the 3-hydroxykynureninase than in the genes of the other enzymes of the pathway.


[State and developmental trends of urogenital tuberculosis--20 years clinical and pathologic-anatomical experiences]. On the basis of own experiences of twenty years and taking into consideration the knowledge of other authors the developmental tendency in the treatment of the urogenital tuberculosis is demonstrated, the indications to nephrectomy, resection of the kidney, and epididymectomy are reified as well as kind and sequelae of errors in chemotherapy analysed. From 1958 to 1977 2,868 patients with urogenital tuberculosis were hospitalized in the Central Clinic Bad Berka. Of them about 41% had to undergo an operation. A decrease of the quantity of operations can be observed only in the renal resections, whereas the nephrectomy rate is unchangedly high (16.3% of the own patients) and even shows an increasing tendency since 1975. Comparative examinations show that the pathologo-anatomical picture of the ectomized kidneys has not changed during the period of observation. The knowledge of the symptom-poor course obliges also further on differential-diagnostically to take into consideration the urogenital tuberculosis. Only on this way the still large number of organ endangering complications may be encountered in time.


[Modern therapy and after-care in urogenital tuberculosis]. The present therapy of the urogenital tuberculosis is based on the effective medicaments (rifampizin, isonicotinic acid hydrazid, streptomycin, and ethambutol). It rests on an optimum dosage in connection with a best suited combination, taking into consideration the relations of sensitiveness and side effects as well as consequent long-term treatment. It is referred to the possibility of additional administrations of corticosteroid preparations and it is taken notice to the necessity also to treat unspecific mixed infections. Under the modern chemotherapy with bactericidal effect a stable negativation practically always develops within 3 months. Actual recidivations were not seen during the last 12 years. Apart from a compilation of the indications to nephrectomy references to possibilities of plastic surgical corrections of the urinary system are given. Two tables give information about the patients who were operatively treated during the last 15 years. A close collaboration of the various therapeutic institutions with a consulting urologist -- particularly in problematic and advanced cases of the disease -- nearly always saves the patient with urogenital tuberculosis from invalidism.


[Eye tuberculosis].

[Eye tuberculosis]. At present the eye tuberculosis still occurs only in its reactive form. But also these pathological processes may quite considerably disturb the vision. In the first place are chorioiditis (uveitis posterior), iritis and iridocyclitis (uveitis anterior), uveitis totalis and periphlebitis retinae are by far less frequent. Number and severity of the pathological processes considerably decreased during the last years, above all also the new diseases. Relapses are still increasedly observed. The problems of diagnostics and the necessary therapeutic measures are described.


[Method of measuring pressure using perfusion manometry]. Based on the principle of perfusion manometry, a device for the assessment of intraluminal pressures in urethra and anal canal is presented. The technical parameters are reported. The method may be utilized for clinical diagnosis in cases of disturbed micturition and defecation in children as well as for the function of esophagus.


[Changes of orbitofrontal astroglia in senile dementia (author's transl)]. The changes of orbitofrontal studied astroglia in 10 cases of senile dementia have been studied. The modification of Golgi-method by Bubenaite was used. The results reveal 4 different types of changed astroglia. A relation between changes of makroglia and the aging process of CNS is suggested. The changes of glia are not a result of nervous cell alterations, but an independent neuroglial process under the conditions of aging.


[Conditioned reactions and mediator-humoral shifts during neurotization in a probabilistic pain reinforcement situation]. Substitution of regular partial reinforcement for random one (in both cases the reinforcement frequency was 50%) acted in some dogs as a neurotizing factor: they showed unrest, stable defensive reflexes disappeared, corresponding changes were observed in vegetative reactions. At the same time activation of the sympatho-adrenal system was recorded along with a drop in concentration of acetylcholine in peripheric blood. It is noted that the development of neurotic disturbances in dogs in these conditions were to a certain degree dependent of the dominating motivation.


Immunological detection of 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-synthesizing polysomes from Streptomyces hydrogenans. Immunoprecipitation of polyribosomes from Streptomyces hydrogenans synthesizing 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was performed by immunoelectrophoresis. Only polyribosomes from cells induced by 11beta, 21-dihydroxy-4, 11(20)-pregnadien-3-one in vivo were precipitated by immunoglobulins specific for 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. No unspecific precipitations with polysomes from control cells cultivated in the absence of steroids were observed. Therefore, 11beta, 21-dihydroxy-4, 17(20)-pregnadien-3-one increases the number of biological active polyribosomes involved in 20beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase synthesis, presumably by specific stimulation of mRNA synthesis in Streptomyces hydrogenans.


[Radioimmunological differentiation of yeasts (author's transl)]. A microtiter solid phase radioimmunoassay is described for the differentiation or microorganisms by using six species of yeasts as a model. Rabbits were immunized with homogenized cells of the yeasts. The rabbit sera obtained were absorbed to homologous cells and after elution, the antibodies so obtained were labeled with 125I. Cross-reacting antibodies were eliminated by absorption to the corresponding yeast cells (table 1). With this radioimmunoassay it was possible to identify 51 out of 52 strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. krusei, Torulopsis glabrata and Geotrichum candidum (table 2), whereas only 30 out of 52 strains could be differentiated by the conventional agglutination procedure (table 3). In the radioimmunoassay four immunoglobulin preparations directed against C. tropicalis, C. krusei, Torulopsis glabrata and Geotrichum candidum reacted only with the corresponding species. The immunoglobulin preparation directed against C. albicans reacted both with C. albicans and C. tropicalis and the preparation directed against C. pseudotropicalis reacted with C. pseudotropicalis and C. krusei (fig. 1). None of 60 isolates of 10 species of bacteria cross-reacted with the six yeast antisera, when tested in the radioimmunoassay.


[Angioblastomas, their special forms and rare locations]. Sorting over of our angioblastoma cases occurring in the period from 1954 to 1977 was carried out under the aspect of special forms and rare localisations. Among a total of 93 angioblastomas in 66 patients, there were 81 infratentorial (60 patients), 5 supratentorial (5 patients), and 7 spinal (4 patients) angioblastomas. For 8 of the infratentorial angioblastomas a participation of the brain stem was found; their prognosis was unfavourable and all these patients died. Angioblastomas occurring in a multiple manner are also involving problems unless they are restricted to the cerebellar spheres and the vermis of the cerebellum. In this group there were 37 angioblastomas occurring in 10 patients with an increased familial occurrence in four cases and a systematic affection with angiomatosis retinae in five patients. Four of these patients also died. The large number of 5 angioblastomas of the cerebrum has induced us to study these cases particularly critically. There was a good prognosis for all these cases; they all were solitary tumours (2 solid tumours and 3 typical large-syctic angioblastomas). The prognosis of the spinal angioblastomas of which 7 were found in 4 patients, is dependent upon location and the question of the systematised affection. Remarkably large is the number of young angioblastoma carriers. All 5 cerebral angioblastomas and 6 cerebellar angioblastomas were found in patients below the age of 18. From these findings conclusions can be drawn with regard to an optimisation of an early detection and the exact angiographic clarificatior in order to avoid unnecessary losses due to transfers being carried out too late and, on the other hand, to sort out inoperable findings.


[Possible experimental model of Korsakoff's syndrome]. Study of the effects of chronic alcohol intoxication on conditioned behaviour in rats revealed spatial desorientation, the lack of a stable level of alertness, "negative attitude" to novelty, automatism of motor habit and periodical impairment of temporary connection reproduction. The authors conclude that the observed changes are comparable to a certain degree with the clinical pattern of Korsakov syndrome.


[Secondary structure of condensed DNA. wide-angle, small-angle x-ray scattering and circular dichroism]. Ethanol precipitated DNA shows a CD spectrum of the +psi-type which is similar to that of DNA in the A-form. DNA condensed with cetyl-trimethylammonium-bromide shows, depending on the condensation velocity, a CD spectrum of the -psi-type, or a CD spectrum only slightly modified from that of DNA in solution. The first spectrum is similar to that of DNA in the C-form, and the second one, to that of DNA in the B-form. Using large-angle X-ray scattering of the three DNA condensates and comparing them with the scattering curves calculated from the atom coordinates for the A-, B-, and C-form of DNA it is shown that the secondary structure of the DNA belongs in all three cases to the B-family. It follows from this result that the secondary structure of DNA alone does not determine the type of CD spectrum. The CD spectrum of condensed DNA is essentially determined by the supramolecular structures of the partially crystalline DNA condensates. These supramolecular structures can be demonstrated by the small-angle X-ray diagrams. The condensation of DNA by ethanol and cetyl-trimethylammonium-bromide proceeds in the form of a partial crystallization of the DNA.


Purification of "inhibin" from human ovarian follicular fluid. Following the earlier demonstration of inhibin-like activity in human ovarian follicular fluid a method for its purification to apparent homogeneity is described. The fluid was converted to acetone powder and subjected sequentially to ammonium sulphate fractionation, gel chromatography on Sephadex G-200, continuous gradient ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, first with a pH gradient from 8.0 to 4.0 and then with a NaCl gradient to 1 M at pH 5.2. The active fraction from this step was subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 and finally passed through an Amicon Centriflo membrane CF-25 (cut off point: 25,000 m.w.). The ultrafiltrate was homogeneous by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, had a molecular weight of the order of 23 000 and was capable of suppressing serum gonadotrophin levels in the castrated male rats in as low a dose as 25 microgram/rat.


[Assessment of the biological condition of a nonsterile preparation of cerebral dura mater during long-term storage in a formalin solution]. An allogeneic cerebral dura mater prepared under nonsterile conditions will become fully sterilized after 48 hours of storage in a 0.75% formalin solution. The long-term (up to 3 years) conservation of this tissue in the above mentioned solution preserves it in a condition permitting transplantation. The experimental transplantation of such tissue results in making the subdural space airtight. This occurs primarily because of the adhesion of the edges of the donor and recipients dura mater in the area of the defect as a result of aseptic inflammation with subsequent resolution and replacement of the transplant with the connective tissue of a similar structure with the dura mater.


