Correlations between quality and pigment parameters in young Beaujolais red wines. The commercial qualities of 15 young Beaujolais red wines from the 1974 and 1975 vintages were scored by experienced tasters in the following summers. Measurements were made of a wine colour and the separate contributions to it by the coloured anthocyanins and the polymeric pigments, b total anthocyanins (coloured plus non-coloured) and c total pigments, i.e. total anthocyanins plus total polymers (coloured and non-coloured). All the tasting and analytical data were subjected to regression analysis. Statistically significant correlations were found in both years: a. Between overall quality and the contents of total pigments, total anthocyanins, coloured anthocyanins and the tasters' mean colour scores; b. Flavour and the contents of total pigments and total anthocyanins. Thus the colour of the acidified wine (total pigment) was the most simple indication of flavour and quality in these young wines of the same variety and age. In other respects there were marked differences between the vintages. In 1974 additional significant correlations were found a between overall quality and wine colour, pH and non-coloured anthocyanins, b between flavour and colour scores and coloured anthocyanins, and c between aroma and total pigments, total anthocyanins, coloured and non-coloured anthocyanins and pH. In 1975, flavour correlated with non-coloured anthocyanins and pH. The results demonstrate the desirable effects of anthocyanins on quality.


[Analytic study of juices obtained by pressure, by cold extraction and warm extraction (the DDS system) of marc from apples of the Golden Delicious variety]. The cold water extraction of apple press residues to increase the juice yield has found much interest in recent years. Such a process has been developed by a Swiss company, but the food legislation does not permit it yet. Juice yield is increased up to 91 p. 100 (w.). Therefore we investigated the chemical and sensorical properties of pressed juice, cold water extract of press residues and warm water extract (System DDS) of identical raw material. The water extract differs from the pressed juice mainly by an increased amount of non-sugar extract and changes of the pigment and polyphenole content. The cold water extract had more and the better aroma than the warm extract.


Soil as a possible source for the severe fruit rot of guava (Psidium Guajava l.) due to Phytophthora Nicotianae var. parasitica (Dastur) Wat. at Kurukshetra (India). Severe fruit rot of guava due to Phytophthora nicotianae var. parasitica (syn. P. parasitica Dastur sensu stricto) was observed during the months of July and August in 1976 at Kurukshetra (India). The pathogen was successfully isolated from the soil below the infected fruit trees using ripe guava fruits as baits as well as by using a selective medium at regular intervals for a period of one year. Presence of the pathogen in the soil below the guava trees and its isolation from the soil for a period of one year, i. e. the next fruiting season of guava trees indicated that perhaps the soil is the main source of infection.


[Biochemical and physical characteristics of the grape berry and analytical characteristics of its juice]. The biochemical characteristics of the grape berry and the differences in locations in the cells or tissues of its components, induce important consequences when the juice is extracted. The results concerning their analytical composition are very different according to the technical processes adopted. Some examples are given concerning hexanol, hexenols, terpenols and phenolic components responsible for browning.


[Analytical evidences of sugar added to wine]. In many countries addition of sugar to the grape must for increasing the alcohol concentration is autorized by regulation. This addition must be supervised by a priori and a posteriori controls. The saccharose from sugar beet contrains 100 mg/kg of betain, which can be determined in wine after purification by ion exchange and gas chromatography of a decomposition product of its butylester. Methyl betaine has been used as internal standard to improve the method. The natural wine contains low quantity of betaine. For this reason it is impossible to detect an addition of sugar lower than that corresponding to 2 degrees alcohol. The other methods (13C content of ethanol, polyosides contained as impurity in sugar) seem to present the same limitation.


