Prevalence of chronic bronchitis in Rhodesian Africans. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis in the African population of a small township in Rhodesia was estimated using two questionnaires, both based on those of the British Medical Research Council. The first, a screening questionnaire, was put to 9768 subjects aged 5 years and above and the second, a more detailed questionnaire, to random selections of these grouped according to their replies. Repeat interviews were used to assess the accuracy of the questionnaires. The overall prevalence of chronic bronchitis was 1.12%. This is much lower than most other surveys elsewhere. There was little evidence of an increase in prevalence with age, and rates were not significantly different in the two sexes. The prevalence of complications and of other chest symptoms was correspondingly low. The proportion of bronchitics who smoked was not significantly higher than in the controls. Amounts smoked, however, were generally much lower than in other populations, and this, together with low levels of pollution, probably account for the prevalence findings.


Structural basis for the changing physical properties of human pulmonary vessels with age. Circumferential strips of pulmonary vessel wall were obtained at necropsy from the major arterial and venous branches at the lung hilum in patients aged 7-87 years. The extensibility of these strips was measured using the tension balance method of Harris et al. (British Heart Journal, 1965, 27, 651-659). The vessels were then bisected, and half of each strip was submitted for structural analysis using morphometric methods on paraffin sections stained to show the collagen, elastin, and muscle content. The other halves of the formalin-fixed vessel strips were examined chemically to determine their collagen content by estimation of the total hydroxyproline content. The thickness of the vessel media was measured microscopically on all of the sections examined. Quantitative measurements were made on 42 arteries and 37 veins. Contrary to expectation, there was a steady fall in medial collagen content with increasing age in arteries and veins. The decrease in collagen content was similar in the morphometric and chemical studies and was statistically significant. The thickness of the vessel media did not change significantly with age. The pulmonary artery and vein strips were less extensible in the older age groups, the main change occurring in the elastic phase of the vascular stress/strain curves. It is suggested that changes in the elastic tissue at a molecular and lamellar level are responsible for the increasing stiffness of pulmonary vessels rather than changes in the medial collagen content.


Breath sounds in the clinical assessment of airflow obstruction. In a group of 34 inpatients showing varying degrees of airflow obstruction we studied the relationship between breath sound intensity (BSI) and abnormalities of lung function. The BSI was evaluated by chest auscultation to provide a score, in a manner similar to that described by Pardee et al. (1976), and was found to correlate closely with indices of airflow obstruction of their logarithms such as specific conductance (r = 0.759), maximal expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (r = 0.790), forced expiratory volume in one second (r = 0.768), and forced expiratory volume to vital capacity ratio (r = 0.860). Correlations with lung volumes, although statistically significant, were weaker. Multiple correlation studies showed that BSI score correlated independently with indices of both airflow obstruction and lung distension. In our experience, BSI score can be useful not only in the detection but also the quantification of airflow obstruction, although its predictive power is impaired in subjects with associated restrictive disorders. It can also fail to detect mild, pure airflow obstruction.


An ultrasonic analysis of the comparative efficiency of various cardiotomy reservoirs and micropore blood filters. The ability of 12 commercially available cardiotomy reservoirs to remove bubbles from aspirated blood was investigated by means of a simulated cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and an ultrasonic microbubble detector. Performance varied considerably. The number of gaseous microemboli remaining after passage of blood through the reservoir was reduced by (a) holding the blood in the reservoir, (b) reducing the volume of air mixed with the aspirated blood, and (c) using a reservoir that did not induce turbulence and that contained integral micropore filtration material. Further micropore filtration of the blood after passage through the cardiotomy reservoir was beneficial, and significantly more bubbles were extracted when the microfilter was sited below the reservoir than when it was placed in the arterial line.


Collagen diseases as a cause of constrictive pericarditis. Seven patients with constrictive pericarditis associated with collagen disease underwent pericardiectomy with good results in all but one. The collagen disease was confirmed as rheumatoid arthritis in five patients, but in two its nature remained obscure. In one case the illness was marked by a persistent eosinophilia and eosinophilic infiltration of the pericardium. The association of constrictive pericarditis with rheumatoid arthritis and other collagenoses is briefly discussed.


Lung cancer in Japanese chromate workers. We have treated ten patients with lung cancer among workers in a chromate factory between 1972 and 1976. Four further cases were also found through death certificates and medical records. Most were smokers and all were men. The average duration of exposure to chromate was 24 years (range 10 to 36). The cell type in our ten patients was squamous in seven and small anaplastic type in three. The primary sites were all in large bronchi. The incidence (person per year) calculated from the number of employees, duration of factory activity, number of cancer patients, and shortest duration of labour period among the patients was 657.9 per 100,000 compared to 13.3 per 100,000 in Japan as a whole.


Cardiac involvement and superior vena caval obstruction in Behçet's disease. A patient with Behçet's disease developed the rare complications of pericarditis and, two months later, superior vena caval obstruction. The latter complication was investigated by angiography to exclude other causes. As a result of this investigation the caval obstruction was managed conservatively, the symptoms and signs improving spontaneously.


Resection of thyroid carcinoma infiltrating the trachea. We have treated surgically 11 patients with thyroid carcinoma that had infiltrated into the trachea. Three patients had primary tumours, and eight had recurrent tumours after previous operations. Sleeve resection of trachea was performed where thyroid carcinoma had proliferated; the trachea was reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis. In two patients 10 rings of the trachea were resected. In three patients the anterior half of the cricoid cartilage was resected along with the cervical trachea. In one patient tracheoplasty was performed using partial extracorporeal circulation because severe tracheal stenosis prevented endotracheal intubation. Two of the 11 patients died from the surgery and one from disseminated metastases. One patient who had undergone tracheal resection for thyroid carcinoma three years and five months previously had a recurrence of the tumour in the trachea adjacent to the anastomosis, and a second tracheal resection was performed. In three patients postoperative laryngeal stenosis occurred. Five patients are alive and well two years and one month to four years and seven months after their operations. The histological pattern of the tumour was papillary adenocarcinoma in all 11 patients.


Results of treating primary tumours of the trachea by irradiation. Forty-four patients presented with primary tumours of the trachea over a 25-year period. Thirty-nine of them were treated by irradiation. Of these, 24 (61.5%) died as a result of their disease while 30% are either alive and well (4.4-11 years) or have died of intercurrent disease (average four years). Recurrences or metastases when they occurred were in the first two years after diagnosis in all but one patient, who developed local recurrence 3.25 years later. Three patients died of unknown cause (average 5.6 years) after irradiation. Two factors seem to determine the prognosis: the histology and the extent of disease on presentation. Dysphagia without oesophageal involvement carried a grave prognosis.


Acute changes of lung volumes and lung mechanics in asthma and in normal subjects. Lung volumes, pulmonary mechanics, and specific airway conductance (sGaw) were studied before and 15 minutes after 200 microgram of aerosol salbutamol in nine asthmatics undergoing mild spontaneous exacerbations of their disease and in five normal subjects. In addition, three of the normal subjects were studied after voluntarily breathing at high lung volumes for one minute. The normal subjects and four of the asthmatics showed no overall changes in lung volumes or pressure-volume (PV) curves after salbutamol, even though airway dilatation was produced in the asthmatic subjects. In another five asthmatics, salbutamol induced a significant fall in the total lung capacity (TLC) in three, and in the residual volume and functional residual capacity in all five. There was a significant displacement of the PV curve downwards and to the right in all five, with increased lung compliance (Cl stat) in two. The fall in TLC could be accounted for by the increase in lung elasticity. There is reason to believe that this change in lung mechanics could be due to the reversal of asthma-induced stress relaxation. Sustained breathing at high lung volume is known to cause stress relaxation of the lung. However, this breathing pattern did not alter the PV curve or TLC in two of three normal subjects, which is consistent with stress relaxation being rapidly reversible. The other normal subject had an acute shift of the PV curve upwards and to the left after breathing at high lung volume. It has been concluded that stress relaxation is usually rapidly reversed but that in some individuals it may only be slowly reversed. This more persistent form of stress relaxation may contribute to the acute changes of TLC found in some asthmatics.


Variation in airways resistance when defined over different ranges of airflows. In eight normal subjects airways resistance (Raw) was assessed over six ranges of airflow (about zero flow at both minimum and maximum lung volumes) using an automated whole body plethysmograph. The intervals of flow used were 21s-1 and 11s-1 spanning zero flow, and 11s-1 and 0.51s-1 measured up to and from zero flow. The wider intervals gave less variable results, the coefficients of variation being of the order 11%, 15%, and 22% for the 2, 1, and 0.51s-1 intervals respectively. In all subjects, at minimum volume Raw was some 1.5 times greater when measured over the ranges at end-expiration than at start-expiration; at maximum volume Raw was some 1.3 times greater when measured over the ranges at end-inspiration than at start-expiration. A slight increase in the slopes of the oscilloscope traces used to determine Raw was observed at minimum volume compared with those at maximum volume. In view of the substantial differences reported it is essential that the exact range of flow, and the respiratory phase used, is described when reporting measurements of Raw. Least variability is obtained by estimating slopes over a wide interval of flow, such as 1 or 21s-1.


Large intercostal arteriovenous aneurysm: successful surgical correction. A large aberrant systemic artery to superior vena cava communication associated with normal lungs and normal pulmonary arteries has never been reported. This lesion, its diagnosis, and successful surgical management are discussed.


[Penicillin residues in yearlings following preventive treatment of summer mastitis with a preparation containing high doses of penicillin for use of dry cows (author's transl)]. In view of questions arising in the field, regarding the periode for which treatment with a preparation containing high doses of penicillin for use of dry cows to prevent summer mastitis may result in a positive kidney test, the urinary concentrations of penicillin in these animals were determined. The study of these levels, in conjunction with previous experience in cattle, showed that kidney tests are only likely to be positive during the first two days.


[Spectacles for dogs and cats (author's transl)]. Indications for using spectacles in dogs and cats are reviewed. These indications are classified into the following categories: (1) correction of visual acuity, (2) protection against external irritants such as ultraviolet rays and wind, (3) prevention of self-mutilation and (4) psychological reasons. The only justifiable indications for the use of spectacles or sun-glasses in dogs or cats consist in the treatment or prevention of some ophthalmic disorders.