Ultrastructural lens changes in X-ray induced cataract of the rat. The effect of in vivo X-irradiation on the ultrastructure of the rat lens was investigated by electron microscopy. The left eye of each animal was exposed to a single dose of 1500 r of X-rays, while the other parts of the body were protected by a lead shield. The protected eye served as a control. Samples of the lenses were taken for electron microscopical examination at intervals of 3, 7, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days after the irradiation. The first ultrastructural changes induced by X-rays were found after three days in the epithelial cells which became vacuolated. After seven days these cells showed marked oedema and after six months the whole epithelium was shrunken. The most prominent changes in the lens fibres were swelling and vacuolization. No alterations were noted in the lens capsule. The first visible opacities of the lens were found ninety days after irradiation under the posterior capsule and three months later the entire lens was totally opaque.


Evaluation of phentolamine as a provocative test for idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Intravenous injection of phentolamine potentially offers a better provocative test for aortic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction than do Valsalva's maneuver, inhalation of isoproterenol, or of amyl nitrite. In hemodynamic studies, phentolamine enhanced myocardial contractility, and decreased afterload with only induction of slight tachycardia. Phentolamine (5 mg.) was administered intravenously to five patients who had idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, and 35 patients who had valvular dysfunctions, after which echocardiographic and phonocardiographic recordings were performed. Recordings were of high quality despite changing hemodynamics. Systolic pressures fell an average of 20 mm. Hg; no pressure fell below 90 mm. Hg; there was no notable increase in heart rate. In the five patients with typical idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, the amyl nitrite increased the obstructive index from 39.6 +/- 12 to 51 +/- 18.9 (P less than 0.05); whereas, phentolamine increased the obstructive index to 69.8 +/- 25.6 (P less than 0.015). After a 2 week course of oral administration of 80 mg. of propranolol daily, and then either inhalation of amyl nitrite or injection of phentolamine, there was no change from the mean resting obstructive index. Phentolamine appears to be a safe, simple and specific diagnostic agent, and more potent than amyl nitrite in eliciting dynamic obstruction in IHSS; phentolamine and amyl nitrite do not affect the obstructive index in patients with beta blockade.


Effect of ethanol feeding on bone composition in the rat. The effect of ethanol feeding for a period of 3 months on the mineral and collagen content of bone was determined in the rat. Ethanol feeding resulted in no changes in the density or in the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, hydroxyproline, or nitrogen in the tibiae. Also, the serum concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were unaffected by ethanol feeding. The development of a mild degree of osteomolacia was suggested, however, by decreases in EDTA-extractable mineral content and in the calcium/hydroxyproline ratio in  the tibiae of the ethanol-fed as compared with the control animals. The urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans was not changed by ethanol-feeding while the urinary excretion of peptide-bound hydroxyproline was increased. The minimal bone changes found after ethanol feeding in this study are an unlikely cause for the observed increases in the urinary excretion of hydroxyproline.


Diurnal rhythmicity of absorption of a lipid compound (vitamin K-1) in vivo in the rat. The possibility of rhythmicity in the intestinal absorption of lipids was explored by assessing the absorption of vitamin K-1 by the unanesthetized rat at 6 PM, 12 and 6 AM, and 12 PM. A marked variability in the absorption rate of vitamin K-1 was found throughout the 18-hr period. The highest rates of absorption occurred at midnight (139.8 +/- .22 and 134.4 +/- 9.1 pmol/min/10 cm of jejunum and ileum, respectively). The lowest rates of absorption occurred at 6 AM (54.5 +/- 1 and 81.4 +/- 7.4 pmol/min/10 cm of jejunum and ileum, respectively). Absorption rates at noon were not different from absorption at 6 AM but an initial increase in absorption was noted at 6 PM. Synchronization of the absorptive rate with time is most likely related to the time of feeding and not to changes in the pattern of illumination. The possibility of marked diurnal variability in the absorption rate should be considered in the design and execution of intestinal absorption experiments.


Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in cultured lymphocytes of twins. Measurement of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in cultured lymphocytes of 18 monozygotic and 30 dizygotic twin pairs showed that basal and induced AHH activity and AHH inducibility are heritable traits. The data are consistent with AHH inducibility being determined by a single or a very few polymorphic genes.


Evaluation of the fibrinogen analyzer.

Evaluation of the fibrinogen analyzer. The fibrinogen analyzer, a newly introduced instrument for plasma fibrinogen assay, was evaluated for its clinical use. Fibrinogen was assayed based on the automated measurement of absorbance changes of fibrinogen clotting by thrombin. High reproducibility and close correlation with the phenol method were observed. Concentrations of heparin below 1.25 mu/ml had minimal effects on the fibrinogen assay using the fibrinogen analyzer. Free hemoglobin below 400 mg/dl and bilirubin with a concentration less than 4 mg/dl had no significant effects on the fibrinogen values. This instrument is highly recommended for plasma fibrinogen assay in clinical laboratories.


Free-living fungi as artifacts on hematology preparations. The appearance of Helicosporium sp., a free-living fungus, is reported as a contaminant resembling nematode microfilaria on a Wright's stained blood smear. Also, an unidentified object with structures resembling the septate hyphae of the Fungi Imperfecti and two other forms with some features similar to the fungal genus Fusarium were found on leukocyte alkaline phosphatase preparations of blood smears. The possible incorrect identification of these pseudoparasites is discussed and a review of the pertinent literature included.


"Recurrent" stress urinary incontinence. This report constitutes a 15 year review of 205 operations performed upon 198 adult women suffering from "recurrent" stress urinary incontinence (SUI). All patients received special preoperative investigation including direct electronic urethrocystometry and metallic bead-chain urethrocystography. From these studies 163 of the patients were determined to have pure "anatomic SUI" and 42 demonstrated characteristics of anatomic SUI plus some anatomic or physiologic defect which might compromise the final results ("compromised SUI"). Preoperative radiographs demonstrating the previous causes for failure fell into four general categories: philosophic, pragmatic, subjective, and psychological. All patients were operated upon with the single objective of achieving high retropubic elevation and fixation of the urethrovesical junction. In those have pure "anatomic SUI" the failure rate was 5 per cent. In the "compromised SUI" group the failure rate was 39 per cent. Type II detrusor dyssynergia was the most common cause of failure.


Pathology of pars planitis.

Pathology of pars planitis. Seven eyes and one vitrectomy specimen from seven patients with pars planitis and complications such as secondary glaucoma and phthisis bulbi were studied histopathologically. Two of the specimens were also examined by electron microscopy. All cases showed a typical intravitreal "snowbank" opacity overlying the pars plana. On light microscopy, these "snowbanks" appeared to consist of a loose fibrovascular layer containing occasional fibrocyte-like cells and scattered mononuclear inflammatory cells adjacent to the hyperplastic nonpigmented epithelium of the pars plana. Within the vitreous base, an extensive fibroglial proliferation had developed, often drawing the peripheral retina anteriorly into the "snowbank." Electron microscopy showed this fibroglial tissue to be composed of condensed vitreous collagen and probable fibrous astrocytes which had produced larger-diameter (about 24 mm) collagen fibrils. The fibroglial proliferation also appeared continuous with an ultrastructurally similar preretinal fibroglial membrane. All eyes showed prominent lymphocytic cuffing and mural infiltration of retinal veins, with sparing of the arterioles. Several cases showed cystoid macular edema. Only mild choroiditis or cyclitis could be shown in some cases. We believe that in pars planitis the fibroglial "snowbank" may reflect a common inflammatory process involving both the peripheral retina and vitreous base.


Delayed hypersensitivity to retrobulbar injections of methylprednisolone acetate. A patient with chronic cyclitis developed hyperemia of the episcleral and bulbar conjunctival vessels after retrobulbar injections of methylprednisolone acetate suspension. Intradermal testing revealed the responsible allergen to be methylprednisolone acetate; hypersensitivity could not be demonstrated by patch testing, despite use of increased concentrations.


Immunopathologic and histologic studies on benign recurrent hematuria. Clinicopathologic similarities with IgA nephropathy. From a series of 152 renal biopsy specimens examined by light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy, nine specimens were identified as being from patients with BRH. Histopathologic changes in renal biopsy specimens from most of the 9 patients consisted of either normal or slightly proliferative glomerulonephritis. Characteristic alterations were observed by electron microscopy, which showed the presence of small amounts of electron-dense deposits within the mesangium. In addition, immunofluorescent staining of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with BRH and their family members showed an increase of IgA-bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the emergence of microhematuria among the families of patients with BRH indicates that some familial factors may be involved in the development of BRH and IgA nephropathy, which suggests that these two disorders may be closely related.


Digestion of the fifth component of complement by leukocyte enzymes. Sequential generation of chemotactic activities for leukocytes and for tumor cells. Leukocytes contain within their lysosomal granules enzymatic activity that will generate from C5 chemotactic activity for leukocytes (neutrophils) and tumor (Walker carcinosarcoma) cells. Similar activity has been found in phagocytic supernatant fluids from neutrophils and in purified preparations of the leukocyte neutral proteases elastase and cathepsin G. White leukotactic activities can be generated from either the third (C3) or the fifth (C5) components of complement, only C5 serves as a source for generation of the chemotactic activity for tumor cells. As has been previously shown with trypsin, the C5-related chemotactic activities generated by leukocyte proteases are time-dependent: leukotactic activity appears early, then disappears, and is replaced by chemotactic activity for tumor cells. The generation of these chemotactic activities from C5 is blocked by prior treatment of leukocyte preparations with the neutral protease inhibitor Trasylol. The demonstration that enzyme activities from leukocytes have the ability to generate tumor cell chemotactic factors from C5 suggests a possible mechanism by which the development of metastatic lesions may be promoted at sites of tissue injury or inflammation.


Ectopic Leydig cells in a seminiferous tubules of an infertile human male with a chromosomal aberration. A case of a human male infertility with chromosomal aberration is reported. The patient showed neither mental retardation nor physical abnormalities except that the testes were somewhat small and soft. Plasma follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were 49.0 and 19.0 mIU/ml. Plasma testosterone was 2.6 ng/ml. Karyotype was considered to be 46 XY q-, long arms of the Y chromosome being deleted. Histological features of the testis were peculiar. Seminiferous tubules were small and devoid of spermatogenic cells, consisting only of Sertoli cells. Peritubular boundary layer of the tubules showed a marked increase in width due to the increase of collagen fibers. The base of some Sertoli cells was seen to protrude into the thickened peritubular boundary layer or, though rare, into the interstitial space. Unusual cells which had a round vesicular nucleus and abundant, dense cytoplasms also occurred in the boundary layer of most tubules. These cells were identified as Leydig cells because of an extensively developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum in their cytoplasm, although they lacked Reinke's crystals. These ectopic Leydig cells sometimes lay in direct contact with Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule.