[Proteo-polysaccharidic turbidity in depectinized raspberry juice]. A revertible turbidity happens in the depectinized red raspberry juice under refrigeration. Its analysis is carried out: --Chemically: Total sugar determination by anthrone methol, galacturonic acid determination by carbazol, total nitrogen determination according to Berthelot's coloured reaction (automated analysis) -- Physically: Calcium, potassium and magnesium determinations by atomic absorption. -- Chromatographically: Sugar separation and determination by HPLC. M. W. determination of the different entites by GPC (gel Sephadex G 100). Pectic substances separation on DEAE-cellulose column. The turbidity ensues from an enhanced by cold and acidic pH flocculation process which occurs between the large nitrogeneous molecules (inactive and enzymic proteins mainly). M. W. (superior to 150.000) of the depectinizing preparation and rich in glucose and mannose polysaccharidiques (M. W. between the range from 1.000 to 10.000) accompanied by aldobiuronic units. The origin of the manno-glucan entity remains to be determined. It could be issued either a limit-substrate produced by the degradation of the raspberry pectic substances or an by Aspergillus niger excreted compound.


[Evolution of phenolic compounds during wine aging]. The phenolic compounds of red wine are separated and isolated by a method involving two precipitations (by EtOH and by MeOH-CHCl2), adsorption of the precipitates and supernatants on to p.v.p., and selective desorption of different fractions by mydroalcoholic and acidic solvents. The method permits the definition of wine composition by groups of phenolic compounds which are identified and quantified, and whose molecular mass is determined. Tanins exist in wine in different forms: combinations with salts (T-S) and with polysaccharides (T-P), highly condensed tanins (TtC), condensed tanins (TC), tanin-anthocyanin complexes (T-A), less condensed tanins (T), procyanidin dimer (P). The combinations of tanins with polysaccharides comprise a new class of compounds whose importance is relatively limited in young wine but increases with time during wine maturation (20 to 30 p. cent of the tanins can exist in this form after 20 years of conservation). The percentage of each class varies in the case of young wine, with the cepage, the level of grape maturaity and the conditions of vinification. During the maturation process, the percentage corresponding to the procyanidin dimer group (P), rapidly attains zero after several years. The tanins of old wines are primarily composed of condensed tanins (TC + TtC) and combinations with polysaccharides and with salts. The anthocyanins exist in wine in 3 forms: free anthocyanins, combined anthocyanins and polymerised anthocyanins which belong to the condensed tanins. The free anthocyanins rapidly dissapear during the first few years of wine maturation. The combined and polymerised anthocyanins generally remain present in regard-less of wine age. These groups play an important role in the determination of wine colour.


[Automation of chemical analysis in enology]. Automatic dosages took place a short time ago in oenology laboratories. First researchs about automation of usual manual analysis have been completed by I.N.R.A. Station of Dijon during 1969--1972 years. Then, other researchs were made and in 1974 the first automatic analyser appeared in application laboratories. In all cases continuous flow method was used. First dosages which has been carried out are volatic acidity, residual sugars, total SO2. The rate of work is 30 samples an hour. Then, an original way for free SO2 was suggested. At present, about a dozen of laboratories in France use these dosages. The ethanol dosage automation, very important in oenology, is very difficult to carry out. A new method using a thermometric analyzer is tested. Research about many dosages as tartaric, malic, lactic acids, glucose, fructose, glycérol, have been performed especially by I.N.R.A. Station in Narbonne. But these dosages are not current and at present no laboratory apply them. Now, equipments price and redemption, change of tradionnal dosages for automatical methods and the level of knowledge required for operators are well known. The reproducibility and the accuracy of the continuous flow automatic dosages allow, for enough important laboratories, to make an increasing number of analysis necessary for wine quality control.


[Automatic determination of the alcohol level of dry wines]. An automated technique for the alcoholometric grade determination based upon measurement of dilution heat of ethanol in wine and appropriate reagent was tested. Interferences with wine other components was studied along with methods to minimize them. Two sets of determinations on more than 100 samples of various qualities (red wines, roses wines, white wines) and various geographical sources were performed and they were compared with the pycnometric reference technique. It is shown than this comparative study that for almost 95 p. 100 of the samples the alcoholometric grade can be determined with this automated technique with an accuracy better than 0,1 p. 100.