[Using spectacles in a poodle (author's transl)]. A three-year-old poodle showed changes in its behaviour, which were so marked as to induce the owner to inquire after the possible use of spectacles for her dog. After examination of the eyes and consultation of an optician, it was decided to measure the animal for a pair of spectacles. The results were satisfactory. It should be pointed out that using spectacles for impairment of visual acuity will not often occur.


[Contamination and age as factors in the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis (author's transl)]. The relationship between contamination with Bordetella bronchiseptica or Pasteurella multocida and the age of the piglets on the one hand and the pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis on the other, is discussed. Minimal disease-free piglets born and reared on farms on which pigs affected with clinical atrophic rhinitis were present, developed clinical atrophic rhinitis at the age of six weeks. Piglets born in the Central Veterinary Institute (CVI) of sows from herds including pigs affected with atrophic rhinitis and reared under normal CVI conditions, did not develop clinical atrophic rhinitis. These sows are believed to be factors of minor importance in the pathogenesis of clinical atrophic rhinitis in piglets. When minimal disease-free piglets were contaminated during the third or fourth week of life, a slight degree of foreshortening of the upper jaw was observed in three out of nine pigs, the carcase weights of these animals not differing markedly from those of normal swine. When they were contaminated at the age of eight weeks, clinical atrophic rhinitis did not appear. It is essential that young piglets should be protected against atrophic rhinitis during the first few weeks of life.


[The presence of meconium in newborn lambs (author's transl)]. Meconium was present on the fleece of 114 newborn lambs in sixty-two per cent of the cases. It was observed in forty per cent of the firstlings of primiparae, whereas the highest proportion (eighty-two per cent) was seen in the group of the lambs of pluriparous ewes, which were born later. A short normal gestation period (less than 144 days), a low birth-weight (less than 4.0 kg.) and a short period of parturition appear to result in a reduced incidence of the presence of meconium.


Distribution of nickel and cytogenetic changes in poisoned rats. The effect of dose and duration of exposure on the relative distribution of nickel in the vital organs and bone of albino rats was investigated. The rate of accumulation of the metal, in general, was highest in myocardium and spleen followed by kidney, bone and other tissues. The sub-cellular fractionation of myocardium revealed higher metal localization in nuclear and mitochondrial fractions than in the microsomal and cytosolic fractions. However, the uptake of metal by various tissues and its sub-cellular distribution was regulated by the dose and duration of exposure. No significant chromosomal damage was observed in either the bone marrow or the spermatogonial cells in the animals during early nickel intoxication.


Catalytic effects by thioltransferase on the transfer of methylmercury and p-mercuribenzoate from macromolecules to low molecular weight thiol compounds. Thiol agarose and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were blocked with methylmercury or p-mercuribenzoate. The exchange of mercurials between the thiol-containing polymers and glutathione or dithioerythritol was investigated. The activity of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was inhibited by blocking thiol-groups with the mercury compounds. Inhibition was reversible when a short period of inactivation was used. Inactivation for longer periods resulted in reduced regain of enzyme activity. The activity was in part regained when either of the 2 thiol compounds was added. Thioltransferase, known to catalyze thiol-disulfide exchange reactions, increased the regain of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity to nearly the original value. Here, thioltransferase is proposed to catalyze the transfer of organomercurial from one thiol complex to another. Some consequences of the observations in vivo are discussed.


Vaginal absorption of hexachlorophene in the rat. The pharmacokinetics of hexachlorophene (HCP) was studied in sexually mature virgin Wistar rats. [14C] HCP was injected either via the femoral vein, (ivn, 0.87 or 3.87 mg/kg in saline) or into the vaginal orifice (ivg, 0.87 mg/kg in corn oil). The disappearance of 14C from the blood after ivn administration followed the kinetics of a 2 compartment open model. The blood 14C profiles were superimposable, suggesting that the distribution and elimination rate constants for both doses were similar. After ivg application of [14C] HCP, 14C was detected in tail blood at 0.5 h, peaked between 2 and 4 h and disappeared slowly to 12 h but more rapidly thereafter. Less than 10% of the ivg dose of [14C] HCP remained in the vagina after 4 h. The cumulative recoveries of 14C in the faeces and urine 5 days after ivn administration were 85% and 4.6% of the dose, respectively. Comparable recoveries following ivg administration were 72% and 3.7%. The results suggest that HCP readily penetrates through the vaginal mucosa of the rat.


Inhibition of mixed function oxidases in rat liver by trans- and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene. A single 8-h exposure to trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (t-DCE) or cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (c-DCE) at 200 ppm (hygienic standard in workplaces) resulted in a significant increase in the hexobarbital sleeping time, the zoxazolamine paralysis time, and the metabolic formation of 4-aminoantipyrine from aminopyrine in adult female Wistar rats. Higher DCE concentrations caused a dose-dependent and substantial enhancement of these effects, the effects of c-DCE being stronger than that of t-DCE. In the course of enzyme-kinetic measurements in isolated rat liver microsomes, t-DCE proved to be a competitive inhibitor of the oxidative N-demethylation of aminopyrine and of the O-demethylation of p-nitroanisole. It is concluded from the results that the inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism is caused by a competitive and reversible interaction of the 2 DCE isomers with the mixed-function oxidase system, the interaction possibly operating at the type I binding site.


Mutagenic evaluation of single cell protein with various mammalian test systems. Single cell protein (SCP)--a product containing 80% raw protein obtained from bacteria grown on a methanol substrate--was tested for mutagenicity in 5 in vivo tests in different mammalian species. The animals were fed either a standard laboratory diet, a semi-synthetic diet, diets containing 12.5 and 25% SCP or pure SCP. The following investigations were carried out: dominant-lethal-test; host-mediated assay; micronucleus test; chromosome studies in bone marrow cells; in vivo sister chromatid exchange test. The statistical evaluation of all test results did not reveal any evidence for mutagenic activity of the SCP.


Acute cardiovascular toxicity of trazodone, etoperidone and imipramine in rats. The cardiovascular effects of trazodone, a broad-spectrum antidepressant and its analogue etoperidone, were compared with imipramine, following intravenous infusion in rats. Their effects on electrocardiogram and blood pressure were simultaneously recorded until cardiac arrest. Hypotension was the primary effect of trazodone and etoperidone. ECG changes, i.e. lengthening of the PR interval, were observed only when the blood pressure reached very low values. On the other hand, imipramine produced first the well known ECG changes and then a drop in blood pressure. As far as mortality was concerned, trazodone was the least toxic drug, followed by etoperidone, whereas imipramine was most toxic; these differences being in agreement with the LD50 values reported in rats by the i.v. route. It is concluded that trazodone and etoperidone produce in rats cardiovascular effects, which are different from those of imipramine. Moreover these differences are consistent with their pharmacological properties, particularly their interaction with catecholamines, which are inhibited by trazodone or etoperidone and potentiated by imipramine.


Studies on the gastrointestinal absorption of N-nitrosamines: effect of dietary constituents. Studies on the intestinal absorption of N-nitrosodimethylamine (DMN) in the rat have shown that the presence of dietary constituents such as fat markedly reduced the rate of disappearance of this nitrosamine whereas the presence of protein and carbohydrate had little effect on the absorption rate. Fat was also found to reduce the absorption rate of N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPY) and N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP). Further it was confirmed that the small-intestinal tract of the rat has the ability to degrade DMN. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the biological fate of orally ingested nitrosamines.


Multigeneration reproduction studies with carmoisine in rats. Carmoisine (C.I. (1956) No. 14720) was fed at levels of 0, 0.35, 0.8 and 2.0% in the diet of rats throughout a multigeneration reproduction study. The dye had not untoward effects on reproduction capacity of any of the generations studied. Fertility, lactation and viability indices of all groups fed carmoisine did not differ significantly from controls at any stage of the study. These results indicate a maximum no-effect level of 2% in the diet. Data from an additional nine-week feeding study (dietary levels were 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8%) suggest that the no-effect level may in fact be even higher since 4% carmoisine in the diet was tolerated without evidence of overt toxicity.


A one year feeding study with carmoisine in rats. Rat fed carmoisine (C.I. (1956) No. 14720) at 0.35, 0.8 or 2.0% in the diet for 52 weeks showed no adverse effects of the dye when compared to control animals. Mortality, weight gain, hematological values and relative organ weights were the same in control and treated animals. There was no increase in tumor incidence due to carmoisine treatment. Male rats fed 2.0% carmoisine showed an increased incidence of several mild subclinical conditions (minimal bronchitis and tracheal inflammation). Because of this occurrence, the maximum no-effect level after 1 year exposure appears to be 0.8%, equivalent to a daily intake of approx. 400 mg/kg.


A study of the teratogenicity of butylated hydroxyanisole on rabbits. A teratogenicity study on butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) was carried out in SPF New Zealand White rabbits. BHA was given by gavage from day 7--18 of the gestation period in doses of 0, 50, 200 and 400 mg/kg body wt./day. The fetuses were removed on day 28. No effect related to the treatment with BHA was observed on the number of corpora luteae, implantations, fetuses dead or alive, or on gross malformations, skeletal and internal malformations, and on the weight of the fetuses.


[Liposarcoma of the soft tissues of extremities: a contribution to clinical diagnosis and treatment author's transl]. Liposarcoma is a rare soft-tissue tumor. According to Enzinger, there are five subgoups. Histological criteria, the beginning, diagnostic and therapy of this tumor are represented. Results have been ascertained as follows, founded on eight cases of our own: 1. Adequate radical surgery and radiation therapy are needed in each case. 2. Recurrences are frequently, metastasition is rarely observed. 3. The prognosis is poor, if a recurrence appears within two years.


[Medical applications of cyclotrons (author's transl)]. Isochronous cyclotrons used to accelerate different charge particles (protons, deuterons, alphas...) at variable energies, have important medical applications, for neutron teletherapy, in vivo or in vitro activation analysis or production of short-lived radioisotopes for nuclear medicine. The characteristics of the cyclotron presently available are described for these three applications (low energy "compact" cyclotrons, cyclotrons of intermediate and high energies), and their advantages are discussed from the points of view of the medical requirements, the financial investments and the results obtained.