Hepatocyte responses to volatile anesthetics: changes in surface scanning and enzyme leakage. The effects of volatile anesthetics were assessed in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes by surface-scanning electron microscopy and by measuring leakage of cellular enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase and beta-glucuronidase into the surrounding medium. The order of potency in regard to their capacity to produce alterations of these parameters was halothane = methoxyflurane greater than ether = control. The extent of enzyme leakage from hepatocytes exposed to halothane or methoxyflurane was both dose dependent and, for the first 30 minutes, time dependent. Surface scanning of the isolated hepatocytes showed that both halothane and methoxyflurane produced enzyme leakage and morphologic changes in cellular membranes, but ether did not. These studies demonstrate that scanning electron microscopy and enzyme leakage from cells are useful for the evaluation of drug-induced changes in lever cells in vitro. The relation between these drug-induced changes and clinical hepatotoxicity remains to be elucidated.


Persistent erection in thiamine-deficient rats. Male Wistar rats, maintained on a thiamine-deficient diet, showed a significant weight loss, decrease in heart frequency, disturbance of urinary excretion, and symptoms of polyneuritis. Once persistent erection ocurred in these rats, it continued throughout the study and subsided in most cases after the administration of thiamine HCl.


An evaluation of liquid-crystal thermometry as a screening device for intraoperative hyperthermia. Disposable liquid-crystal temperature-trend indicators were evaluated under clinical conditions that simulated the development of intraoperative hyperthermia during anesthesia. Comparison was made to forehead thermistors for rapidity, accuracy, and linearity of response as well as correlation with esophageal and rectal thermistor recordings. The liquid-crystal monitors were comparable to the forehead thermistors in both rapidity and linearity or response, but not in accuracy. A linear correlation existed with the esophageal thermistor temperatures. Correlation with the rectal temperatures was not as exact. It is concluded that liquid-crystal thermometers may adequately serve as screening devices for intraoperative hyperthermia.


Determinants and genesis of canine pneumocardiogram. The pneumocardiogram measures the to-and-fro movement of gas from the lung with each heartbeat during apnea. Six mongrel dogs were prepared with chronic ascending aortic or pulmonary artery flow probes, corresponding occlusion cuffs and intraventricular pressure transducers. Under halothane anesthesia, the flow pneumocardiogram (PnCG) and its time derivative (acceleration pneumocardiogram or dPn/dt) were transduced during apnea by a small high-gain pneumotachograph. All variables were recorded on paper. The effects on the pneumocardiogram of great vessel occlusion, changes in cardiac loading, small airway patency, and chest wall integrity were investigated. Four of the animals were treated subsequently to produce a chemical cardiac denervation and restudied. The systolic component of the dPn/dt which correlates with myocardial contractility (IJ wave) was dependent primarily on left ventricular (LV) ejection, markedly affected by cardiac preload and modified by afterload changes to a lesser degree. Small airway closure obliterated the wave form, while opening the chest wall attenuated the dPn/dt IJ wave by 25%. This study shows the dPn/dt IJ wave is anatomically related to LV performance and responds to changes in LV function similar to other noninvasive cardiac measurements.


Halothane and enflurane protect against bronchospasm in an asthma dog model. Experimental asthma was induced in 6 dogs previously sensitized to ascaris antigen by ventilating them with aerosolyzed ascaris antigen for 10 minutes. Pulmonary resistance was calculated from simultaneous pressure and flow measurements at a long volume 200 ml above functional residual capacity. Prior to administration of aerosolyzed ascaris antigen, pulmonary resistance was 2.35 +/- 0.56 (mean +/- SEM) cm H2O/L/sec in dogs anesthetized with thiopental. Twenty minutes after the end of ascaris antigen administration, pulmonary resistance was 5.72 +/- 1.29 in dogs given additional thiopental, 3.18 +/- 0.62 in dogs anesthetized with halothane (0.87% inspired concentration), and 3.03 +/- 0.60 in dogs anesthetized with enflurane (2.2% inspired concentration). These differences in responses of pulmonary resistance were statistically significant at 0.05 level. Halothane and enflurane were equally effective in decreasing pulmonary resistance in an ascaris antigen dog model of asthma.


Gastric fluid pH in patients receiving cimetidine. Gastric fluid pH was measured immediately after anesthetic induction in 150 fasted adult patients with or without prior cimetidine. All patients had received morphine-atropine preanesthetic medication. Gastric fluid pH was above 2.5 in 39/50 patients (78%) receiving cimetidine 300 mg orally with 50 ml H2O the evening before operation. The same dose of oral cimetidine but 60 to 90 minutes before anesthetic induction resulted in gastric fluid pH above 2.5 in 42/50 patients (84%). In contrast, gastric fluid pH was above 2.5 in only 20/50 patients (40%) not receiving cimetidine. We conclude that oral cimetidine administered 60 to 90 minutes before anesthetic induction is a practical way to increase gastric fluid pH above 2.5 in the majority of fasting adult patients.


Automated measurement and frequency analysis of the pneumocardiogram. The flow pneumocardiogram (PnCG), ie, measurement of cardiogenic gas movement in and out of the lung during apnea, was transduced by an in-line, high-gain pneumotachograph. A portion of the differentiated PnCG, the dPn/dt IJ wave, has been shown previously to correlate closely with left ventricular function. A simple analog device was designed and tested to measure the dPn/dt IJ amplitude on a practical beat-to-beat basis. Frequency-power spectral analysis showed the PnCG to be a low frequency phenomenon with the systolic component in the 9-to-10-Hz range. Appropriate band-pass filtering of the PnCG and its applicability as an intraoperative monitoring device are presented.


Domperidone in the treatment of postoperative vomiting: a double-blind multicenter study. Domperidone was compared with placebo in a multicenter double-blind study of 116 patients (15 to 80 years) with postoperative vomiting. After vomiting had occurred, the patients received either domperidone 10 mg or placebo IV. Patients were then followed for at least 6 hours or until a 2nd injection of domperidone 10 mg from an open supply was needed. The period of time until an additional injection was registered and compared between the 2 treatment groups. Fifty-nine percent of the placebo patients needed a 2nd injection before the end of the 6-hour follow-up, compared with only 35% of the domperidone patients (p less than 0.05). When a 2nd injection was required, the time elapsed before it was needed was longer (p = 0.01) in the domperidone group (median 150 minutes) than in the placebo one (median 120 minutes). There were no significant side-effects.


A test of the carcinogenicity of enflurane, isoflurane, halothane, methoxyflurane, and nitrous oxide in mice. We exposed Swiss ICR mice for 2-hour periods to 1/32, 1/8 and/or 1/2 MAC enflurane, halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, or N2O both in utero during the last 1/2 of pregnancy (4 exposures at 2-day intervals) and after delivery (24 exposures at 2-to-3-day intervals). Anesthetics were delivered in air or in O2. Thus, 1973 mice were exposed and examined after 15 months of life for the development of neoplastic lesions. Neoplastic lesions (principally pulmonary adenomas, lymphomas, hepatocyte lesions, liver vascular lesions) were found in all treatment and control sets. There was no indication that a specific anesthetic or anesthetic dose was carcinogenic. Our results do not confirm the suggestion that isoflurane is a hepatocarcinogen, nor do our data suggest that the modern inhaled anesthetics pose a significant threat of carcinogenicity.


Respiratory function following premedication with droperidol or diazepam. Respiratory function was measured before and 1 hour after premedication with diazepam (10 mg IM) or droperidol (5 mg IM) in 2 groups of 14 normal patients scheduled for elective surgery. Diazepam had no significant effects on respiratory rate, tidal volume, minute ventilation, dead space, VD/VT %, alveolar ventilation, expired Po2, or Pco2, end-tidal Pco2, arterial Po2 or Pco2, or alveolar-arterial Po2 or Pco2 gradients. Droperidol was associated with statistically significant but modest reductions in tidal volume (-13.3%) and minute ventilation (-8.4%) while other respiratory functions remained unaffected.


Hemodynamic effects of arteriovenous fistula and bovine graft fistula used for hemodialysis. This study shows that arteriovenous fistulas created for vascular access to hemodialysis result in an increase in cardiac output and pulse rate, and a decrease in the total peripheral resistance. These changes are severe with bovine graft fistula; physicians should be aware of this potentially dangerous hemodynamic change in these patients.


Pocket gonioscopy.

Pocket gonioscopy. A simple and effective method for viewing the anterior chamber angle allowing a physician to adequately grade the depth of the anterior chamber angle is described. Such a judgment is necessary for distinguishing narrow angle from open angle type of glaucoma.


Progressive dystonia with marked diurnal fluctuation. Three children, 2 of them siblings, developed a progressive dystonic condition in the first decade of life. The symptoms and signs were milder in the mornings or after a daytime nap but worsened greatly later in the day. One patient became unable to walk by evening. Investigations in 2 patients revealed a reduced concentration of cerebrospinal fluid homovanillic acid. The 2 more severely affected patients showed dramatic and sustained improvement with levodopa therapy. The condition bears a clinical resemblance to some reported cases of juvenile Parkinson's disease but is probably a separate disorder.


Genetically marked Rhizobium identifiable as inoculum strain in nodules of soybean plants grown in fields populated with Rhizobium japonicum. The fate of an inoculum strain of Rhizobium japonicum was studied using a genetically marked strain I-11O subline carrying resistance markers for azide, rifampin, and streptomycin (I-110 ARS). At the time of planting into a field populated with R. japonicum, seeds of soybean cultivars Kent and Peking were inoculated with varying cell densities of strain I-110 ARS. At various times during the growing season, surface-sterilized root nodules were examined for the presence of the inoculum strain by plating onto selective media. The recovery of the inoculum strain was unambiguous, varying, in the case of Kent cultivar, from about 5% with plants (sampled at 51 days) that had been inoculated with 3 X 10(8) cells per cm of row to about 20% with plants (sampled at 90 days) that had been inoculated with 3 X 10(9) cells per cm. The symbiotically incompatible interaction of Peking and strain 110 in Rhizobium-populated field soil was confirmed by the finding that at 60 days after planting, only one nodule in 360 sampled contained strain I-110 ARS. The use of genetically marked Rhizobium bacteria was found to provide for precise identification of the inoculum strain in nodules of field-grown soybeans.