[Determination of the alcohol level of alcoholic beverages with the Technicon thermometric autoanalyser]. Thermometric analyses consists in measuring the enthalpy variations of chemical reaction. The dilution of an hydroalcoholic solution in a aqueous solution of sodium perchlorate is an endothermal reaction, and the variations of temperature within certains limits are functions of the initial alcohol concentration. The variations are collected, amplified and recorded on a diagram. This has been done in the quality control laboratory of our company with a Technicon apparatus to determine the alcoholic strength of spirits at 45 degrees. In industrial use one needs only to compare the height of the peaks corresponding to the product being analysed with the check sample peaks. This quick and precise process, of a great simplicity of utilisation makes it possible to discard the distillation method.


[Automatic measurement of specific gravity of nutritional beverages]. Using an electronic densimeter introduced a few years ago, a completely automatic system has been developed, allowing more than 400 measurements to be performed daily, with very little human intervention. The repeatability shows a standard deviation of 0.5 10(-5) to 1.6 10(-5), according to the type of sample analyzed. The correlation between measurements performed with this device and those performed with pycnometers is excellent. Another important advantage is that laboratory assistants need no special training before obtaining very sound results.


[Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of volatile compounds in spirits extracted by carbon disulfide]. The quantitative analysis of potable spirits has for a long time been limited to overall determinations of different chemical classes of compounds. The application of GLC has for some years been developed along two different lines -- methods for determining the higher alcohols, and on the other hand qualitative analyses, making use of more sophisticated techniques, which have enabled several hundred different compounds to be identified in different types of spirits. It appeared to be of interest to develop a technique for routine quantitative analysis which would enable the maximum number of volatile compounds to be determined. The extraction of the volatile compounds of spirits with carbon disulphide can be carried out simply and reproducibly with a small sample size (10 ml). The experimental conditions for the extraction step and the GLC analysis (packed or capillary columns, manual or automatic injection, automatic processing of results, etc.) are discussed. A splitless injector using the "solvent effect" is required for analysis of the non-concentrated carbon disulphide extracts in the case of capillary columns.


[Use of the mass spectrometer as a specific detector in the analysis of alcoholic beverages by gas-liquid chromatography]. The technique of selected ion monitoring (SIM) allows the mass spectrometer to be used as a selective detector when coupled to a gas chromatograph. The addition of a data acquisition system enables the selective quantitative determination of compounds to be made when present at low levels in a complex mixture. The detection limit of a compound may be lowered by 2 or 3 orders of magnitude, since the instrument is set to one or more ions which are specific for the compound(s) to be measured, for the maximum amount of time. This lowering of the detection limit and increase in selectivity makes it possible not only to determine compounds at ppb levels, but also to carry out rapid and selective determinations of compounds at the ppm level, using a smaller sample and a minimum of preliminary sample concentration. A fuller description of the principles of SIM is given. This technique has already found wide application in medical and environmental fields, and some examples of its application to alcoholic beverages are given: detection and determination of possible contaminants, such as phthalate, esters residual monomers from plastic materials (styrene, vinyl chloride), and traces of pesticides; determination of certain non-volatile compounds in wines; and the selective determination of certain compounds for which levels in finished products are limited such as the thujones, safrole, beta-asarone, and coumarine.


[Determination of the percentage of grain whisky in commercial whiskies by isotopic mass spectrometry]. Commercial whisky is generally a blend between malt whisky and grain whisky. Corn is one of the main sources of grain and it is now well known that in corn the carbon dioxide assimilation proceeds through carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate but in many other plants like barley atmospheric carbon dioxide is fixed on ribulose 1,5 diphosphate. Each pathway of carbon dioxide assimilation is characterized by a fractionation factor of carbon isotopes. Consequently, the organic matter and also the fermentation alcohol of corn or barley show different 13C/12C ratio. The determination of the 13C/12C ratio in the alcohol of blended whisky allows the determination of the percentage of corn whisky.


[High-performance liquid-liquid chromatography in beverage analysis]. Liquid liquid chromatography was performed with columns packed with stationary phases chemically bonded to silica microparticules. These columns show a high efficiency and are used very easily. Flavouring compounds like aromatic aldehydes which have a low volatility were analyzed in brandy using a polar phase alkylnitrile. Sapid substances like amarogentin in Gentiana lutea or glyryrrhizin in Glycyrrhiza glabra were determined by reversed phase chromatography. Finally ionizable substances like synthetic dyes can be analyzed by paired ion chromatography witha non polar stationary phase.