Prostatic cancer treated at the Rotterdam radiotherapy institute. The results of radiation therapy of patients with carcinoma of the prostate category T3-4NxMo are compared with those of the hormonal therapy and with those of hormonal therapy combined with external irradiation. The type of first indicators of existing or threatening metastases has been evaluated, their appearance after first treatment and the period between their appearance and the development of clinical metastases have been assessed. These data and perhaps the bone-marrow serum acid phosphatase levels prior to treatment might be helpful in the choice of treatment. As damage due to irradiation has become minimal, radiation therapy should be preferred in all patients prone to cardio-vascular accidents and in healthy men up to about 75 years.


Radiotherapy of carcinoma of the prostate. In the years 1963 to 1971, 58 patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were irradiated to control the disease locally. Complete regression of the tumour occured in 38 patients (66%). A definite response to radiotherapy does not seem to be related to the degree of histological differentiation. The 5-year survival rate for the entire material was 33% and for the T3NxMo group 44%.


Changes of blood components on in vitro and in vivo irradiation in cancer therapy. In vivo irradiation of the blood followed by a local or parenteral injection with irradiated blood is a useful tool in radiotherapy. To reveal changes in the components of irradiated blood, the serum enzymes LDH, GOT and GPT were examined in the blood of healthy donors, and cancer patients. The same enzymes were determined in the blood of in vivo radiation-treated patients. It seems that with some restrictions LDH offers a possibility to be regarded as biological indicator of radiation effects. Beside enzyme determinations blood picture was taken and immunological methods were used too, to check their usefulness in the evaluation of radiotherapy.


[Cell loss after combined thermo-radiotherapy. Determination in vivo of the cell-loss rate of euoxic and hypoxic cells of experimental tumors (author's transl)]. Solid Ehrlich cancers with a volume of one millilitre, situated on the necks of mice, were treated with X-rays (150 kV), a low dose of hyperthermia (high frequency), a high dose of hyperthermia and a combined therapy of mild hyperthermia and X-ray irradiation. As labeling method, the technique of 125-I-deoxyuridine was employed. At the time of the therapy, there uas either a majority of hypoxic tumor cells or a majority of euoxic tumor cells, both in labeled form. The loss of cells was measured externally as a decrease of activity between the 96th and the 192th hour after the injection of 125-I. Xray irradiation tends above all to destroy euoxic cells while hypoxic cells are preponderantly destroyed by high doses of hyperthermia. Mild hyperthermia does not influence the cell loss in a significant manner. Mild hyperthermia in combination with X-ray irradiation, however, increases the loss of hypoxic cells up to the rate of euoxic cells.


[Radiation sensitivity of the amelanotic hamstermelanoma in vitro and in vivo (author's transl)]. Radiation sensitivity of the hamster melanoma AMel 3 was studied in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, a dose-effect curve with the dose Do=155 rd and the extrapolation number 10 was obtained. In consideration of an oxygen enhancement factor of 2.5, the results of in-vivo examination with the quantitative transplantation method did not differ from in-vitro results. In living animals, about 40% of the tumor cells generally are hypoxic. These data do not verify the hypothesis of a particular radiation resistance of melanoma cells.


[Curability of the Harding-Passey melanoma by means of acute irradiation (author's transl)]. The curability of the transplantable Harding-Passey melanoma of the mouse was studied following acute irradiation under ambient and under anoxic conditions. The mean cure doses (44.1 and 56.1 Gy), the calculated fraction of hypoxic tumor cells (3%) and the slope of teh dose-effect curves do not revela any sign of enhanced radiation resistance in comparison with other animal tumors. As and additional finding, a high rate of radiation-induced mesenchymal skin tumors was ascertained in the NMRI-breed employée.


[Radiation effects in brain and spinal cord (author's transl)]. Radiation sensitivity of both the brain and spinal cord in prenatal and postnatal stages, in infancy and adult age is represented also in consideration of a combined treatment with methotrexate. In adults, application of important doses of high-energy radiation increases the risk of injurious effects to the central nervous system. If the spinal cord is involved, more than 60% of the radiolesions have a progredient course ending with death. The pathogenesis and disposing factors are referred to, and the incidence of radiation necrosis with regard to age and sex, the degrees of injury and their frequence within different ranges of dosage are analyzed on the basis of data from universal literature. An examination of "tolerance doses" for the spinal cord is made by means of Strandquist-diagrams and of the Ellis-formula. The slopes of regression lines are reported for various "degrees of response" in skin, brain and spinal cord following radiation therapy. In the Strandquist-diagram, slopes of regression lines are dependent on the "degree of response", flattening if skin and spinal cord are affected by radiation in the same degree, necroses having the same slope for both the organs.


[Results of high-dosage attack treatment with cytostatics in mammary and ovarian cancer (author's transl)]. A total of 80 patients was treated using a short-time high-dosage schedule of cytostatic therapy with cyclophosphamide, 5-FU, vincristin and methotrexate. In metastasizing mammary carcinoma and in ovarian cancer, the remission and growth-stagnation rates obtained were in accordance with those resulting from well-known long-term schedules. The effect was less distinct in carcinoma of the cervix, and no effect was seen in adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus. The possibilities of treatment with cytostatics resulting therefrom offer not only a better quality of the survival time as compared to long-term therapy, but also permit a more thorough control by an oncologic center.


[Influence of percutaneous radiation therapy upon the large salivary glands of the head: results from functional diagnostics using radionuclide techniques in 95 patients (author's transl)]. We investigated the function of the parotid and submandibular glands in normals and in patients with radiotherapy in the head neck region by scintigraphic methods. The above given doses relate to an application scheme with 200 rd 5 times per week. There is a relatively severe loss of function with small doses from 1000 to 2000 rd. After doses till 3000 rd, there is complete recovery of the gland function in about three months. After 4500 rd, there is in about 80% of the patients a complete recovery after about one year. After irradiation with 5000 or more rd, there is nearly in no person a recovery of the gland function. We did not find a compensatory increase in the function of a spared gland with compensation of irreversibly atrophic glands.


Effects of patient positioning and of thickness variations on radiotherapy. Correct patient positioning is essential for good aiming in radiotherapy. This can be achieved using back and side pointers, but sometimes these devices are not being used in order to simplify and make the positioning faster. The effects of such a simplification have been studied and measured. The results of this experimental study show that in thicker patients (over 24 cm) the use of back and side pointers is of great importance, because the variation of the patient thickness and angulation can significantly influence the aiming angles and dose percentages.


[Protection from X-ray radiation in the surgical room (author's transl)]. Constructional radiation protection of X-ray examination rooms is perfectly settled by DIN 6812. The present study was intended to ascertain safe handling of X-rays in the surgical room. The measuring technique with LiF-dosimeters is described, and its results concerning the load to surgical personnel are communicated. Though, with frequent operations, the monthly turn-on time does not exceed thirty hours according to DIN 6811, the maximum permissible individual dose, nevertheless, will be exceeded. A practical representation of radiation load as a function of the turn-on time will facilitate to surgical personnel the estimation of dose. Then, spatial isodoses are shown by means of which the necessary protection equivalent of the building can be calculated. Even the minimum demand for a limitation of the controlled area to the surgical room does require lead-equivalent protection if the surgical room is small.


Absorbed dose distributions for electron beams from the sagittaire. Systematic measurements and their representation for introduction into a computer. The principle of representation used consists of a description of the differences between actual dose distributions and ideal dose distributions. This description is based on relations linked to known discrete geometrical and physical quantities. The use of this principle is demonstrated for electron beams delivered by the CGR MeV Sagittaire linear accelerator: a systematic analysis of the results of the measurements leads to two methods based on elementary mathematics: the first uses successively two relations describing the isodose curves, and the second computes the dose for each point defined by its coordinates.


[Relationship between dose rate and oxygen effect (author's transl)]. Chinese hamster cells were exposed to 60Co gamma-rays using dose rates between 3.64 and 0,01 Gy/min under euoxic or chronically hypoxic conditions of growth in order to clarify the relationship of the oxygen enhancement ratio (OER) to the dose rate. It turned out that the D0 of dose-effect curves from cells irradiated under euoxic conditions was increasing from 1.35 to 4.5 Gy with decreasing dose rates, whereas the curves from cells irradiated under chronically hypoxic conditions were not much influenced by the dose rate. The oxygen enhancement ratio decreased from 3.9 with 1.35 Gy/min to 1.8 with 0.07 Gy/min.


[Fractionated radiation treatment combined with hyperthermia in transplantable adenocarcinoma of the mouse (author's transl)]. Transplantable adenocarcinomas of the C3H mouse were treated with fractionated radiotherapy combined with local hyperthermia of 43.5 degrees C for 20 min before each dose fraction and local cure rate was determined. The sensitizing effect of hyperthermia was seen with fractionated treatment as well as with single treatment. The TER (thermal enhancement ratio), however, decreased with decreasing interval between the fractions.


[Influence of the dose rate on the therapeutic effect of 60Co-gamma-irradiation in murine adenocarcinoma (author's transl)]. Transplantable adenocarcinomas of C3H-mice were irradiated with doses between 7 and 75 Gy, using a dose rate of 3.6 Gy/min, or with doses from 10 to 80 Gy using dose rates between 0.06 and 0.17 Gy/min from a 60Co-gamma source. A radiation-induced delay of growth or the local cure were recorded. The relative effectiveness of irradiation of the tumor using a low dose rate decreases at first down to a value of 0.66 at 25 to 30 Gy, if the doses are increased; then, if the doses delivered are further increased, it mounts again to 0.88 when the median curative radiation dose is reached.


Modified microtiter tray method for blood typing. A simple technique for red blood cell typing is described utilizing V-bottom microtiter trays with cell suspensions of 0.2%. This technique is many times more sensitive than tube or slide methods and can be used for direct agglutination, antiglobulin tests and mixed field agglutination.