Bacteriocin-like substances produced by Rhizobium japonicum and other slow-growing rhizobia. Bacteriocin-like substances were commonly produced by slow-growing Rhizobium japonicum and cowpea rhizobia on an L-arabinose medium. Antagonism between strains of R. japonicum was not detected in vitro; however, such strains were often sensitive to some bacteriocins produced by cowpea rhizobia. Inhibitory zones (2 to 8 mm from colony margins), produced by 58 of 66 R. japonicum test strains, were reproducibly detected with Corynebacterium nebraskense as an indicator. Quantitative production was not related to symbiotic properties of effective strains, since nine noninfective strains and one ineffective strain produced bacteriocin. Eight R. japonicum strains that did not produce bacteriocin nevertheless formed effective nodules on soybeans. R. japonicum strains that produced bacteriocin in vitro had no antagonistic effect on nonproducer strains during soybean nodulation. Under controlled conditions, a nonproducer (3I1b135) predominated over a bacteriocin producer (3I1b6) when inoculated at 1:1 and 1:9 ratios. Depending on the particular ratio, up to 38% of the total nodules formed were infected with mixed combinations. The bacteriocin(s) had a restricted host range and antibiotic-like properties which included the ability to be dialyzed and resistance to heat (75 to 80 degrees C, 30 min), Pronase, proteinase K, trypsin, ribonuclease, and deoxyribonuclease. R. japonicum strains representing genetic, serological, cultural, and geographic diversity were differentiated into three groups on the basis of bacteriocin production.


Pathology of chronic otitis media.

Pathology of chronic otitis media. A review of 800 pathological temporal bones collected from autopsy cases revealed 333 ((41.6%) to have some type of otitis media; purulent otitis media (52.5%), serous otitis media (6%), mucoid otitis media (4.5%), and chronic otitis media (36.9%). The 123 temporal bones with chronic otitis media were further studied and found to have granulation tissue, cholesteatoma, cholesterin granuloma, bone changes, and fibrosis. Other findings included tympanic membrane perforation, tympanosclerosis, metaplasia of the epithelium with subepithelial glandular formation, suppuration, labyrinthitis, and evidence of complications of chronic otitis media (meningitis, subdural abscess, brain abscess, petrositis, and endolymphatic hydrops). From this study it was concluded: 1) chronic otitis media occurred quite frequently, from a histological standpoint, in the absence of tympanic membrane perforation; 2) granulation tissue in temporal bones was found much more frequently in chronic otitis media than was cholesteatoma; and 3) complications and sequelae of otitis media tended to occur more commonly secondary to granulation tissue than to cholesteatoma.


Radiation resistance and injury of Yersinia enterocolitica. The D values of Yersinia enterocolitica strains IP134, IP107, and WA, irradiated at 25 degrees C in Trypticase soy broth, ranged from 9.7 to 11.8 krad. When irradiated in ground beef at 25 and -30 degrees C, the D value of strain IP107 was 19.5 and 38.8 krad, respectively. Cells suspended in Trypticase soy broth were more sensitive to storage at -20 degrees C than those mixed in ground beef. The percentages of inactivation and of injury (inability to form colonies in the presence of 3.0% NaCl) of cells stored in ground beef for 10 days at -20 degrees C were 70 and 23%, respectively. Prior irradiation did not alter the cell's sensitivity to storage at -20 degrees C, nor did storage at -20 degrees C alter the cell's resistance to irradiation at 25 degrees C. Added NaCl concentrations of up to 4.0% in Trypticase soy agar (TSA) (which contains 0.5% NaCl) had little effect on colony formation at 36 degrees C of unirradiated Y. enterocolitica. With added 4.0% NaCl, 79% of the cells formed colonies at 36 degrees C; with 5.0% NaCl added, no colonies were formed. Although 2.5% NaCl added to ground beef did not sensitize Y. enterocolitica cells to irradiation, when added to TSA it reduced the number of apparent radiation survivors. Cells uninjured by irradiation formed colonies on TSA when incubated at either 36 or 5 degrees C. More survivors of an exposure to 60 krad were capable of recovery and forming colonies on TSA when incubated at 36 degrees C for 1 day than at 5 degrees C for 14 days. This difference in count was considered a manifestation of injury to certain survivors of irradiation.


Alterations in plasma norepinephrine concentration during surgical resection of pheochromocytoma. Using a sensitive and specific radioenzymatic assay, the plasma norepinephrine (NE) concentration was measured in seven patients with pheochromocytoma, one patient with bilateral adrenal medullary hyperplasia, one patient with a retroperitoneal paraganglioma, and two patients undergoing bilateral adrenalectomies for palliation of metastatic breast carcinoma. Surgical manipulation of the pheochromocytomas resulted in striking increases in plasma NE concentration with concomitant increases in blood pressure. There were either small changes or no changes in the patients' plasma NE and blood pressure during resection of the normal adrenal glands, the adrenal glands with medullary hyperplasia, or the retroperitoneal paraganglioma. Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) was measured in one patient with pheochromocytomas and the patient with medullary hyperplasia. There was no change in plasma DBH in either patient, supporting the concept that exocytosis is not the primary mechanism for catecholamine secretion from pheochromocytomas. It was also noted that enflurane is an excellent general anesthetic for the resection of pheochromocytomas, and that sodium nitroprusside (rather than phentolamine) may be the agent of choice for the management of the hypertensive episodes that occur during surgical manipulation of pheochromocytomas.


Factors underlying infertility in the alcoholic. In an effort to identify the factor(s) contributing to loss in sexual competence in alcoholics, a pilot study was made of the interrelationships of hepatic disease, plasma hormone levels and importnce in 35 male patients in an alcohol unit. Contrary to previous reports, impotence was not a direct concomitant of hepatic disease, elevated sex hormone-binding globulin capacity or hyperestrinism. The most significant aberration found was a nearly 30% lower mean free testosterone concentration which appeared to be secondary to a mean total testosterone concentration 20% below that of the subjects with normal sexual function. We conclude from this that impotence results from testicular secretion impaired by the action of alcohol or its metabolite, acetaldehyde.


Cytolysis of rat glioma cells in vitro by autonomic drugs. The results of glioma chemotherapy obtained so far have been rather disappointing. New attempts have been made to kill glioma cells with autonomic drugs. Experiments were done with rat C-6 glioma cells in the cell culture. Among all cholinergic blockers tested, only the irreversible cholinergic blockers such as bromoacetylcholine (BrACh), iodoacetylcholine and alphabungarotoxin were effective to inhibit glioma cells (with 50% cytolytic doses of 6.7 x 10(-6)M, 3.0 x 10(-6)M and 7.4 x 10(-5)M respectively). It is interesting to note that the hydrolytic product of BrACh, bromoacetate, was as potent as BrACh to inhibit glioma cells. Most of the adrenergic blockers, both reversible and irreversible ones, showed no cytolytic activity on glioma cells with concentrations up to 1.0 x 10(-4)M except phentolamine and propranolol which showed weak cytolytic activities. It is interesting to note, on the other hand, that 6-hydroxydopamine (an adrenergic neuron degenerating agent) and 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (a serotonergic neuron degenerating agent) also showed mild cytolytic effects on glioma cells with 50% cytolytic doses of 5.0 x 10(-5)M and 5.3 x 10(-5)M, respectively.


Electroencephalographic and behavioral observations in rats during chronic ethanol ingestion and after abstinence. Increasing aqueous solutions of ethanol were given to rats, starting immediately after weaning, instead of drinking water. A 12% v/v concentration was reached on day 81 of age and maintained from then on. Animals drinking 12% ethanol had a median blood alcohol level of 333 mg/l. No major changes in their hippocampal or neocortical EEG patterns were observed at the age of 3 1/2 or 6--7 months while they were on the drug. Upon withdrawal, the younger group showed a decline of the mean frequency of hippocampal and neocortical large, irregular amplitude EEG activity; the older group showed instead a decline of the frequency of hippocampal theta. The performance of psuedoconditioned and of conditioned shuttle responses was unaltered after 3 1/2 to 6 months of ethanol consumption or after one week of abstinence from the drug.


Deranged diurnal feeding pattern and altered brain serotonin turnover in heroin-dependent rats. Rats rendered tolerant to and dependent on heroin by administering escalating dosages of heroin from 5 mg/kg-1 to 30 mg/kg-1 s,c, twice daily for 10 days exhibited disrupted diurnal feeding patterns. Daylight food intake was significantly increased, whereas night-time feeding was significantly decreased, as compared with the saline-control group. Growth rate evaluated on the basis of changes in daily body weights was considerably attenuated. The heroin-treated rats showed typical abstinence signs upon naloxone challenge 8 hr after the last heroin challenge. No significant changes were observed in the brain levels of tryptophan, serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The formation of newly synthesised 3H-serotonin from 3H-tryptophan was significantly reduced, as evidenced from the decreased specific activity of serotonin. The results obtained in this study indicate that whereas the perturbed diurnal feeding activity cannot be ascribed exclusively to altered central serotonergic mechanism, chronic heroin treatment appears to decrease the rate of serotonin via a negative feedback loop.


The measurement of change in endogenous affective disorders. Psychopathological syndromes, as originally revealed by clinical observation, can also be detected by multivariate statistical analyses of symptom ratings. Changes in the course of psychiatric syndromes may be rated simply by improvement scales or by consecutive quantifications of symptoms and their comparison in chronological order. For the latter approach, which is less liable to bias, clinical ratings of psychopathology by staff members, self-ratings by the patients, analyses of patients' overt behavior (including video and speech records), or objective measurements of psychological and/or physiological variables can be used. Advantages and limitations of these different methods are discussed and illustrated by examples from ongoing clinical research in affective disorders. Generally, the combined use of different rating procedures is recommended. Self-ratings are economical, but they may represent aspects of psychopathology other than clinical ratings. In endogenous depression, mood scales are valid (supplementary) tools for the quantification of long-term as well as short-term changes, including diurnal variations. In severe conditions of mania, however, clinical rating has been--until now--the only valid basis for quantifying the degree of psychopathology and its changes with time. Precise evaluation of changes in psychopathology is essential in longitudinal investigations of endogenous affective disorders, since psychopathology up to now seems to have been the most sensitive and the most specific indicator of the hypothetical underlying abnormalities of cerebral functioning.