[High-performance liquid chromatography in the determination of organic acids in wine]. We shall distinguish the case of non aromatic organic acids from that one of phenolic acids. In the first one, we have applied to wines a method used for fruit-juices by Palmer and List, 1973. After contact of the wine with a strong acid resin, its is injected on anion exchange resin Aminex A 25 precolumn (formiate form) which retains all the organic acids. The precolumn is washed with water to eliminate neutral components, then connected with the chromatographic column which contains the same resin. The different acids are eluted with a solution of natrium formiate at 70 degrees C. They are detected by differential refractometry (galacturonic, lactic, malic, succinic, tartric acids) and by ultraviolet at 254 nm (shikimic acid). Beside these compounds which are identified by their retention volumes, others not yet attributed peaks are detected. The limits of detection are 2 mg/l for shikimic acid, 30 mg/l for tartric acid and 15 mg/l for the others. Analysis time is about one hour. In the case of phenolic acids, we extract them from wine by diethyl ether after saturation with NaCl or by demixtion. The determination of phenolic acids is done on the ether extract or on the organic layer of the demixtion. Chromatography is obtained on octadecylsilanised column (RP 18) with solvent gradient (from 10% methanol in KH2PO4O,1 M pH 2,1 to 60% methanol in the same buffer) and detection in ultraviolet at 254 nm. The knowledge of recovery of acids by diethyl ether or by demixtion permits to obtain their concentrations in wine. The different so determinated phenolic acids are: gallic, 4 hydroxybenzoic, cafeic, vanillic, syringic and para coumaric acids. We have applied these methods to 32 wines for phenolic acids and 80 wines for non aromatic acids. Some results are presented in the case of 24 wines issued from Gamay and 8 wines from Pinot and it appears that tartric and shikimic acids have more important average concentrations in the former than in the latter.


[Enzymatic methods in the analysis of musts and wines]. The enzymatic methods are based on the property of the enzymes to catalyse specifically and reversibly the conversion of certain metabolites. These methods, developed thanks to the industrial preparation of enzymes, can be applied with no major modification to the analysis of drinks. About 15 constituants of musts and wines can now be determined by these methods. If their cost price was not relatively high, their specificity, sensitivity and rapidity would enable them to compete with the most precise of chemical methods. This is why they are only used in analytic oenology when chemical analysis is most specific enough or too laborious. Enzymatic measurement allows one by its specificity to determine the amount of residual sugar that is fermentable in a dry wine and by its sensitivity to verifie the total disappearance of the malic acid of the wine. Its rapidity must make it preferable to the long and not very specific chemical measurement, especially concerning the determination of citric acid. But glycerol, ethanol and acetic acid can be measured by chemical or chromatographical means with sufficient precision and for a more modest price. In oenology the methods are essentially used for research. They have permitted the study of the combinations of sulphur anhydride in wines (measurement of cetonic acids). The determination of the isomeric nature of the lactic acid produced from sugars by lactic bacteria is based on their application; this determination is a criterium for the identification and classification of these microorganisms. The measurement of the lactic acid during vinification allows the early disclosure of the first effects of a bacterial development; inversely it permits the invalidation of the existence of a lactic sourness, which a high volatile acidity might point to. Lastly, the enzymatic measurement of gluconic acid allows the health of the crop to be controlled.


[Analytic study of foaming agents in imported beers]. The French consumer expects a natural high-quality drink. It was therefore of interest to ascertain the quality of imported beers (they reached 2,440,000 hl in 1976, or 9.8 f. 100 of total sales) as well as how far their composition complies with present French legislation. Fifteen imported bottled beers were analyzed, from the following countries: West Germany, England, Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg and the Netherlands. Attempts were first of all made to detect the presence in these beers of iron and cobalt, since both metals are recognized froth-improving agents. The search for cobalt produced negative results for all the beers. On the other hand we found that five of the 15 samples examined were questionable for their iron content (0.56--1.52 mg/l). We than looked for alginates in these imported beers, using a method comprising the following sequence of operations: concentration of the beer, dextrine hydrolysis, alginate precipitation at pH 5 by calcium chloride, treatment of the heated preparation with sodium hexametaphosphate, and colorimetric measurement at 670 nm with a reagent comprising orcinol, ferric sulfate and hydrochloric acid. In most of the 15 imported beers studied, the presence of alginates (up to 16.5 mg/l) was indisputable. The French consumer therefore has a right to expect the composition of foreign beers to comply with the French food laws, especially as regards the absence of frothing agents.