Temporary suppression of circulating antiplatelet alloantibodies by the massive infusion of fresh, stored, or lyophilized platelets. Survival of 51Cr-labeled allogenic platelets was repeatedly measured in rabbits previously sensitized by weekly intradermal injections of platelets from donor animals. When values of recovery and survival time were reduced to very low levels, a massive infusion of platelets from randomly selected donor rabbits was given and survival study was repeated. A large increase in platelet survival and recovery was seen in every experiment. Similar results, although of lesser magnitude, were obtained with the infusion of platelets made nonviable by prolonged storage and, also, of lyophilized platelets. A significant increase in life span and recovery of allogenic platelets was also observed in two patients with thrombocytopenia due to aplastic anemia, severely allosensitized to platelets. After one massive infusion of viable or of nonviable platelets, survival and hemostatic effectiveness of subsequently infused allogenic platelets was greatly improved in both patients. Experimental blockade of the RES and titration of the serum alloantibody by the 14C-serotonin release method demonstrated that the favorable effect of the massive platelet infusions was due to the temporary adsorption of the alloantibody in the circulation of the sensitized animals. This two-step procedure of one massive infusion of viable, nonviable or lyophilized allogenic platelets followed by a small infusion of freshly collected platelets may be of practical value in arresting hemorrhage in selected thrombocytopenic patients refractory to all types of available donor platelets because of severe and complex alloimmunization.


Radioactive antiglobulin testing with 125I anti-C4 and anti-C3. The report describes methods for quantitating C4 and C3 coating of red blood cells using 125I anti-C4 and anti-C3. Two methods of preparing antisera were used; one involving absorption and elution from complement coated cells, and the other employing IgG fractions of antisera prepared on DEAE cellulose. White-cell-free red blood cells were used in the test procedure. Both the labeled antisera and the test cells were diluted in cold carrier proteins, initially bovine serum albumin, but more recently normal rabbit serum. We have found that normal rabbit serum is particularly effective in reducing the high uptake of nonspecific counts on normal cells, which had previously been a major technical problem for the radioactive antiglobulin technique. These methods are highly reproducible and relatively easy to perform once the labeled antisera are prepared. Furthermore, the use of labeled antisera permits analysis of specificity by the highly sensitive technique of radioimmunoelectrophoresis. One problem with the technique is that results indicate uptake of labeled antisera, rather than amounts of coating substances. Nonetheless, the ease of performance and the reproducibility of the method, make the procedure very useful in comparative studies of uptake of C4 and C3 by red blood cells.


Anti-lea as an autoantibody in the serum of le(a - b+) individual. The first example of anti-Lea, as an autoantibody, in the serum of a phenotypically Le(a-b+) individual is described. The patient is a 55 year old male with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus. His saliva contains Lea, Leb and H substances, and inhibits the hemagglutinating activity of his serum anti-Lea. The Leb antigen content of his red blood cells is approximately half that of control Le(a-b+) red blood cells. The patient's disease process may be responsible for the development of this unexpected autoantibody.


Reorganization of blood ordering practices. Physicians order blood crossmatched on the basis of habit. The resulting unnecessary crossmatching for elective surgical procedures is costly and wasteful. By realigning crossmatching orders with actual expected needs, substantial savings can be realized in terms of personnel time, reagents, and outdating of units of blood.


The effect of aspirin on the hypotonic shock response. The effect of aspirin on the hypotonic shock response was studied at 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours after ingestion of 1.6 g of acetylsalicylic acid. There was a marked acceleration of the recovery phase of the response at two hours. This steadily decreased and by 48 hours had returned to near normal values. In most cases there was also a change in the initial phase of the shock response. We have interpreted these results to indicate a change in membrane permeability (first phase effect) as well as an activation of the energy-dependent recovery (second phase). The latter process possibly is the result of an increase in the levels of available ATP. As previously reported, the response to aggregating agents was impaired in the presence of ASA. Normal and aspirinated platelets were mixed in an attempt to overcome the ASA effect. Using two hour postingestion samples we noted considerable impairment of both the hypotonic shock response and aggregation even in the presence of very high concentrations of normal platelets.


The immunocompetence of residual lymphocytes at various stages of red cell cryopreservation with 40% w/v glycerol in an ionic medium at -80 C. Potentially immunocompetent cells have been found in washed liquid-stored red blood cells, in washed liquid-stored red blood cells to which a 40% W/V glycerol concentration was added, and in washed red blood cells freeze-preserved with 40% W/V glycerol at -80 C. A glycerol concentration of 40% W/V in an ionic medium, in addition to its cryoprotective effect on red blood cells, has a damaging effect on leukocytes. The freeze-thaw-wash process appears to produce the most damage to leukocytes and the remaining lymphocytes can be categorized into two groups: one that is capable of responding to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and one that is not. Our study confirmed the presence of PHA-responsive lymphocytes in red blood cells freeze-preserved with 40% W/V glycerol in an ionic medium at -80 C. Although the relative proportions of these cells were variable and the results of the study somewhat erratic, we continue to recommend that liquid-preserved and freeze-preserved red blood cells be irradiated before transfusion to patients in whom graft-versus-host disease is a possible complication.


Detection of mouse alloantibodies by rosetting with protein A-coated sheep red blood cells. Staphylococcal protein A has an affinity for the Fc portion of the IgG molecule of different species and can therefore be used to detect cell-bound immunoglobulin. Using this property, protein A coupled to sheep red blood cells via chromic chloride can detect alloantibodies to mouse H-2, Thy-1, Ly-1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7, and Ia antigenic specificities bound to the surface of lymphocytes by the formation of rosettes. In comparison with other rosetting and cytotoxicity assays, the protein A assay shows a greater sensitivity than does cytotoxicity using spleen cells as the target, as does the sheep anti-mouse Ig rosetting assay, whereas cytotoxicity shows greater sensitivity with some antisera on thymocytes. The major advantages of the protein A assay are that constant low reproducible backgrounds are obtained, there is no need to remove surface Ig by capping prior to antiserum treatment, and that viable cells can be recovered.


The anatomy of a volunteer blood donation system. This paper describes a questionnaire and interview study to determine motivational factors important in blood donor, nondonor and exdonor behaviors. From the results, a model of blood donor behavior was developed from which certain predictions of donor behavior could be made.


Utilization of nursing teams in the collection of blood. The practice of nursing is group oriented. This was recognized in the past, but has only recently gained full acknowledgment by nursing managment. The concept of team assignment for the nursing staff was implemented in the blood program several years ago. The problems of the professional nurse in blood banking are not the same as in an acute or an extended care facility. Team assignments can improve both the delivery of care and the efficiency of the operation in the blood program. This paper describes many of the problems incurred under the system of conventional staffing and will show how these problems can be either eliminated or modified through the use of team assignment. Two centers experienced with permanent team assignments report these conclusions.


"Naturally-occurring" anti-K1: possible association with mycobacterium infection. We report a case of "naturally-occurring" (nonred blood cell stimulated) anti-K1. The patient had never received a blood transfusion. Red blood cell antibody screening panels showed agglutination with K:1 red blood cells at room temperature and not in the anti-globulin test. Testing with 2-mercaptoethanol showed the antibody to be IgM. The antibody is "naturally-occurring" and may be associated with pulmonary tuberculosis.


Optimal leukocyte removal from refrigerated blood with the IBM 2991 blood cell processor. One hundred forty-six units of two to five-day-old refrigerated blood were washed with the IBM Blood Cell Processor. The ABO and Rh types of the units varied according to available inventory. This study was designed to select the best protocol from the 42 possible combinations utilizing the machine's variable red blood cell override (RCO). A one liter wash program was used. The two parameters selected for study were the per cent red blood cell recovery and the per cent white blood cell removal. The protocol of choice uses a RCO of four seconds in the first and second steps of the program. This protocol yields a washed unit with a mean red blood cell recovery of 82 per cent and a mean white cell removal of 93 per cent. Our studies indicate that the IBM Blood Cell Processor can be used to wash two to five day old refrigerated blood for the preparation of leukocyte-poor blood that would meet the Standards of the AABB.


Transfusion reactions reported after transfusions of red blood cells and of whole blood. Reactions reported after transfusion of 19,126 units of whole blood and of 42,678 units of red blood cells were analysed. The reaction rate with whole blood was about two and one-half times as great as with red blood cells.


The natural history of alloimmunization to platelets. Sixty-three patients have provided evidence that platelets are highly immunogenic even in recipients of potentially immunosuppressive therapy for malignant diseases. Approximately 70 per cent of patients who receive repeated transfusions of platelets from random donors over a prolonged period can be expected to develop lymphocytotoxic antibodies. Antibodies became detectable in one patient ten days after his first exposure to HLA antigens in the form of platelet concentrates, and as early as four days in two patients with prior exposure to HLA antigens. In the most heavily immunized patients, the presence of antibody correlated with poor increments of platelets after transfusion. Patients with prior exposure to HLA antigens are more likely to have antibodies resulting in poor platelet survival. On the other hand, 30 per cent of recipients of repeated platelet transfusions show no tendency to form cytotoxic antibodies.


Blood group testing of ancient material with particular reference to the mummy Nakht. An international multidisciplinary team performed an autopsy on the mummy of Nakht, a 16-year-old Egyptian boy who died 3200 years ago. Excavation records and translation of hieroglyphics provide a positive identification. The histological techniques, both at the light and electron microscope levels, demonstrate remarkable preservation of normal and diseased structures. Splenic material and dark brown substance obtained from the inside of the sigmoid sinus of Nakht, during the examination of the contents of the cranial cavity, were tested using the SMM and IAT procedures. Repeated testing of the splenic material using SMM produced no agglutination and was complicated by hemolysis of the absorbed group O cells due to contaminating bacteria and fungi. However, when used in the IAT, splenic material gave a positive result for blood group B. The sigmoid sinus material produced a positive reaction for blood group B when used with the SMM and with the IAT. The blood cells recovered from Nakht are believed to be the oldest known preserved human red and white blood cells. The authors also believe that the testing techniques employed in this study are reliable and hence feel confident that the Egyptian boy Nakht, who is 3200 years old, was blood group B.


HLA antigens in plasma protein fraction and albumin. Renal allograft survival is signficantly worse than average in recipients who have never had blood transfusions. It has been speculated that this might be explained by the fact that patients on chronic dialysis often received plasma protein fraction (PPF) instead of blood and that HLA antigens from serum were likely to present in PPF. We have examined four different lots of both PPF and albumin for the presence of HLA antigens. Using the microlymphocytotoxicity technique, each lot was tested for the ability to neutralize ten different antisera containing antibodies against well-defined HLA antigens. In every case, no inhibition was observed--even when the ratio of blood derivative to antiserum was as high as 256:1. These results suggest that if PPF and albumin do contain HLA antigens, they are present at levels too low to be detected by the cytotoxicity test routinely used in HLA typing.