Heredity-environment analyses of Jencks's IQ correlations. Three different published heredity-environment analyses of Jencks's summary correlations for IQ have yielded strikingly different results. It is shown empirically that differences in selection of data and in computational procedures and logical inconsistencies in specifying equations are not responsible for the differences in results. Rather, the differences trace to the underlying assumptions made by the various authors. The analyses suggest that the assumptions concerning genetic dominance, assortative mating, and special twin environments were especially critical, while those regarding selective placement and different modes of environmental transmission were not.


The diagnosis of zygosity in twins.

The diagnosis of zygosity in twins. Uniovular and diovular twin pairs can be classified with at least 90% accuracy by careful questioning or by ratings by observers of similarity in appearance, eye color, ear conformation, and the like. This article outlines the methods required for highly accurate zygosity diagnosis using blood typing, fingerprints, and anthropometry. The logic behind the use of discrete Mendelian phenotypes is explained and tables are provided which give the odds against a dizygotic twin pair showing concordance on eight blood group systems, four serum proteins, and six red blood cell enzymes. These tables are suitable for use with American twins of European ancestry; the method of generating such tables is explained so that similar tables based on different gene frequency estimates or for additional genetic markers can be easily constructed. The logic behind the use of metric, polygenic traits in zygosity diagnosis is also presented, together with tables giving the odds against a dizygotic twin pair showing various degrees of similarity in ponderal index, in cephalic index, and in Slater's Z score, a measure of fingerprint similarity. Taken together, the 18 serological markers should misclassify dizygotic twins as monozygotic fewer than two times in 1000. With the three anthropometric variables, this average probability of misclassification drops about 1 order of magnitude.


Partial covalent structure of two basic chromosomal proteins from human spermatozoa. The partial covalent structure of the basic chromosomal proteins I and II isolated from human spermatozoa was determined by automatic Edman degradation and digestion with carboxypeptidases A and B. The partial covalent structures obtained are compared with complete and partial known sequences of the basic chromosomal proteins from other animals.


[Age of measles vaccination in Lombardy from the results of a seroepidemiological survey in Milan]. In view of the introduction of measles vaccination in Lombardy and since the age of vaccination is of paramount importance, measles h.i.a. were titrated in sera from 209 children between 0 and 6 years of age (of whom 171/0--2) and from 40 woman in the child-bearing age. As it could be expected from the high prevalence of adults with antibody (95%), 90% of umbelical cord sera have h.ia.,, Over 50% of children 15 days-3 months of age are still positive and afterwards the positivity decreases progressivley till a minimum of 8% in children 10--12 months old. Beginning with the second year of life the percentage of immune children grows slowly to reach 50% in the age group 3--6 years. The distribution of antibody titers between 6 and 12 months, time at which maternal antibody are largely waned, suggested that the infection with measles virus is a rare event in the first year of life, while a substantial number of children gets the infection between 18 and 24 months. From these results it appears that also in Lombardy measles vaccination should be given not before 13 months and not after 18 months of age.


Regional left ventricular wall movement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Left ventriculograms of 20 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were digitised frame by frame and analysed using a contour display. Abnormalities of regional wall movement were present in 17, and included an abnormal sequence of inward movement during systole (13), regional delay in the onset of inward movement (10), and an abnormal dispersion of peak velocities (5). Diastolic wall movement was disturbed in 13, because of abnormal peak velocities in 7 and regional asynchrony in 6. Abnormal wall movement during the two isovolumic periods was rare in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, unlike ischaemic heart disease. These disturbances may reflect underlying structural abnormalities.


Plasma renin activity in coarctation of the aorta before and after surgical correction. In 37 patients with coarctation of the aorta, arterial blood pressure and ambulant plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined before and, in 15 patients, after surgical correction. The systolic blood pressure was raised in all the cases and the diastolic pressure was raised in 30 patients. Ambulant PRA was increased in 11 patients when compared with normal subjects of similar age. Twelve of the 15 operated patients had a significant decrease of systolic pressure after operation. Eight had raised PRA, and in 7 of these PRA fell to normal after operation and the blood pressure also fell; in 1 patient the decrease of PRA was unaccompanied by a fall in blood pressure. Though there was no significant correlation between the changes in blood pressure and PRA after operation it seems possible from our results that the renin-angiotensin system may be activated and contribute to the raised arterial pressure which occurs in patients with aortic coarctation.


Myocardial biopsy in diagnosis of endomyocardiopathy in patient with electro- and vectorcardiographic signs of myocardial infarction. A 52-year-old woman is described with the clinical picture of congestive heart failure, electro- and vectorcardiographic evidence of myocardial infarction, combined with angiographically hypokinetic left ventricle, but with patent coronary arteries. Endomyocardial biopsy disclosed changes consistent with 'congestive cardiomyopathy'. Thus, the study shows that the Q wave pattern on the electrocardiogram provides insufficient evidence for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction, and may be misleading in patients with cardiomyopathy. In such circumstances, endomyocardial biopsy from the left or right ventricle appears to be a helpful diagnostic method, and further use of this technique may permit a more precise diagnosis in patients with a history of myocardial infarction, but with normal coronary arteries.


Maternal haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and renal handling of urate in pregnancies ending in the births of small-for-dates infants. In nine patients who gave birth to babies below the fifth centile in weight, serum urate concentration and fractional reabsorption of urate were significantly higher than in 25 control patients whose babies were of normal birth weight. Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit were also significantly increased in the small-for-dates group. All of these changes may reflect depletion of extracellular fluid volume.


Single treatment laser iridotomy.

Single treatment laser iridotomy. A technique is described for producing an iridotomy in the treatment of closed-angle and secondary glaucoma using a single pulse from a dye laser. It was successful in 28 out of 32 eyes treated, and no significant complications were encountered.


Piloplex, a new long-acting pilocarpine polymer salt. A: Long-term study. Thirty eyes of 15 patients with open-angle glaucoma were followed up for a period of up to  1 year while being treated with Piloplex eye drops containg a new long-acting pilocarpine polymer salt. Average morning intraocular pressure (IOP) values during treatment with pilocarpine hydrochloride administered 4 times daily was 20.5 mmHg. Average morning IOP values during Piloplex medication administered only twice daily were 19.8 to 18.2 mmHg (range of averages on 14 sessions). These findings indicate the lower average pressure during Piloplex medication and show its prolonged hypotensive effect. Both medications contained an equivalent total daily amount of pilocarpine. Throughout the 1-year study period no adverse side effects were reported, and only 1 patient complained of local sensitivity reaction. Visual disturbances characteristic of pilocarpine eye drops were reduced from 3 times a day on pilocarpine hydrochloride 4 times daily to once a day on Piloplex twice daily.


The combination of guanethidine 3% and adrenaline 0.5% in 1 eyedrop (GA) in glaucoma treatment. During a 7-month period 33 patients (20 with primary open-angle glaucoma and 13 with suspected glaucoma) were treated with guanethidine 3% and adrenaline 0.5% in 1 eyedrop twice daily. The previous therapy was discontinued and the aim of the trial was to treat the patients with GA alone. There was an average decrease in intraocular pressure of 10.8 mmHg or 37.5% for the whole group (including 5 patients with additional therapy). In eyes with an average IOP in a day-curve without medication equal to or higher than 28 mmHg we found a decrease of 44.6% or 14.4 mmHg, and in eyes with an average IOP without medication between 21 and 28 mmHg a decrease of 30.4% or 7.6 mmHg. With GA alone the IOP was 3.3 to 3.9 mmHg lower than on the previous therapy (P less than 0.05); 46% of the eyes without additional therapy had all IOPs lower than 22 mmHg and 74% of the eyes had IOPs lower than 22 mmHg except 1 with a peak lower or equal to 25 mmHg 3 hours after application. This peak 3 hours after application indicates that GA has a biphasic action and was significant at the 0.5% level. Red eyes and slight ptosis were no problem for most patients. Patients found it very convenient to administer GA only twice daily.


Fluorescence anisotropy decay due to rotational brownian motion of ethidium intercalated in double strand DNA. The transient fluorescence of solutions of ethidium bromide . DNA complexes has been measured by pulse fluorimetry at different temperatures and in solvents containing various amounts of sucrose. The molar ratio of ethidium to nucleotides was low. Under these conditions the anisotropy decay was due to the Brownian motion of ethidium molecules intercalated in the double strand DNA molecules. This anisotropy decay could be described by a sum of 3 exponential terms, with correlation times 01, 02, 03 which were linear functions of the ratio of the solvent viscosity to the absolute temperature (n/T). The amplitude of the exponential term characterized by the shortest correlation time (01) has been found to depend on temperature while the ratio of the amplitude of the two other terms (characterized by 02 and 03) was independent of temperature. These results were interpreted as follows: 01 corresponds to a fast motion of the dye in its site. 02 and 03 describe a tortional motion of the ethidium bromide. DNA complex, involving several nucleotide pairs.


Analysis of the effectiveness of sodium chloride in dissociating non-histone chromatin proteins of cultured hepatoma cells. We examined the ability of NaCl (at 0.15 to 3 M) to release non-histone proteins from chromatin of cultured rat hepatoma cells. The percentage of the non-histones released increased with increasing NaCl concentrations up to 0.75 M; 1 and 3 M NaCl were not significantly more effective. A maximum of 50% of the non-histone protein was recovered free of DNA. The release of non-histones from sheared and unsheared chromatin was similar. The electrophoretic patterns of the non-histone proteins released by NaCl resembled that of the non-histones released by sodium dodecyl sulfate, which indicates that many of the detectable components were at least partially released by NaCl. Some non-histones (especially low molecular weight polypeptides) were fully released by NaCl and other proteins were relatively resistant to NaCl release. Higher recoveries of NaCl-dissociated non-histones were obtained with sucrose gradient centrifugation than with centrifugation in the absence of sucrose.