[Styrene migration into wine contained in polyester resin tanks]. The use of polyester resins in wine tanks manufacture or coating has widely spread during the past five years; this type of material has been and is still the source of organoleptic damage due to non polymerized sytrene migration into urine. Sytrene is a solvant often used in resin polymerization: it act as a reticulation agent of insaturated linear polyester. Polymerization at room temperature is allowed gy additives but has to be completed in warm air or in steam. An excess of styrene is often used for a polymerisation as complete as possible and remains on a free form. Then it migrates from the tank walls into the wine. For a better understanding of the styrene migration mechanism studies were performed on two levels: from small containers (4 l) kept in the laboratory and from tanks (30 hl) set up in an I.N.R.A. wine estate in all conditions usually realized in practice. Influence of time, temperature and alcohol content were studied. Styrene migration was interpreted as a diffusion phenomenom and styrene diffusion coefficients were calculated for several temperatures. Knowledge of these coefficients and of styrene content of the tank walls allow the prediction of a tank behaviour in time. Other substances that styrene were detected in wine and in tank walls, they are impurities either from resins like ethylbenzene, or from the catalyst like mesityl oxide. The lattest has never been mentioned in the litterature. From the results obtained it is possible to give some advices to manufacturers and users of polyester resin tanks, about the quality of raw materials, resins and additives along with the conditions carried and for their use and about the control of monomer styrene content in the walls of just manufactured tank.


[Use of the transmission electron microscope in the analysis of wine contamination by asbestos]. A method for assessing chrysotile asbestos fibers in wines is described. Particles are isolated from wines samples by means of microfiltration through Nuclepore membrane. Retained particles are entrapped in a carbon layer which is observed under a transmission electron microscope fitted with an energy dispersive spectrometer. Chrysotile fibers identification is based on the determination of three characteristics- namely, morphology, elemental composition and crystal structure. Fibers are counted and measured (length and diameter) on an aliquot of the preparation area: numerical concentrations and their statistical significance are calculated. Several factors affect the accuracy and precision of this method. The feasibility for numerous laboratories to use this method is discussed.


[Connective tissue diseases with cutaneous manifestation (author's transl)]. Connective tissue disorders affecting skin can be inherited or acquired and might result from an alteration of structure, function or metabolism of the constitutive elements of the supporting matrix. Collagen, the protein building the fibrous framework of the dermis, is considered as an example in understanding such a pathology at the molecular level. The molecular structure, the polymerizing capacity and the degradation of this large protein depends upon the activity of several specific post-transcriptional enzymes operating inside or outside of the cells. Pathology is known to be associated with an altered activity of most of these enzymes. Several pathological skin conditions are defined at the level of their molecular defect as in several types of the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, osteogenesis imperfecta. Menkes' kinky hair disease, epidermolysis bullosa and scurvy. A similar molecular pathogenesis can be logically hypothesized for various other processes involving connective tissue as in scleroderma, pretibial myxoedema, cheloids, Werner syndrome, aging and corticosteroid induced atrophy.


[Cutaneous metastases in digestive cancers (author's transl)]. Cutaneous metastases are seldom encountered in digestive cancers. The mechanism of their formation explains their low rate. The metastases spread mainly by the lymphatic system (especially in diffuse, spotty or pseudo-elephantiasic forms and in regional forms), however numerous lymph node filters found through out the lymphatic system limit the progression of neoplasic cells. On the contrary, metastases most often spread by retrograde involvement due to blocking of the lymphatic system. As for hematogenous metastases (generalized nodular forms or aberrant localizations), they are observed even less frequently than lymphatic ones; metastatic embolisms may effectively become blocked in capillaries, especially in the lungs and the liver, which constitutes a double barrier before the skin may be involved.