[Cytogenetic study of the effect of vaccinia virus on cells from embryo and adult mice]. After immunization with vaccinia virus an increase in frequency of aneuploids and secondary chromosomal constrictions is observed in adult mice. Moreover, an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations was demonstrated. The increase in the number of secondary chromosomal constrictions indicates an activation of nucleolar-organizing regions.


[Modifying effect of the female genotype on the frequency of t-haplotype transmission to the progeny of T/t6 compound male mice]. Female genotype effects on the transmission of t-haplotypes from heterozygous males to offspring has been established. The CBA females transmitted T-gene to 29 per cent, C57BL/6 females to 47 per cent, and F1 hybrid females to 39 per cent of their offspring. The differences in the transmission rate are supposed to depend on female genotype and to be determined by selective ageing of T-carrying sperms in female genital tract when compared to t6-carrying sperms, because the interval between copulation and syngamy in C57BL/6 females is shorter than in CBA females. These data indicate the phenotypical differences between T- and t6-carrying sperms.


[Antimutagenic and antiteratogenic properties of dimexide (DMSO)]. The influence of dimexide (dimethylsulphoxide, DMSO) on the manifestation of teratogenic and embryolethal properties and mutagenic effect of pyrimethamine (antimalarial drug) and 6-mercaptopurine (antitumoral compound) has been examined. Under the conditions of preliminary action of dimexide the embryolethal and teratogenic activity of the drugs studied reduced on the 13th day of rat embryos; the level of cytogenic effect of these compounds on rat males bone marrow cells also reduced.


[Use of wolfram trioxide for setting off preparations of nucleic acids]. The use of tungsten trioxide for shadowing nucleic acids is shown to be possible. Approximately 20 mg of tungsten trioxide could be prepared by heating (25 s, 2 V) a coil (4 turns, 1.5 mm i.d.) made of tungsten wire 0.5 mm diameter in a vacuum evaporator at atmospheric pressure. As revealed by electron microscopy, this amount of tungsten trioxide is sufficient for qualitative rotary shadowing phage lambda DNA.


[Hybrids of triticale and agrotriticum. II]. Meiosis in F1 plants of Triticale X Agrotriticum hybrids with 56- and 63-chromosomes and different genome composition is shown to be strongly violated. The following main anomalies of meiosis were revealed: the univalent state of chromosomes; an irregular movement of 8 to 33 chromosomes to the poles; the lag of 6 to 25 chromosomes and their premature splitting into chromatids; formation of micronuclei in diads and tetrads, formation of polyads. The average number of bivalents per one cell was 14.1-14.6.


[HLA antigens among Ukrainians in Odessa and its suburbs]. 389 Ukrainians of Odessa and its suburbs were typed in accordance with HLA system. HLA antigens distribution corresponded to Hardy-Weinberg's law. The antigens in the Ukrainians which occurred more frequently were A2, 3, Iw25, B12, 7 and Bw35. The most frequent haplotypes turned out to be A2, B12, A3, B7; Aw25, Bw16 and A1, B8. The highest gamete association wat noted for these haplotypes. The smallest genetic distance was found between the Odessa Ukrainian and Moscow Russian population, while the greatest distance was revealed between the Ukrainian and Japanese population.


[Metabolism of nuclear proteins during hormone-dependent cell differentiation in the mammae of goats]. The metabolism of nuclear proteins was studied at differentiation of mammary cells in the tissue culture with lactogenic hormones. The synthesis of nuclear acidic proteins under the influence of insulin is shown to be an initial step in cell differentiation of the gland; later the DNA synthesis is stimulated, and the synthesis and phosphorylation of histones are intestified. The inducing action of prolactin on the synthesis of RNA and casein is displayed only after the action of insulin and hydrocortisone on the tissue.


Features of the reproduction of epiphyseal cartilage perivascular cells according to the results of an autoradiographic study. In the system of a vascular-cellular complex of cartilage epiphyses the perivascular cells exhibited the highest proliferative activity, as revealed by autoradiography with labelled DNA precursor (3H-thymidine). The constant loss of cells after division in this population is probably associated with their differentiation and transition into another state. This phenomenon is strongly pronounced at the centre of enhondral ossification, and perivascular cells could be considered as one of possible sources of histogenesis developed in cartilage epiphyses.


[Possibility of synchronizing cell populations in embryonic barley meristem]. Cell populations of the apical root parts, stem embryo and the leaf of barley seedlings are found to have different sensitivity to the synchronizing effect of 5-aminouracil, low temperature (+2 degrees C) and colchicine. The effect of 5-aminouracil and low temperature in the presence of colchicine proved to be the most effective in respect to synchronization of the root meristem cell populations. It also increases significantly the mitotic activity in the stem embryo and leaf meristems. The leaf meristem is more sensitive to low temperature as compared to the stem embryo meristem.


[Fine structure of the chromosomes of hexaploid wheat antipodal cells]. At the postendoreduplicative stage of chromosomes of antipodes are shown to be depolytenized and represented by solitary 0.1-0.3 micrometer chromonemas. Micropuffs and chromomer-like regions were found in the chromonemas. The chromonem puffing takes place independently of the nuclear membrane. A degradation of antipodal chromosomes begins in the zone of the nucleolus and spreads gradually over the whole nucleus. Later the cell is destructed but the nucleoli remain intact. Some of them are giant and vacuolized, others are similar to nucleoli of the usual low-ploidal nuclei.


[Mutagenic effect of several pesticides on durum spring wheat]. Spraying of spring wheat plants during vegetation with herbicides of 2,4-D group and ethrel increased chromosome aberrations in meiosis 2.8-5, 3.6-4.1 times. The insecticides, chlorophos and phtalophos, in a little higher dosage than it is usually practised increased the spontaneous level of chromosome aberrations 3.1-5.5 times. Phtalophos also induced chlorophyll mutations. These results testify to the necessity of keeping strictly to the established normative doses, because of overdosage is of potential genetic danger to spring wheat crops.


[Biological oxidation in cells exposed to microwaves in the millimeter range]. In the cells of RH, SPEV and HEp-2 lines irradiated with 6.5 mm radiowaves of 1 mW/cm2 flux density the following phenomena were established: activation of succinate dehydrogenase and ATPase; reduction of cytochrome oxidase, NAD- and NADP-diaphorase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activities; repression of 3H-thymidine incorporation in DNA and of 3H-uridine incorporation in RNA; violation of ultrastructure; suppression of cellular proliferation; decrease of mitotic activity; occurrence of pathological forms of mitosis.


[Comparative morphometric study of the ultrastructure of mouse liver sinusoid endothelial and Kupffer cells in physiologically normal animals]. The ultrastructure of the sinusoidal endothelial and Kupffer cells of mouse liver has been studied under the normal physiological conditions according to the morphometric method. The similarity of quantitative characteristics of some subcellular structure of these cells has been determined. Essential differences between endothelial and Kupffer cells were revealed that well compare with the results of the investigation of their endocytous ability.


[Ultrastructure of a mechanoreceptor neuron with acceleration of its adptation to an adequate stimulus]. Ultrastructural changes were followed in the isolated mechanoreceptor neurons of the crayfish during post-excitational short-term trace processes (i.e. acceleration of the adaptional state), after repeated adaquate excitations. Fibrillar rearrangements of the mitochondrial cristae in the axonal mitochondria took place at the moderate excitation, no visible changes being seen in the somatic mitochondria and other organelles. However, the swelling of periaxonal areas and the rupture between strands of microtubules and electrogenic membrane occurred at the end of the fatique stimulation. In addition, the swelling of somatic mitochondria in the perinuclear zone and of the reticulum was noticed. Besides, the survival time of the excited isolated neurons strongly depended on the functional state of the surrounding glial cells. It is suggested that energetic processes are strongly involved in the postexcitational short-term traces.


[Electron microscopic study of perisomatic process development in cerebellar cortex pyriform neurons during prenatal human ontogenesis]. Perisomatic processes are shown to be temporary morphological formations that appear within 16-28 weeks of embryogenesis, their development being characterized by a certain succession. Perisomatic processes form multiple synaptic complexes with axon endings of unknown origin adherent to perikaryons of pear-shaped neurons. These axon endings are supposed to belong to afferent climbing fibers of cerebellum stimulating differentiation of pear-shaped neurons, localization of these fibers causing a certain succession in the development of perisomatic processes.


[Effect of combined administration of estradiol and progesterone on the mitotic cycle of the epithelial tissues of the reproductive tract of ovariectomized white rats]. The duration of stages of the cell cycle in the uterine and vaginal tissues of ovariectomized rats, treated with estradiol and estradiol-progesterone, was estimated using the labeled mitosis method. The joint treatment shortened G2 period in epithelial tissues. In the uterine epithelial tissues of estradiol-progesterone treated rats, the duration of S period was prolonged. In all tissues, progesterone stimulated the entry of cells into a second round of DNA synthesis. The estrogen-gestagen treatment inhibited the movement of vaginal epithelial cells from basal to superficial layers.


[Inhibition of the process of sugar transport stimulation in the frog sartorius muscles by amines and amides]. In the experiments on isolated frog sartorius muscles, amines and amides were found to inhibit the process of stimulation of D-xylose transport induced by insulin, 2,4-dinitrophenol or potassium contracture. The inhibitory action was produced by urea, acetamide, guanidine, NH4Cl, mono-, di- and trimethyl- or ethylamines, some diamines (all the substances being, applied in the concentration range equal to 100 mM). The similar effect was obtained when cystamine (20 mM), tryptamine, 5-methoxytryptamine (2 mM) and adenine, adenosine, guanosine (1-10 mM) were used. There was no inhibitory effect of acetone, glycerol, tetraethylammonium, propilamine, butylamine, aminoacids, spermine, spermidine, ATP, AMP or cAMP. It has been suggested that the inhibitory substances may interact by producing hydrogen bonds from NH-groups with the neutrally or negatively charged groups at the external surface of the muscle membrane in the region with a slow hydrophobicity. As a result, no structural changes required for activation of the sugar transport system occur in the membrane.