Evidence for compartmentation of uridine nucleotide pools in rat hepatoma cells. Interaction between the de novo and salvage pathways of pyrimidine metabolism was studied in a line of rat hepatoma cells by co-labelling with [14C]-uridine and [3H]orotate. A difference in the ratio of 14C/3H between CTP and UTP in acid-soluble nucleotide pool was reflected in the corresponding ratios in CMP and UMP in RNA, with uridine labelling cytidine nucleotides relatively more effectively than orotate. These results are not compatible with the concept of a single UTP pool, and a new model for pyrimidine anabolic pathways, based on compartmentation of de novo from salvage pathways, is proposed.


Effect of progesterone, estrogen withdrawal and secondary estrogen treatment of mannosylphosphoryldolichol synthesis in chick oviduct membranes. Oviduct membranes from chicks treated with diethylstilbestrol have a fully induced level of an enzyme that transfers mannose from GDP-Man to form mannosylphosphoryldolichol (Lucas, J.J. and Levin, E. (1977) J. Biol. Chem.252, 4330--4336). Withdrawal of diethylstilbestrol for 5 days causes a decrease in oviduct weight, lysozyme, and 60% of the mannosyltransferase activity. Chicks withdrawn from treatment for 10 days followed by secondary stimulation with diethylstilbestrol exhibit a more rapid increase in the mannosyltransferase activity than chicks that have not been previously treated with diethylstilbestrol. Further experiments indicate that the decrease in mannosylphosphoryldolichol synthesis after hormonal withdrawal may be the result of decreased levels of endogenous dolichyphosphate in the membrane preparations.


Subcellular distribution of free and esterified forms of vitamin A in the pigment epithelium of the retina and in liver. 1. The distribution of vitamin A was examined in various subcellular fractions of rat liver and bovine retinal pigment epithelium. In rat liver, the major portion of the vitamin is in the cytosol, whereas in pigment epithelium, it is concentrated mainly in the microsomes. The microsomal vitamin A of pigment epithelium is tightly bound to membranes, as shown by the inability to release it except by organic solvent extraction or incubation with Triton X-100. 2. In both tissues, two different forms of cytosol vitamin A could be distinguished by ultracentrifugation. The major portion in liver is in the floating lipid phase and consists mainly of retinyl ester. The remainder (less than 10% of the total) is in the underlying infranatant; about 90% of the vitamin A in this fraction is esterified. By contrast, two-thirds of the vitamin A of pigment epithelial cell cytosol is in the infranatant; it consists of both esterified and unesterified retinol. The floating layer in the pigment epithelial cytosol consists entirely of retinyl ester. 3. These two forms of cytosol vitamin A in the pigment epithelium could also be separated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 which yielded two distinct fluorescent peaks. The first, which appeared in the void volume and corresponded in all probability to the floating layer obtained by ultracentrifugation, consisted only of retinyl ester. The second peak, which was eluted in approximately the same position as myoglobin, contained only unesterified retinol. It was abolished completely by preincubation with pronase. These findings support the view that the second peak represents the endogenous retinol-retinol binding protein complex of pigment epithelial cytosol. The fluorescent enhancement of the retinol bound to protein in this peak was about 4--5-fold compared to retinol in organic solvents.


Vitamin A receptors of the retina: differential binding in light and dark. Vitamin A receptors of the retina appear to be differentially extractable in light and in dark suggesting that they could function as inter- or intra-cellular transport vehicles in the visual cycle.


Multivalued stimulus-response relation in isolated elasmobranch utricles. The relation between a maintained spatial orientation and the corresponding fully adapted discharge rate was multivalued in all the afferents tonically sensitive to maintained spatial orientation observed in isolated utricles of Rhinobates productus. The spread of rate values was of the order of changes produced by natural tilts. The occurrence of multivaluedness in isolated receptors indicated that peripheral issues are sufficient. Two factors contributed: firstly, the side from which the orientation had been reached (i.e. "hysteresis"): higher adapted rates occurred when the preceding orientation was characterized by lower rates and when the corresponding transition caused acceleration; secondly, "spontaneous" rate variations, some of which resembled markedly, and interacted with, the effects of tilts. It was not possible to identify the basic mechanisms underlying these factors. The multivaluedness in the coding of maintained position, because of its constancy and magnitude, cannot be ignored. It, as well as the sensitivity to fast transients, must be taken into account in utricular models, in evaluations of information transmission, and in psychophysical explorations.


[Reaction mechanism of succinyl CoA synthetase from pigeon thoracic muscle]. The ability of succinyl-CoA-synthetase from pigeon thoracic muscle to interact with ATP is investigated. gamma-32P-ATP and 8-14C-ATP were used in experiments. It is found that the enzyme, when reacting with ATP in the presence of Mg2+, forms a complex containing 2 moles of ATP residue and 2 moles of phosphoric acid residue (splitted from ATP) per 1 mole of protein. After 2 hours of incubation at 0-4 degrees C, the complex is converted into another one, containing 4 residues of phosphoric acid per 1 mole of @protein. Both complexes are active, and their incubation with succinate and CoA results in the formation of succinyl-CoA. The reaction capacity of these enzyme complexes with some reaction substrates is investigated. The enzyme complex containing 2 phosphoric acid residues and 2 nucleotide residues is found to interact neither with CoA, nor with succinate. The enzyme complex containing 4 phosphoric acid residues does not react with CoA, but it interacts with 14C-succinate, releasing inorganic phosphate in the amount equivalent to the equimolar amount of protein-binding succinic acid.


Replicon sizes in mammalian cells as estimated by an x-ray plus bromodeoxyuridine photolysis method. A new method is described for estimating replicon sizes in mammalian cells. Cultures were pulse labeled with [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) for up to 1 h. The lengths of the resulting labeled regions of DNA, Lobs, were estimated by a technique wherein the change in molecular weight of nascent DNA strands, induced by 313 nm light, is measured by velocity sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients. If cells are exposed to 1,000 rads of X-rays immediately before pulse labeling, initiation of replicon operation is blocked, although chain elongation proceeds almost normally. Under these conditions Lobs continues to increase only until operating replicons have completed their replication. This value for Lobs then remains constant as long as the block to initiation remains and represents an estimate for the average size of replicons operating in the cells before X-irradiation. For human diploid fibroblasts and human HeLa cells this estimated average size is approximately 17 micron, whereas for Chinese hamster ovary cells, the average replicon size is about 42 micron.


Presence of a platelet aggregating factor in the plasma of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and its inhibition by normal plasma. Three patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) were treated by infusion of normal plasma with dramatic responses. The plasmas collected from these patients during relapse induced in vitro aggregation of washed platelets from both normal donors and the patients during remission. The platelet aggregating factor was not dialyzable or adsorbable by Al(OH)3 and was not inactivated by diisopropylfluorophosphate, hirudin, or heparin in the presence of normal amounts of antithrombin. In contrast to the platelet aggregation induced by platelet isoantibody, the platelet aggregating activity of TTP plasma diminished as a function of time when it was incubated with normal plasma at 37 degrees C. These observations suggest that at least some instances of TTP appear to be due to deficiency of a plasma inhibitor to counteract a platelet aggregating factor demonstrated to be present in the plasma of these patients.


Vascular smooth muscle activity of 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid. The effects of 7-oxa-13-prostynoic acid (7-OPA), alone and as an antagonist of PGE2 and PGF2alpha, were investigaed in isolated rabbit aortic and canine renal arterial (diameter approximentaly 0.5 mm) strips. 7-OPA caused contractions in both preparations; threshold concentrations were 3- to 10-fold higher than the PGs and maximum contraction was 50-60%. In concentrations of 10(-5) M, 7-OPA inhibited contractions by PGF2alpha and PGE2. The same concentration of 7-OPA did not inhibit norepinephrine-induced contractions. These data indicate that 7-OPA is a partial agonist of PG receptors and produces its antagonism of PGE2 and PGF2alpha by that mechanism.


[Therapy of a refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura by vinblastine-loaded thrombocytes (author's transl)]. A 15-year-old patient with ITP which was refractory to corticosteroids, splenectomy, and immunosuppressive therapy with vincristine was twice treated with platelets loaded with vinblastine. Five days after the application of the platelets vinblastine complex the platelets began to rise up to 600 X 10(9)/l. The remission has lasted until now for more than 15 weeks. The therapy showed no major side effects except for a transient granulocytopenia.


The synthesis rate and turnover time of 5-hydroxy-tryptamine in brains of rats treated chronically with morphine. 1. Four schedules of subcutaneous pellet implantation were used to induce tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine in Sprague-Dawley rats. 2. The schedules included implantation of four morphine pellets (each containing 75 mg of morphine free base) during a 3 day period (schedule 1); six pellets during 3 days (schedule 2); six pellets during 7 days (schedule 3) and ten pellets during a 10 day period (schedule 4). 3. A high degree of tolerance and dependence on morphine, comparable to that induced in mouse by implantation of a single morphine pellet for 3 days, was produced with schedule 4. 4. Brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) turnover rates as measured by rate of accumulation of 5-HT after monoamine oxidase inhibition by pargyline were not different in rats rendered tolerant to and dependent on morphine according to schedules 1 to 4 when compared with corresponding placebo pellet-implanted rats. 5. The turnover rates of 5-HT in brain of morphine-and placebo pellet-implanted rats (schedule 4) from which the pellets had been removed for 24 h were also similar. 6. It is concluded that tolerance to, and physical dependence upon morphine in the rat is not associated with changes in brain 5-HT dynamics.


Disturbances in body image estimation as related to other characteristics and outcome in anorexia nervosa. Body image distortion in 79 female anorexia nervosa patients were examined on a visual-size estimation apparatus during the emaciated stage of illness. Both they and an age-matched female control group overestimated their body widths, so this overestimation cannot be considered unique to anorexia nervosa. Among anorexia patients the degree of overestimation was associated with less weight gain during treatment, greater denial of illness, and several other pretreatment characteristics indicative of poor outcome.