[Pilar dysplasies studied in polarized light. An attempt to actualize nomenclature (author's transl)]. The study of congenital hair defects can be made with many methods among which the examination of the hair shaft under polarized light is the most interesting. This scientific, precise and complete method bring the third dimension, allows one to see the slightest structural abnormalities of hair, to make a revision of the classical nomenclature, and should become the routine method for hair examination. We present the principles, the technique and the results.


[Repigmentation of vitiligo induced by oral photochemotherapy. Histoenzymological and ultrastructural study (author's transl)]. The authors studied by histoenzymology and electron microscopy, repigmentation induced by oral photochemotherapy (8-MOP-UVA) in 4 patients with vitiligo. The presence of hypertrophic melanocytes was demonstrated in the middle and deep portions of certain centre of islands of repigmentation. Melanocytes comparable to these were also observed in the epidermis of the peripheral collerette in the island of repigmentation. No melanocytic mitosis could be seen in the repigmenting epidermis. Ultrastructural study showed that the melanocytes of the repigmented zones were hyperactive. The melanosomes which they synthesize have a slightly larger size than the melanosomes of the neighbouring healthy skin. Their mode of intrakeratinocyte grouping was not altered. These results suggest that the origin of the melanocytes which repigment the vitiliginous epidermis under the influence of PUVA derives probably from a melanocytic reservoir localized in the hair follicle.


[Multifocal fibrosclerosis (retroperitoneal, mediastinal, mesenteric and pelvic involvement) associated with vasculitis and revealed by a livedo: clinical, histopathological and ultrastructural study in a case (author's transl)]. A 22-year-old male patient was seen with vasculitis and subcutaneous nodules on arms and legs. Discret thoracic venous dilations were noticed and venography demonstrated obstruction of the superior vena cava. Clinical and biological examination, roentgenograms revealed no sign of immunological disease but led to the diagnosis of mediastinal and retroperitoneal idiopathic fibrosis. No drug could be incriminated. Right hydronephrosis obliged to a surgical bilateral ureterolysis combined with systemic steroid therapy. Histological and ultrastructural examinations on retroperitoneal biopsies showed dense collagenous fibrosis, with vasculitis. Perivascular infiltrate was mainly composed of extravased erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Fibrin deposits were seen around implicated vessels. Direct immunofluorescence investigations were negative. These morphological features seem to be in agreement with the physiopathological hypothesis of sclerosis. No retroperitoneal or mediastinal fibrosis extension occurred three years after surgical procedure, and under corticosteroid therapy. Similar vasculitis with mediastinal and retroperitoneal idiopathic fibrosis have previously been reported in only one case by R. W. Carton and R. Wrong. Multifocal fibrosclerosis is the generic term currently used, since Comings  et al. (1967), to describe a group of fibrosing conditions which affect separate organ systems. Findings suggest that retroperitoneal fibrois, mediastinal fibrosis, sclerosing cholangitis, Riedel's thyroiditis and pseudotumors of the orbit may be different manifestations of a single disease whose pathogenesis remains obscure.


[Study of the larval stages of Monogenea of fishes (author's transl)]. The ciliate cells and the oncomiracidial chetotaxy of the following species are described: Among the Polyopisthocotylea : Gastrocotyle trachurii Van Bneden and Hesse, 1863, Gastrocotylidae, parasite of Trachurus trachurus (L.); Cyclocotyla bellones (Otto, 1821), Diclidophoradae, living on the Cymothoides Isopods of Sparidae : Boops boops (L.) and Spicara maena (L.) ; Mazocraes sp., Mazocraeidae, parasite of Sardinella maderensis (Lowe, 1841). Among the Monopisthocotylea : Ligophorus vanbenedeni (Parona and Perugia, 1890) and Onchocleidus principalis (Mizelle, 1936), Ancyrocephalidae, from Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) and Micropterus salmoïdes (Lacepède, 1802) respectively ; Furnistinia echeneis (Wagener, 1857), Diplectanidae, from Sparus aurata L. ; Calceostomella inerme (Parona and Perugia, 1889) Calceostomatidae, from Umbrina cirrhosa (L.) ; Calicotyl kröyeri Diesing, 1850, Monocotylidae, cloacal parasite of Raja clavata L. Results confirm the unity of the Polyopisthocotylea concerned. Among the Monopisthocotylea, a similar unity is recorded for the Dactylogyroïdea to which the Calceostomatidae have to be related. The oncomiracidial chetotaxy of Calicotyl kröyeri (Monocotylidae) is very close to that of the Dactylogyroïdea larvae and highly differs from that of the Capsalidae.