[Comparative study of the karyotype and histostructure of neoplasms of the uterine body, stomach and malignant melanoma]. Direct analysis of karyotype revealed a heterogeneity of chromosome composition, variations in modal lines and chromosome aberrations, diversity of marker chromosome morphology. The variability of cytogenetic alterations was found in tumors both of the same and of different origin. These results established the nature of genome and chromosome alterations in the investigated tumors. The problem is discussed of a possible use of cytogenetic analysis for a more concrete characterization of human tumors in terms of their biological features.


Changes in the "shape reaction" and "orientation reaction" of cell nuclei as a consequence of neoplastic transformation. Reactions of cell nuclei on curvature of cylindrical surfaces (curvature radii 333, 75 or 61 mcm) in 9 lines of cultured transformed human, Syrian hamster, rat and murine fibroblasts were studied quantitatively. The nuclear elongation was assessed as a ratio of long to short axes. Contact orientation was characterized by values derived from the angles, formed by long nuclear axes with the direction of cylinder axis. Due to transformation, cells lost the ability to elongate their nuclei in response to cultivation on cylindrical surfaces. The ability of cells cultured on cylindrical surfaces to increase the contact orientation values was also lost or weakened considerably.


[Effect of macrophage and tumor cell fixation on their immunogenicity and antigenicity in an H-2 system]. A short-term fixation of macrophage monolayers by 0.002-0.25% glutaraldehyde solutions gives rise to inhibition of the specific adherence of allogeneic immune cytotoxic lymphocytes to treated monolayers, but does not prevent the absorption of anti-H-2 antibodies. Sarcoma cells fixed by a 0.25% glutaraldehyde or a 3% formaldehyde lost their capacity to induce cytotoxic lymphocytes, rosette forming cells or antibodies in allogeneic mice. The induction of the secondary response by fixed tumor cells was significantly reduced. The results fit well a conception on non-identity of determinants recognized by T cell receptors and serologically defined H-2 specificities.


[Lactate dehydrogenase and Krebs cycle enzyme activity in rat liver during the growth of transplanted and spontaneous tumors]. Certain distinctions in the mouse and rat liver responses to transplanted and spontaneous tumours have been discovered at the initial periods of their growth. The most pronounced changes (the mosaic distribution of enzymatic activity in the lobe) are observed in the case of spontaneous tumours. Activities the Krebs cycle enzymes, especially of NAD-dependent enzymes are seen inhibited in the tumour-bearing liver at the terminal periods of growth of both spontaneous and transplanted tumours; lactate dehydrogenase activity increases (with the exception of mitochondrial lactate dehydrogenase in the rat liver with transplanted sarcomas).


[Changes in hepatocytes and the functional activity of the adrenal cortex in rats following administration of the pigment anthraquinone violet]. The response of hepatocytes and cells of adrenal cortex of males of white rats to a single introduction per os of sunflower oil or anthraquinone violet pigment (AVP), routinely used for the painting of plastics, was evaluated. 5 ml of sunflower oil or of AVP, prepared as oil suspension, were fed. After 1 or 24 hour introductions of oil, an increase in dividing ability of hepatocytes was observed, whereas after 6 or 72 hour introductions no difference from the control was registered. The introduction of oil caused a decrease of the functional activity of cells in fasciculata zone of adrenal cortex after 1, 6, 24 and 72 hours, as judged from changes in the nuclear volume. AVP in doses of 5.0 and 1.2 g/kg intensified hepatic polyploidy after 1 and 24 hours as compared with rats administered only the oil. After 6 and 72 hours, no difference from the control was registered. In the fasciculata zone of adrenal cortex, AVP in both the doses employed increased the functional activity of cells after 1, 6 and 24 hours. The nature of the response of hepatic cells on the introduction of the above substances presumably depends on the degree of adrenal cortex functional activity.


[Ultrastructure of the cells of surviving hippocampal slices during the incubation process]. The dynamics of ultrastructural changes in the pyramidal neurons from the CA3 area of hippocampal slices was studied. It was shown that after 5 hours' incubation changes in the reticulum, nuclear envelope and mitochondria took place. No visible changes were seen in different synapses after incubation longer than 5 hours. It might be seen that the glial cells had their structural integrity after 30 hours. The data obtained were in a good agreement with our electrophysiological observations of neurons of the same area. The present data suggests that the brain slices in vitro are convenient objects for a parallel ultrastructural and electrophysiological study of the properties of neurons within a 1-5 hours incubation.


[Correlation between the number of centrioles and ploidy of mouse liver hepatocytes]. Using the electron microscope it was shown that in interphase hepatocytes with ploidies equal to 2n, 2n.2, 4n, 4n.2 and 8n, the number of centrioles per cell exactly corresponded to the ploidy of the cell. Both in mononuclear and binuclear cells all the centrioles are accumulated in one complex in which each pair of centrioles forms a diplosome. In binuclear cells, the complex of diplosomes is situated at equal distances from each nucleus, thus making the cell centre. The involvement of the supernumerous centrioles in polyploid metaphase cells was detected for the regenerating liver of old mice. It was found that each mitotic pole had at least four centrioles. In the pole, a pair of centrioles forms diplosomes tightly connected to each other. It is suggested that the initially tetraploid cell might divide in this manner. In addition, a question is discussed on how the existence of centrioles can be associated with the mechanism of polyploidization.


[Mitochondria as possible "targets" in neuroallergy]. During experimental allergic encephalomyelitic (EAE) in dogs, it was established with electron microscope that mitochondria of neurons and glia of the central nervous system (CNS) were most sensitive organelles to the development of neuroallergy. Swelling of mitochondria, disruption of their membranes, desorganization of mitochondrian cristae were observed in the incubation period; these alterations were seen increasing by the moment of clinical manifestation of EAE. Immunization of guinea pigs by mitochondrial fractions of dog's brain cortex with Freund's adjuvant resulted in the manifestation of clinical and morphological signs of EAE in the CNS in addition to a significant destruction of mitochondria. The idea of the initial alteration of different membranous structures of the CNS during demyelinating processes in brain is put forward.


[Morphologic, electrophysiologic and metabolic indices of cerebellar neuron functioning in tissue culture]. A comparative investigation of morphological, electrophisiological and metabolic indices of the functioning of cerebellar neurons developing in vivo and in conditions of the organotypical culture permitted us to distinguish a period (20--25 days) when properties of the culture of nervous tissue most resemble the characteristics of the brain of adult animals. Cultivated nervous tissue may be used as a model for studies of fine mechanisms of the nervous system functioning in the ontogenesis.


[Effect of ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde on the chromosomal apparatus of rat and human cells]. A higher level of cells with a changed number of chromosomes in leucocyte blood culture of chronic alcohol users (drunkards) and spermatogency cells of alcoholized rats has been noticed. Ethanol metabolite acetaldehyde exerts the same influence in the leucocyte blood culture of healthy donors. A prolonged influence of ethanol on rats, and also the effect of large doses of ethanol on the leucocyte blood culture of healthy donors cause an increase in the quantity of cells with chromosome translocations and gaps.


[Use of a histological fixative for extraction of the RNA precursor pool from mollusk nerve tissue]. The incorporation of 3H-uridine into the nucleotide pool of the molluscan nerve tissue was calculated in a routine fixative solution (formalin--alcohol--acetic acid, 9:3:1). The optimal conditions for the precursor output from the tissue being studied, the results obtained well compare with those obtained by common biochemical techniques. Our method gives a possibility to use the same sample of tissue for historadiographical investigation of labeled RNA and for cytochemical determination of nuclear acid amounts.


Miliary tuberculosis diagnosed by fibreoptic bronchoscopy and transbronchial biopsy. Fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchial washing and trasnbronchial biopsy was performed in 8 patients with miliary tuberculosis and helped establish the diagnosis in 6 (75%). This procedure may provide a valuable adjunct to the diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis.


Hypochromia as a clinical sign of tuberculosis in the tropics. The skin colour of 106 Nigerian tuberculosis patients was measured by colorimetry; and a relative hypochromia, particularly of the face, was found to be associated with tuberculous infection. The hypochromia reached a significant degree compared to a group of 126 control patients with other medical conditions from whom tuberculosis had been excluded. Successful treatment of the tuberculosis resulted in re-pigmentation. It is suggested that relative hypochromia should be included in the list of non-specific signs which may be looked for when considering tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of chronic cough, and debilitating disease, in the African. The hypochromia of protein-calorie malnutrition was not included in the study, but its importance in relation to coincident tuberculosis is noted. A simple method of measuring skin colour in the consulting room needs to be developed.


Stability of dilute solutions of tuberculin purified protein derivative. The biological potency of 15 commercially available tuberculin solutions prepared from a master batch of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) (PPD-CT68) and using a newly formulated diluent (Connaught diluent) containing 0.0005% Tween 80 as an anti-adsorption agent and 0.3% phenol as a preservative, was determined after storage for various intervals at 4, 24 and 37 degrees C. The 5 tuberculin units (TU) per 0.1 ml dose solutions were bioequivalent to a non-stabilized solution of PPD-S whereas the 1 TU and 250 TU per dose solutions were equivalent by calculation to a non-stabilized solution of PPD-S. It was found that the PPD solutions of all 3 strengths, 1, 5 and 250 TU per dose, were stable for at least 3 years at 4 degrees C and for 2 years at room temperature (24 degrees C). Even at 37 degrees C the solutions of all 3 strengths were stable for at least 1 year. The stability of Connaught tuberculin PPD solutions has not been affected by the changes in formulation. The stability data suggest that the expiry date of the newly formulated tuberculin products could be at least two years from the data of the last satisfactory potency test. Although these products are stable for at least 1 year even at 37 degrees C, we nonetheless agree with the Canadian and U.S. regulations that they be stored at 2 to 8 degrees C in their original containers.


Phenotypes of BCG-vaccines seed lot strains: results of an international cooperative study. International Union against Tuberculosis. Ninety-one tests were performed on 8 BCG-seed lot strains by 7 cooperating laboratories. From the tests performed in 2 or more laboratories regarding which there were agreement, a catalogue of 35 test characters was prepared.