Very pure porcine insulin in clinical practice. In a one-year follow-up study the insulin dose in diabetic patients using very pure porcine insulin was compared with that in patients using conventional preparations. The dose of insulin used to obtain diabetic control was reduced by 7% in 108 patients treated solely with very pure porcine insulin from the start of insulin treatment when compared with 108 matched patients who had received conventional insulins. In 117 patients whose treatment had been changed from conventional bovine or bovine-porcine insulin to very pure porcine insulin the dose was reduced by 9%. A further 511 patients receiving conventional insulins were examined for local cutaneous or subcutaneous abnormalities at insulin injection sites. Lipoatrophy was found in 49 of these patients (10%), but not in patients using very pure porcine insulin. The results confirm that very pure porcine insulin reduces the insulin dose needed to maintain diabetic control and may resolve or prevent local reactions such as lipoatrophy. Long-term advantages in reduced antigenicity to insulin and contaminating peptides remain to be established.


Agonistic behavior elicited by electrical stimulation of the brain in western collared lizards, Crotaphytus collaris. Western collared lizards, Crotaphytus collaris, were tested in three experiments using electrical stimulation of the brain. In experiment 1, agonistic behavior (defensive, aggressive and escape) responses were elicited in free-moving unanesthetized lizards. In experiment 2, areas were localized from which gular extension, a common component of defensive and aggressive behavior, could be evoked in anesthetized animals. Experiment 3 was carried out to demonstrate that defensive and aggressive behavior could be elicited from the same stimulation sites both in anesthetized and unanesthetized lizards. Initially, gular extension was evoked while the animal was anesthetized and later the animal was tested while freely moving and unanesthetized. Based on a combined plot of the sites from which defensive and aggressive behavior was evoked in experiments 1--3, the higher threshold sites (51--750 muA) were in the dorsal ventricular ridge anterior, amygdaloid complex, septal and preoptic areas, hypothalamus, thalamus and adjacent to the nucleus profundus mesencephali (NPM) and reticular formation. Lower threshold sites (up to 50 muA) are found in the NPM and the reticular formation. Escape behavior can be evoked from stimulation sites within or adjacent to areas from which defensive and aggressive behavior can be elicited.


Lateralized hunger: ipsilateral attenuation of cortical spreading depression-induced feeding after unilateral 6-OHDA injection into the substantia nigra. Unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine into the substantia nigra in the rat significantly attenuated cortical spreading depression (CSD)-induced eating from the hemisphere ipsilateral but not contralateral to the lesion. The lateralized decrease in elicited feeding was correlated with postlesion body weight loss, striatal catecholamine depletion (dopamine, 94%; norepinephrine, 52%) and amphetamine-induced ipsilateral turning, and can be characterized as an inability of the lesioned nigrostriatal system to maintain the CSD-elicited response rather than a failure to induce it. The interhemispheric control procedure allows us to exclude various general sensory and motor deficits to account for the decrement of feeding, and to attribute the feeding deficit to a reduced nigrostriatal transmission. It is suggested that CSD-induced feeding is due to an activation of integrative sensorimotor systems (especially the nigrostriatal dopamine system), rather than to homeostatic imbalances.


The role of the dorsal and median raphe in the inhibition of muricide. Previous work has implicated the putative neurotransmitter serotonin in the inhibition of muricide. This study examined the possibility that the nuclei of the mesencephalic raphe function differentially in the control of this behavior. The results indicate that radiofrequency lesions confined to the dorsal raphe are sufficient to produce muricide in naturally non-killing rats. Lesions of the median raphe do not produce attack. Evidence is presented that suggests that the region of the tegmentum juxtaposed to the dorsal raphe and central gray contains neural mechanisms necessary for the final behavioral components of the attack sequence.


Inorganic salt denaturants stabilize ribonuclease against denaturation by urea. The isothermal denaturation of ribonuclease A by mixed denaturant systems was investigated at 25 degrees C. It was observed that low concentrations of lithium chloride stabilize the protein against denaturation by urea, even though the salt itself is a denaturant. This study also provides, for the first time, the most convincing evidence that the lithium chloride denatured ribonuclease A contains some of the native secondary and tertiary structure.


Parallelism between ethanol and imidazole interactions with horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase. The rate effects of imidazole on the EE isoenzyme of horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase have been analysed in terms of the elucidated kinetic mechanism of the enzyme. These imidazole effects on both directions of the reaction within nonexcess as well as excess ranges of substrate concentrations pointed to the competition between imidazole and ethanol for binding to the same three enzyme species in the kinetic mechanism, namely the free enzyme, the enzyme-NAD+ complex, and the enzyme-NADH complex. Moreover, both imidazole and ethanol brought about an enhancement in the rate of dissociation of NAD+ from its binding site on the enzyme.


Lassa fever, Marburg and Ebola virus diseases and other exotic diseases: is there a risk to Canada? There are seven exotic diseases of concern; three of these, the most unpredictable and least understood, are Lassa fever, Marburg virus disease and Ebola virus disease. In this article the epidemiologic aspects of these diseases are discussed, with particular emphasis on exportation from their indigenous areas in Africa and on the occurrence of secondary cases. Any of these conditions could be brought into Canada either by aeromedical evacuation or inadvertently. Between 1972 and 1978 there were seven occasions when Canada could have been involved with handling cases of Lassa fever. The Government of Canada has purchased several containment bed and transit isolators. These units, with filtered air under negative pressure, accommodate infectious patients being transported and cared for without contaminating medical attendants or the environment.


Enhancement of viral transformation for evaluation of the carcinogenic or mutagenic potential of inorganic metal salts. Thirty-eight metal salts were tested for their capacity to enhance transformation of Syrian hamster embryo cells by a simian adenovirus, SA7. All of the metal salts with known carcinogenic potential in animals or mutagenic activity in microbial or mammalian cells increased the SA7 transformation frequency. Metals were classified into three groups according to the concentration necessary to produce significant enhancement. Those showing highest activity (positive at less than 0.05 mM) were the salts of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and platinum. The second group (positive from 0.05 to 0.6 mM) included beryllium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, silver, thallium, and zinc. Iron salts were placed in a third group (only positive at concentrations greater than 0.9 mM). With the exception of ZnCl2 and ZnSO4, enhancement was demonstrated by both a relative increase in the viral transformation frequency and an absolute increase in the number of transformed foci among treated cells. The latter observation and the demonstration of enhancement in the absence of overt cell killing negate the possibility that enhancement resulted from the selection of transformation-sensitive cells.


DNA-protein and DNA interstrand cross-linking by cis- and trans-platinum(II) diamminedichloride in L1210 mouse leukemia cells and relation to cytotoxicity. The effects of cis- and trans-platinum(II) diamminedichloride on L1210 cells were investigated using the technique of DNA alkaline elution. Both agents produced reductions in alkaline elution rates which were partially or, in some cases, almost completely reversed by incubation of the cell lysates with proteinase K. The proteinase-sensitive component of this effect is taken to reflect DNA-protein cross-linking, while the proteinase-resistant component of this effect may include interstrand cross-links. The cytotoxicity of the two agents did not correlate with the extent of DNA-protein cross-linking but did appear to correlate with the extent of proteinase-resistant cross-linking; therefore, there may be a relationship between cytotoxicity and interstrand cross-linking.


The internal structure of axons from rat sciatic nerve. Sciatic nerves from rats were examined electron microscopically following fixation in 4% tannic acid in 2.5% glutaraldehyde, which allowed demonstration of a filamentous network between the usual intra-axonal organelles. The network appears to consist of longitudinal 10 nm in diameter filaments and cross-linking filaments of about 6 nm diameter. Exposure to cold caused disruption of microtubules, but not the filaments, and incubation at 37 degrees C following cold exposure resulted in reformation of the microtubules which again showed linking with the filaments. Exposure of the nerves to cold in the presence of D2O did not cause disruption of the microtubules but there did appear to be some loss of the fine filaments. These findings suggest that the finer cross-linking filaments are of a different nature than the longitudinal 10 nm filaments, and that there is a dynamic relationship between these filaments and microtubules since the cross-linkages reappear following microtubule disruption and reformation.


Undifferentiated and differentiated L6 myoblast plasma membranes. I: Comparison of the morphology of plasma membrane vesiculation and the factors influencing the vesiculation process. Monolayer cultures of a variety of cell lines can be induced to shed plasma membrane vesicles by exposure to 25 mM formaldehyde--2 mM dithiothreitol. An analysis of the process of membrane shedding can provide a method to probe the general characteristics of the plasma membrane in different cell populations. We have, therefore, analyzed membrane shedding in L6 myoblasts at different stages of differentiation. The results show that the morphology of membrane shedding is comparable in undifferentiated or differentiated L6 myoblasts, as are the factors that influence the process of membrane shedding. L6 myoblasts at various stages of differentiation have similar requirements for metabolic energy, physiological temperature, pH, and monovalent and divalent cations.


Cerebellar hemangioblastoma: computed tomographic, angiographic and clinical correlation in seven cases. Seven patients with histologically confirmed cerebellar hemangioblastomas are reviewed in order to establish computed tomographic (CT), angiographic and clinical characteristics and correlations. Noncontrast CT scans demonstrated most cystic lesions but did not always depict nodules on the cyst wall and small solid tumors. Contrast-enhanced CT scans demonstrated the solid and cystic types of tumors but in some cases angiography better delineated them and the presence of nodules. The CT appearance reflected the pathologic characteristics, which included vascular channels, cyst formation and nodules. Solid tumors enhanced homogeneously and could not be definitively distinguished from other cerebellar neoplasms by CT alone. One atypical undifferentiated tumor appeared as a solid mass with a necrotic center. The CT appearance of associated retinal angiomatosis is also described. Hydrocephalus, gait or appendicular ataxia was the initial clinical presentation in these patients.


[Livaditis procedure used for repair of esophageal atresia type I (author's transl)]. The livaditis procedure and the prognosis of post-operative leakage being now improved, it is tempting to perform an early repair of esophageal atresia type I. The authors report the successful treatment of esophageal atresia performed at the age of 7 weeks, despite a gap of 5 vertebrae between both segments and an anastomotic leak.