[Life-cycle of Renicola lari J. Timon-David, 1933 (Trematoda, Renicolidae) (author's transl)]. This paper deals with life-cycle of Renicola lari J. Timon-David, 1933. Description and illustration are given. Sporocyst development occurs inside the visceral mass of Cerithium mediterraneum and C. Rupestre (Mollusca Prosobranchia). Cercariae are planktonic; they are swallowed up by the second intermediate host, Atherina hepsetus and A. boyeri (Teleostean fishes). Cercariae perforate intestine wall. Metacercariae are encysted in liver. Adult flukes have been recovered in kidneys of uninfected Larus argentatus and L. ridibundus after exerimental contamination with naturally infected fishes. Cercariae of Renicola lari differ from Plagiorchid type cercariae by the following characters : stylet lacking ; very large excretory bladder ; they develop into metacercariae in fishes. Cercariae of R. lari seem to Rhodometope type cercariae ; they have the same excretory bladder. Cercariae of R. lari differ from Rhodometope cercariae in lacking fins on their tail.


[Geographical distribution of the cercariae parasites of the molluscs belonging to the genus Hydrobia in France (author's transl)]. The author lists forty eight different species of larval digenean trematodes, observed in 20,000 molluscs belonging to the genus Hydrobia (H. ulvae, H. acuta and H. ventrosa). These hosts were examined from twelve different salt marshes and estuaries around the coasts of France (seven on the Channel, three on the Atlantic Ocean and two on the Mediterranean sea). The collections were made in fifteen sites from 1973 to 1977. The list of the species of larval trematodes found in each site is shown in fifteen tables. These one sum up the prevalence of parasitism in each population of molluscs collected and at times its incidence over a period of two years or more.


[Chaetotaxy of cercariae of two Microphallid Trematodes, Microphallus gracilis Baer, 1943 and Maritrema pyrenaica Deblock and Combes, 1965 parasiting Neomys fodiens (author's transl)]. The distribution of papillae on the cercariae of Microphallus gracilis and Maritrema pyrenaica parasites of Neomys fodiens is studied. The comparison between several cercariae of Microphallidae parasites of Birds had allowed to separate the ciliary characters of the two genera Microphallus and Maritrema. The ciliary characters of the two cercariae parasites of Mammals described in this paper, and those previously pointed out in Microphallidae of Birds are identical.


[A comparative study of excretory and sensory apparatus of two cercariae of Diplodiscus parasites of European and African Amphibians (Trematoda, Diploidiscidae) (author's transl)]. The comparative study of the excretory system provides new data on the number of flame cells of two cercariae of Diplodiscus from Poland and Togo but does not allow to distinguish them. On the other hand, the comparison of the superficial sensory apparatus shows significant differences. The cercariae from Togo differ from these of Poland by a much lower number of all the cephalic papillae and papillae of cycle Cv, a higher number of acetabular papillae, and the presence of 9 to 12 pairs of dorsal papillae in the median part of the tail. Therefore the African Diplodicus is not D. subclavatus. We identify it as D. fischthalicus.