Morphological and cytogenetical changes in HR-18 rat ascites cells after in vitro 3-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-4-methylbenzoic acid (NSC-146171; IOB-82) administration. A bifunctional alkylating agent, 3-[Bis(2-chloroethyl) amino]-4-methylbenzoic acid (NSC-146171; IOB-82) was administered in HR-18 rat ascites cell cultures (which presented 2 morphologic cellular types: A and B type cells, genetically, 2 cellular populations having 41-45 and 85-86 chromosomes and cells with high ploidy), and the morphological and cytogenetical effects were related to the compound concentration. Thus, 24 h after IOB-82 administration in small doses (3.62 X 10(-4) micron/ml), important morphological changes were observed: nuclear changes (denuded nuclei, pyknosis) and cytoplasmic alterations (breaks at the exoplasm level, followed by cytoplasmic extrusions in extracellular spaces, cytoplasmic vacuolization). In addition to these changes, other abnormalities were observed when IOB-82 was administered in large doses (3.62 X 10(-3) micron/ml), i.e., nuclear changes (nuclear residues, granulation of the nuclear material and spreading of the nuclear content into cytoplasm) and cytoplasmic alterations (cytoplasmic shades and accentuated cytoplasmic vacuolization). Generally, the large A-type cells were more affected. Twenty-four h after IOB-82 treatment (with small or large doses), the chromatid and chromosome aberrations (gaps, breaks, deletions, fragments) were also observed. These aberrations were more numerous when IOB-82 was administered in large doses. Both morphological and cytogenetical changes indicate that the effect of IOB-82 could be radiomimetic. Changes produced and their incidence appear to depend on the concentration of IOB-82 employed and the morphological type of ascites cells. These are expressed in terms of multiple abnormality production in these cells. IOB-82 treatment produced changes in chromosome numbers and especially the disappearance of polyploid cells and cell populations with 85-86 chromosomes. These results indicate a possible correlation between the increased sensitivity of HR-18 rat ascites cells and changes in ploidy.


Homology between cellular repeated nucleotide sequences and a murine leukemia viral genome. Moloney murine leukemia virus c-DNA hybridizes mainly with cellular middle repeated sequences of NIH-Swiss mouse spleen DNA, fragmented to different lengths, denatured and renatured to an intermediate value of Cot, and fractionated in an Ag+-Cs2SO4 preparative gradient suitable to separate unique, middle repeated and highly repeated DNA.


Contribution of cytology, colposcopy, target biopsy and conization to the early diagnosis of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix uteri. The study is based on 334 cytologic suspect or positive women observed in the area of Florence. Cytologic diagnoses of dysplasia, carcinoma in situ (CIS), and invasive carcinoma are related to the histologic reports. To the same histologic reports are related the colposcopic aspects. Lastly, diagnoses made by target biopsy are compared with the final diagnoses made by cone biopsy. The 3 diagnostic methods and their diagnostic accuracy are then compared. As regards dysplasia, the diagnostic precision of cytology is 40.2% and for target biopsy in 76.9%. In the diagnosis of CIS, cytology shows a diagnostic accuracy (77.7%) that is a little lower than that of target biopsy (81.7%). In invasive carcinoma, cytology has a good diagnostic precision (88.2%), which becomes 100% if the diagnosis is made by target biopsy. The correlation between colposcopic aspects and histologic reports is not very reliable. We conclude that cytology is a valid test in an extensive mass screening, that colposcopy is essential to execute target biopsy, and that the latter is useful in defining dysplasia and invasive carcinoma diagnoses. On the contrary, in the case of CIS, target biopsy does not greatly increase cytology diagnostic precision.


Gastroscopy and directed biopsy in the diagnosis of primary gastric lymphomas. Report of 16 personal cases. The results of an endoscopic bioptic study of 16 cases of primary gastric malignant lymphoma are reported. Endoscopic observation suggested a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma in 50% of the cases, while directed biopsy gave a similar diagnosis in 75% of the cases. A correlation of the endoscopic and the histologic results gave a diagnostic reliability or 87.5% (14 of 16 cases). In order to obtain also in this group of neoplasms the diagnostic positivity already obtained in the epithelial forms, both improvement in the bioptic sampling technique and a better knowledge of the endoscopic morphology of the lesions must be achieved.


Gross body composition changes in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix treated with irradiation. Gross body composition studies done on a group of 11 women with cervical cancer before and after completion of radiotherapy revealed moderate compositional changes. There was after irradiation a tendency towards weight loss, connected with some increase of relative total body water content and also its extracellular fraction. The weight loss was due to a decrease of body fat and cell mass, whereas extracellular spaces tended to increase. There was a tendency towards a drop in plasma sodium concentration and an increase of its total content in extracellular water. A significant drop of the potassium serum concentration was observed.


Intravenous administration of BCG in advanced melanoma patients. From June 1975 to August 1977, 19 patients with distant metastases of malignant melanoma of the skin that were no longer responsive to chemotherapy were treated with BCG given intravenously. A single dose of lyophilized Pasteur BCG ranging from 2 X 10(7) to 3 X 10(8) viable units was given in 500 ml of saline infused in 5 to 6 h. Seven of the 16 evaluable patients benefited from treatment; 3 showed an objective regression of more than 50% of the original tumor volume, and 4 an arrest of tumor growth. The objective regressions lasted from 2 to 5 months, and 1 case had an arrest of tumor growth for 29 months. The regression rate was related to the BCG dosage: 2 X 10(8) viable units appears to be the dosage that gives severe but reversible toxicity and is able to induce objective regression. The most responsive lesions were skin and subcutaneous deposits (5 of 7) and lung metastases (1 of 4). Toxic effects seem to be related to the number of bacilli injected. In the group of 10 cases treated with less than 10(8) units, toxicity was modest: 4 patients had fever (up to 38.5 degrees C) that lasted a few days, and in 3 cases it was associated with shivering during the infusion period and weakness. One case only had vomiting and jaundice. Toxicity was severe in the 9 patients that were treated with a dosage higher than 10(8): patients had fever and weakness for at least 4 days and shivering during the infusion. Two had adrenal insufficiency and 7 had liver enlargement and jaundice with return to normality by day 21. In the whole series 8 patients had leucopenia and 5 thrombocytopenia for 2 to 3 days: only 1 patient required blood and platelet transfusion. No significant variations in immunoglobulin levels were observed. No variations of PPD or BCG skin tests were observed after treatment. Three patients expired; the first treated with 6 X 10(7) unit, had an intercurrent disease (autopsy showed a heart infarction); the second, treated with 1.8 X 10(8), showed a rapid growth of lung metastases and died 15 days after treatment; the death of the third patient was probably due to anaphylactic shock. All 3 patients had been previously treated with BCG, given by scarification or intranodular injection.


[Effect of hyperoxia on water-insoluble proteins of the brain]. Water-insoluble proteins of rat brain were studied as affected by hyperbaric oxygenation (oxygen pressure 6 at.ga. convulsion state). Solubilization of proteins under effect of hyperoxia and triton X-100 increases by 32-81%. Changes in the amino acidic composition of proteins extracted by 0.5% triton X-100 are characterized by an increase in the amount of aspartic acid, cystin, leucine and isoleucine and by a decrease in the amount of histidine, arginine and methionine. Electrophoresis in 7.5% polyacrylamide gel of proteins in the 0.5% triton X-100 extract showed changes in the number and mobility of protein bands.


Clinical results of lymphography in cancer of the uterine cervix. A retrospective study of 542 consecutive, unselected patients. From 1961 to 1976, 542 patients were evaluated with foot lymphography for cancer of the cervix at the Istituto Nationale Tumori of Milan. A group of 341 patients had lymphangiography as part of the initial diagnostic work-up. The overall incidence of positive examinations was 25% (9% stage I, 29% stage II, 46% stage III, 50% stage IV). In the 115 patients who had pelvic surgery the overall diagnostic accuracy of lymphography was 88%, with 2 false positive and 12 false negative reports. A second group of 90 patients was evaluated in the follow-up without clinical evidence of disease, and the incidence of metastases was 17%. Finally, group of 111 patients was studied for recurrence, and in this group the incidence of metastases was 51%. As regards site of involvement, the external iliac chains were involved in 93 to 96% of the cases, the common iliac in 34 to 79%, and the para-aortic in 17 to 36% in the different clinical conditions. The highest incidence of para-aortic metastases was found in the clinically initial stages (I and II) and in the recurrences. The lymphographic involvement of the retroperitoneal nodes was usually limited to a single region (41%) or two regions (37%). Only in 22% of the positive  cases was a diffuse involvement of the retroperitoneal node chains evident.


[Cathepsin B1 activity in cat brain tissue]. The dependence of the cathepsin B1 (EC 3.4.22.1) activity on pH of a medium with substrates N alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine amide (BAA) and N alpha-benzoyl-DL-arginine-paranitroanilide (BAPNA) was studied. Several maxima of the studied enzyme activity are established depending on pH in the grey and white matter of the cat cerebral hemispheres. The activity of cathepsin BI is different in functionally and morphologically different areas of brain (grey matter of cerebral hemispheres less than than cerebellum less than white matter of cerebral hemispheres less than medulla oblongata). A six-fold freezing and defrosting of homogenates of the brain structures under study causes an increase in the cathepsin B1 activity. It is shown that the cathepsin B1 activity in the brain grey matter grows in the presence of L-cysteine and is inhibited under the effect of pChMB, monoiodoacetic acid, Mn2+ and Cu2+.


[Iron, copper, zinc and cobalt content and activity of respiratory metalloenzymes in animal tissues under toxic hypoxia]. The rabbits being repeatedly poisoned with small doses of sodium cyanide, the activity of succinic dehydrogenase in the tissues does not essentially change. The activity of NAD.H2-cytochrome-c-reductase and NAD.H2-diaphorase in the brain, myocardium and kidneys increases. Under histotoxic hypoxia the level of iron in the tissues increases by 52-93%, that of copper--by 28-36%, of zinc--by 21-74% and of cobalt by 28-40%. There existed a positive correlation between the content of iron and the activity of NAD-dependent enzymes. In nonlethal form of histotoxic hypoxia the content of nonhemin iron and the activity of NAD.H2-cytochrome-c-reductase in the mitochondria of the brain increases by 25% and 17%, respectively, and a direct correlation is revealed between them.