Evaluation of a competitive binding assay for cortisol using horse transcortin. A non-chromatographic competitive binding assay (CBA) using horse transcortin has been employed in the routine measurement of cortisol in plasma, urine and amniotic fluids. Comparing the values with those of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) or a fluorimetric method (FM) an excellent correlation between the three methods both in plasma and urine has been calculated in normal subjects and in patients with various endocrine disorders. In amniotic fluids, however, there were discrepancies between CBA and RIA. Whereas CBA showed no differences, RIA gave significantly higher values in amniotic fluids of female than of male fetuses. Elevated free plasma cortisol levels observed in patients with prostatic cancer after diethyl stilboestrol diphosphate therapy did not correlate with unconjugated urinary cortisol concentration as measured with CBA and FM. In newborns, a relatively high plasma level found 12 hours after birth was followed by a nadir on the 2nd and 3rd day of life and by an increase until levels of adults on the 5th day of life were reached.


Future trends which will influence waste disposal. The disposal and management of solid wastes are ancient problems. The evolution of practices naturally changed as populations grew and sites for disposal became less acceptable. The central search was for easy disposal at minimum costs. The methods changed from indiscriminate dumping to sanitary landfill, feeding to swine, reduction, incineration, and various forms of re-use and recycling. Virtually all procedures have disabilities and rising costs. Many methods once abandoned are being rediscovered. Promises for so-called innovations outstrip accomplishments. Markets for salvage vary widely or disappear completely. The search for conserving materials and energy at minimum cost must go on forever.


A test of the sympathic nervous system of the urethra. The administration of 5 mg phentolamine by a new technique decreases the urethral closure pressure by 38%. The latter could be used as a test for the sympatic nervous system in the urethra.


Incorporation of 6-thioguanosine and 4-thiouridine into RNA. Application to isolation of newly synthesised RNA by affinity chromatography. Isolation of newly synthesised RNA can be achieved by treatment of cells in culture with 6-thioguanosine or 4-thiouridine followed by separation of thiol-containing RNA by affinity chromatography on mercurated cellulose columns. After short periods of treatment with 6-thioguanosine the proportion of RNA retained on mercurated cellulose is the same for both poly(A)-containing and poly(A)-free RNA, indicating similar incorporation of the drug into mRNA and rRNA. However, after longer periods of exposure, the cytotoxic effect of 6-thioguanosine results in diminished incorporation of radioactive uridine into RNA and of radioactive leucine into protein; this suggests that synthesis of both RNA and protein are impaired. On the other hand, even after long exposure to high concentrations of 4-thiouridine, the syntheses of RNA and protein are not significantly affected. Proteins synthesised after treatment of cells with 6-thioguanosine are less stable than proteins synthesised after treatment of cells with 4-thiouridine.


Synthesis and antitumour activity of new daunorubicin and adriamycin analogues. A new synthetic procedure for the preparation of daunorubicin and adriamycin analogues bearing different substituents on ring D, has been developed. The new compounds display outstanding efficacy against experimental tumours of mice.


Stable and transmissible dicentric chromosome with terminal centromeres in ascites cell of mouse sarcoma 180. The occurrence of a stable and transmissible dicentric chromosome with 2 terminal centromers has been reported in the ascites form of mouse sarcoma 180 cells which is chromosomally hypotetraploid. The number of such dicentrics is 2 in all endoreduplicated cells. The probable mode of anaphase separation of the dicentric has been discussed.


Histamine H1- and H2-receptor-mediated gastric microcirculatory effects in the aetiology of stress ulceration in the rat stomach. Stress produced severe mucosal ulcers, increased mucosal microcirculation and lowered mast cell counts in the glandular wall of rat stomachs. Mepyramine i.m. or metiamide i.p. effectively prevented both ulceration and microcirculatory changes but not stress-reduced mast cell counts.


Folic acid levels in blood and seminal plasma of normo- and oligospermic patients prior and following folic acid treatment. Folic acid was estimated in blood and seminal plasma of normo- and oligospermic men. Following folic acid administration (10 mg TID for 30 days), the levels in blood and semen increased. However, sperm counts, motility and DNA content of spermatozoa were not affected.


[Effects of a definite stress on the enzyme activities in blood plasma in mice (author's transl)]. The present study was designed to analyze the effects of a short term stress on the quantitative levels of alkaline phosphatase (AP), creatine phosphokinase (CK), aldolase (ALD), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and lactate dehydrogenase-1-isoenzyme (LDH 1) during 24 h after stress. For all the enzymes studied higher values for the activity were found due to stress in comparison to the activity level before the stress. The period during the 24 h after stress to reach maximum activity depends on the enzyme and in part on the sex of the animal.


Natural occurrence of trichothecenes (nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, T2) and zearalenone in corn. Samples of corn suspected of causing infertility and refusal symptoms were analyzed and found to contain nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, T2 toxin and zearalenone, metabolites from Fusarium species.


On the lymphatic spread of cancer.

On the lymphatic spread of cancer. Experimental demonstration that agents promoting cellular motility and/or vascular permeability enhance the spread of tumour to regional or distant lymph nodes. Tumour emboli appear to reach the regional glands via the lymphatic channels and the distant nodes by haematogenous route.


Bromocriptine in the treatment of hyperolactinemic amenorrhea. Thirty women with secondary amenorrhea and hyperprolactinemia were studied; galactorrhea was present in 25 of them, and 18 were infertile. Serum prolactin (PRL) levels were high in all cases, between 26 and 120 ng/ml. All women were treated with bromocriptine in increasing doses from 2.5 to 5.0 or 7.5 mg daily, according to the response obtained, for 4 months. In 27 patients a PRL determination was performed during treatment; values returned to normal (up to 20 ng/ml) in 23 women and remained high in 4. Galactorrhea disappeared in 21 of 25 women. Ovulatory menses were re-established in 17 patients (56.6%). Seven women became pregnant (38.8%), one of them after bromocriptine and clomiphene were given simultaneously in the same cycle. According to our results and a literature review the following conclusions may be drawn: (1) bromocriptine is a useful therapeutic tool for re-establishing menstruation and inducing ovulation in patients with the hyperprolactinemic-amenorrhea syndrome; (2) the association of bromocriptine and clomiphene could be the next step in the treatment of patients who fail to ovulate with bromocriptine alone.


Plasma prolactin in juvenile diabetics. 24-h studies with somatostatin. In normal subjects during 24-hours saline infusion, plasma prolactin showed a number of small rises during day and night. The mean night-time level was significantly higher than the day-time level (8.2 +/- 0.6 ng/ml as against 4.7 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). In 12 insulin-dependent diabetics the 24 h plasma prolactin pattern was identical to that found in normals. Somatostatin infusion (4 mg/24 h in normals; 2--6 mg/24 h in diabetics) had no effect on the 24 h plasma prolactin pattern in either normals or in diabetics.


Factitious diabetes and antibody mediated resistance to beef insulin. A case of factitious diabetes is reported. The patient gave herself insulin intermittently over a four year period. A high concentration of insulin binding antibody was found with the antibody showing much greater avidity towards beef than human insulin. There was resistance to intravenously administered beef insulin with low concentrations of free insulin and high concentrations of bound insulin. In contrast, in response to a glucose tolerance test, both the free insulin and C-peptide responses were normal as was glucose tolerance. The clinical difference in responsiveness to the human and beef insulins is well illustrated in vitro by insulin binding differences and is probably a function not only of different equilibrium constants of the antibody for human and beef insulins but also of different high affinity binding site concentrations.


[Acute myocardial infarction in a case of obstructive cardiomyopathy of the left ventricle (author's transl)]. A case of acute myocardial infarction in 64 year old man with idiopathic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy of left ventricle is described. The Authors emphasize the rarity of association and that the diagnosis of obstructive cardiomyopathy in the elderly is always almost misinterpreted. This depends on the poor specificity of clinical and phonocardiographic findings, both basal and under pharmacological tests. The Authors point out that in adult patients with left ventricular idiopathic obstructive cardiomyopathy who must be operated also selective coronary angiography should be performed.


Electrical and thermal injuries in pig skin--evaluated and compared by light microscopy. The morphology of pig skin after electrical (el) and thermal exposure was studied in order to find methods applicable for disclosing electrical torture. Biopsies from pig skin exposed 24 hours earlier to either heat or electrical current under general anesthesia were studied by light microscopy. The amount of energy used of either type ranged from about 6 to about 100 joule deposited on two circular areas of the skin measuring 12 mm in diameter. In sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin alterations were found in heat-influenced specimens following the administration of moderate and large doses of energy. Changes were observed in el-influenced specimens also after the administration of low amounts of energy, which did not lead to macroscopical changes in the skin. The two types of energy induced different patterns of alterations inside the epidermis. The most characteristic change following heat exposure was the presence of a granular or fibrillar eosinophilic cytoplasm and subepidermal clefts, while el-expoure often produced white homogeneous cytoplasm and shadowy nuclei ("white necrosis") in the attached epidermis. The individual changes could be produced by both types of injury, but to a highly different degree. However, the alteration classified as "vesicular nuclei" was only observed observed in el-damaged skin. The dermis from the more severely injured skin of both groups showed a homogeneous appearance ("necrosis"). While the changes of epidermis and dermis in response to heat were diffusely distributed, the changes created by electrical injury were often present in segments. By electrical damage homogeneous areas with loss of stainability and shadowy nuclei were occasionally observed in sweat glands, hair sheaths and in vessel walls, structures which are suggested to serve as conductors for the electrical current. "Vesicular nuclei" were observed in similar structures. Some of the findings may be associated with differences in intensity of energy during exposure to heat and electricity. Furthermore, the existence of different biological patterns following the two types of exposure should be considered. The studies are being continued to elucidate these basic questions, and to study further the medical diagnostic potential of examining skin biopsies from tortured individuals.


C-bands in chromosomes 1,9, and 16 of twins. Thirty-two pairs of Caucasoid twins, 16 monozygotic (MZ) and 16 dizygotic (DZ) of the same sex, were studied in relation to the C-bands of chromosomes 1, 9, and 16. Concordance was not absolute among MZ, the best evaluation of the degree of genetic determination for these traits being 0.40 for chromosome 16, 0.64 for chromosome 1, and 0.73 for chromosome 9. Possible explanations for the failure to obtain 100% concordance are methodologic shortcomings, intercell variations in chromosome contraction, and unequal mitotic crossing over.