[Total content and cholesterol fractions in tissues of cockerels under experimental hypercholesterolemia]. Experimental hypercholesterolemia was induced in cockerels at the age of 2-3 months by feeding rations with added cholesterol (1%) and sunflower oil (5%) for 4 weeks. It was found that in the liver the concentration of free cholesterol was 3 times as high while that of cholesterol esters was more than 10 times as high. The content of both free and esterified cholesterol in intestinal mucosa and intestinal smooth muscle increased considerably. Cholesterol of skeletal muscles which is present mainly by its free form increased insignificantly. A conclusion is drawn that the intestine parallel with the liver may play a homesotatic role in the body cholesterol control. In erythrocytes and in their nuclei cholesterol is in an unesterified form. Under hypercholesterolemia the content of cholesterol in erythrocytes remains normal, that evidences for its stability in the plasmic and nuclear membranes.


[Temperature effect on the conformation state of fibrinogen and its derivatives]. The temperature dependence of spectral parameter B for fibrinogen, monomer fibrin, D and E fragments is examined by the method of ultraviolet fluorescence. Besides denaturation transition I (49 degrees C), conformational transition II (11-16 degrees C, depending on the sample) is observed in fibrinogen and its D fragment when temperature changes from 2 to 56 degrees C. Temperature transition II is reversible, sensitive to the ionic strength (its rise causes the transition temperature drop). Transition temperature of D fragment always correlates with that of fibrinogen, from which the fragment is obtained. Similarity in complex dependence of the B value on temperature for D fragment and fibrinogen is an additional proof of their structural likeness. No structural transitions are observed with a temperature rise up to 56 degrees C in E fragment. The ability of fibrinogen to inhibit self-assemblage of fibrin changes in the studied temperature intervals. A sharp transition from the acceleratory to inhibitory effect of fibrinogen on fibrin self-assemblage is registered at a temperature of about 11 degrees C. This change might be connected with structural transition II.


[Influence of muscular activity on muscle proteins and sarcoplasmic reticulum content and binding of Ca2+]. Training with an increase in intensity of loads causes muscle hypertrophy. The increase of myofibrillar proteins content and proteins of sarcoplasmic reticulum is greater after this training than after training with prolongation of duration of loads. The content of sarcoplasmic proteins is the same in the both kinds of training. The increase in the content of mitochondrial proteins is smaller. The myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins content is the greatest with simultaneous increase in the intensity and duration of loads. Increase in the content of sarcoplasmic vesicles proteins in this case is the same as after training with an increase in the intensity of loads. An increase in the content of mitochondrial proteins is the same as in training with prolongation of duration of loads. The capacity of binding Ca2+ (per unit protein weight), Vmax and Km are not changed. When calculating per unit of muscle mass possibilities of Ca2+ binding under the effect of loads of the uncreasing intensity rise.


[Peculiarities of urea distribution in tissues of rats of different age]. The content of urea was studied in protein-free filtrates of the liver kidneys, skeletal muscles, myocardium, spleen, brain tissues and blood serum as well as in urine of 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24-month rats. It is shown that at the age of 6 months the content of urine in most tissues under study is significantly decreased (by 42-73%), at the age of 12 months in the spleen and at the age of 24 months in the brain tissues as compared to the one-month animals. The level of urine decrease in the liver and brain tissues of 24-month animals is less pronounced than in other tissues, that corresponds to age peculiarities of their protein metabolism. A decrease of blood consumption per weight unit and a relative increase in the amount of nitrogen excreted with urine are observed with ageing. The arginase activity in the liver decreases essentially only in 3-month animals. A conclusion is drawn that peculiarities of food consumption and the character of changes in the urea content in tissues and urine are adaptation manifestation of an age decrease in the intensity of nitrogen metabolism and protein demand of the organism.


[Isolation of transferrin and albumin from Cohn fraction IV of human  blood plasma proteins]. To isolate transferrin and additional amounts of albumin the parameters are developed for subfractionating with the alcohol-rivanol method fraction IV (according to Cohn) of plasma proteins (waste of albumin production from plasma of donor blood). The suggested method for fraction IV subfractionating makes it possible to obtain true albumin and transferrin. In all series the yield of wet and dry sediments of transferrin is constant. To remove alcohol from albumin and transferrin half-finished products the regimes of sublimation drying are worked out at which protein is not denaturated. Albumin obtained from fraction IV satisfies all the requirements of MPTY-42 N 3500-67 for the albumin preparation from donor blood. The developed method for subfractioning fraction IV of plasma proteins is easily reproduced on an industrial scale, permits a 8% increase in albumin yield from 1 1 of plasma and a simultaneous obtaining of transferrin which may be a basis for medicinal preparation.


[Properties of lactate dehydrogenase of brain mitochondria]. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase in the brain mitochondria isolated within the phycol density gradient accounts for 5% of the enzyme activity determined in cytoplasm. More than 80% of this activity is found in the intermembrane space of mitochondria. Purification, washing and incubation of the mitochondria with supernatant fluid do not change the activity. The treatment with lubrol, desoxycholate or ultrasound evoked almost a two-fold increase in the enzymic activity in the mitochondria and does not change it in the supernatant fluid. Rotenone and Ca2+ have no effect on the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in the both preparations, KCN inhibits it. Mg2+ increases the activity in the supernatant fluid and decreases it in the mitochondria. The relative amount of M- and N- forms of lactate dehydrogenase is approximately the same in the both studied objects.


[Enzyme activity during regeneration under acute and chronic liver lesion with CCL4]. Activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, adenosine, desaminase and AMP-aminohydrolase was determined in rats in the process of the liver regeneration under acute and chronic lesion with CCl4. It is shown that under chronic lesion of the liver with CCl4, in contrast to the acute one, changes in the aminotransferase activity in blood serum are not expressed in the liver, the activity is essentially decreased. A steady increase was observed in the activity of adenosine desaminase, AMP-aminohydrolase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver and blood serum. It is concluded that the normal regenerative process is accompanied by short-term shifts of the enzymes activity in the liver and blood serum. The development of a chronic process results in a characteristic increase in the activity of adenosine desaminase, AMP-aminohydrolase and alkaline phosphatase in the liver and blood serum.


[Quantitative determination of lactate, puruvate and methylglyoxa in their mixture]. A method is suggested for nonenzymic spectrophotometric determination of the content of lactic, pyruvic acids and methylglyoxal in their mixture without mutual interference. The determination may be conducted in the biological material after removing protein. 2,4 dinitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride solution is added to the solution containing the above-mentioned components, then it is centrifuged. The content of lactate and pyruvate is determined in the supernatant fluid, that of methylglyoxal--in the sediment.


[Nitrogen metabolism in salmonellosis in man and animals]. The data obtained make it possible to understand more clearly some aspects of pathogenesis of salmonollosis bacterium carriage and testify to the fact that disturbances in nitrogen metabolism in tissues are essential in development of its different morphological and clinical manifestations.


[Effect of Na+ on delivery of (3-14C) tryptophan to different tissues and incorporation into proteins of liver tissue]. Distribution of [3-14C] tryptophane in rat tissues was studied as affected by sodium deficiency in diet. The tissues are found to accumulate tryptophane differently. Elimination of sodium from the diet decreases the intensity of [3-14C] tryptophane delivery to animal tissues. The in vitro experiments established the dependence of the [3-14C] tryptophane incorporation into proteins on the sodium concentration in the medium. Its deficiency and redundancy lower the intensity of tryptophane incorporation into proteins.


[Effect of copper sulphate on nucleic acid level in tissues of normal rats and those with leucosis]. Dynamics of the DNA and RNA level was studied in tissues of rats normal and with leucosis. The effect of copper in biotic doses on the level under and analogous conditions of the experiment was investigated as well. In the process of leucosis formation the content of DNA and RNA increases in the liver, tumour and spleen. In the muscle tissues the DNA level is significantly higher on the 4th, 7th and 11th day of the experiment, the RNA level is higher only in the period of formed leucosis (on the 11th day). Additional administration of copper in biotic doses to leucoses affected and healthy rat causes essential shifts in the level of DNA and RNA. In the leucosis affected rats the effect of copper sulphate is pronounced in an increase in the DNA and RNA content in the liver and tumour and DNA content--in the spleen as well as in a decrease in the level of RNA in muscles and of DNA in the muscles and spleen tissue in certain periods of the disease. In healthy rats the shifts in the DNA and RNA content with additional administration of copper are not the same but in most tissues they manifest a pronounced tendency to an increase.


Innervation of the male urinary bladder. The innervation of the male detrusor muscle and urethra is a complex network of synaptic interactions between nuclear collections in the cerebral cortex, the brain stem, and the gray matter of the sacral spinal cord. The multiplicity of influences in this reflex emphasizes its vulnerability to disease processes.


The Rosen inflatable incontinence prosthesis. A simple occluding device of the urethra has been described and the rationale for its configuration given. Twenty-three patients have been operated on and 18 have been cured. The main complications are device failure and sepsis. The results so far justify a limited optimism that the device has a significant role to play in the management of male urinary incontinence.


Periurethral teflon injection for urinary incontinence. One hundred and twenty-five patients with urinary incontinence, from a variety of causes, received 225 periurethral injections of Polytef paste. A good to excellent result was obtained in better than 70 per cent of the cases. Complications were minimal. The procedure appears to be safe and rapid and hospitalization is short.


[Analytic experiments on the significance of the fluorine content of urinary calculi (author's transl)]. The fluorine content of 150 precisely differentiated urinary calculi from areas with and without fluoridated drinking water (FDW) was quantitatively determined using different analytic methods. The fluorine content differed according to the type of calculus. With an average of 2 mg/g of calculus substance, the whewellite or weddellite concretions in FDW areas have the greatest portion of fluoride. The degree of crystallization of carbonate calculi increases with increased percentage of fluorine, and the parameter of the reticulum is characteristically contracted.


[Kidney operations in ischemia (author's transl)]. Forty-two operations were done on patients suffering from extensive nephrolithiasis. The procedure was performed in the complete absence of blood, using a special clamp. No hypothermia was applied. The special clamp was placed at the renal hilum. The meantime of ischemia amounted to 17.8 min. The technique of this operative procedure is described. Complications, postoperative urograms, late follow-ups, and the results of differential isotope clearances are discussed.