[The water-cress pools in connection with cases of human fasciolasis in Limousin, France. Experimental studies of Trematode snails and their biological control (author's transl)]. Experimental studies on 16 water-cress pools with cases of human fasciolasis in Limousin were undertaken. Two species of snails, Lymnaea glabra and L. truncatula are here trematode hosts. L. glabra alone lives in 5 pools. The introduction of Zonitoides nitidus -- predatory snail -- without vegetation modification produces a progressive elimination of Lymnaea in 3 years. The author insists on the use of determine the trematode host-aptitude of L. glabra and its limits when the two species -- L. glabra and L. truncatula -- live in the same habitats.


[The filaria Dipetalonema dessetae: phenomena of regulation and parasite yield in the Aedes vector]. Numerical observations were made on the various steps of the cycle of Dipetalonema dessetae in Aedes aegypti: -- ingestion of microfilariae: the numbers of the ingested microfilariae correspond to a negative binomial distribution, but the over-dispersion is less important than in the Bancroft's filaria as observed by Pichon; in this last case the microfilariae are thicker and thus are more slowed in the capillari; -- crossing of the stomach wall: the "limitation" is caused by a precociously established stomacal barrier (2nd hour); however, this barrier is not perfect and allows some microfilariae to infiltrate; -- larval development and migration towards the head: in the well fed mosquitoes, all the microfilariae in the hemocoel reach the infective stage, but less rapidly in the heavily infected mosquitoes; 50 per cent of the microfilariae migrate towards the head, not depending with the level of infection. In this couple filaria-vector, the regulation of the transmission is depending nearly exclusively with the stomacal "limitation" and secondarily with different speeds of the development. The feeding of the mosquito -- preimago or adult -- is an essential factor for vector efficiency.


[Sergentomyia (Sergentomyia) bergerardi n. sp. (Diptera, Phlebotomidae). New species in the Popular Republic of Congo (author's transl)]. Sergentomyia bergerardi, new species collected in the Mayombe forest in the People's Republic of the Congo, is described from two male specimens. This sand fly belongs to the subgenus Sergentomyia and is differenciated from other species of this subgenus from the length of antennal segment III and cibarial armature.


[Chaetotaxic variations of the miracidia of Schistosoma mansoni according to the adaptation to Muridae. Experimental and epidemiological data in Guadeloupe (author's transl)]. The "miracidial chaetotaxic index" of a human strain of Schistosoma mansoni from West-Africa displays an abrupt decrease following three first transmissions Biomphalaria pfeifferi, white mouse. Then it increases gradually up to a new balance. The value of the index permits to estimate the human or murine characteristic of the natural infections in Guadeloupe. According to stations the index of miracidia issued from rats is widely different. Stations where both rat and man are infected show strong differences from a station where infection seems exclusively murine (Grand-Etang). Results agree with these concerning cercariae. Possibility of intervention of murine strains infecting man in Guadeloupe and apt to cause an especially severe bilharziasis is called up.


[The phlebotomines of Tunisia (Diptera-Phlebotominae). A revision of the systematics, distribution and behaviour (author's transl)]. The authors present a revision of the systematics, distribution and ethology of the phlebotomine sandflies of Tunisia. They present a dichotomous key for 15 taxa. A biogeographical analysis shows the connexion between foci of visceral leishmaniasis and the zones of distribution of the subgenus Larroussius.


[Ecological study of Pyroglyphides mites in house dust in the Grenoble area. A qualitative approach and incidence of various parameters: seasons, altitude, temperature and relative dampness in their multiplication]. This study concerns the analysis of 70 samples of dust mites taken periodically from 13 sample areas or mattresses at different altitudes. It shows the presence of Pyroglyphid mites in all the mattresses studied. Four species were found: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae, Euroglyphus maynei and Dermatophagoides evansi. From a quantitative point of view, the statistical analysis of the results obtained allows the following conclusions to be drawn: -- All the Pyroglyphids (adults and young) undergo seasonal fluctuations at low, middle and high altitude. In the plains and at middle altitude these mites have a seasonal maximum and minimum. At high altitude only the seasonal maximum can be determined. -- The number of Pyroglyphids found is much higher in the plaine than at middle altitude and at middle altitude than at high altitude. The influence of altitude can be demonstrated with certitude. -- The conditions of temperature and relative dampness most favourable to the multiplication of mites are found in the plaine. At middle and high altitude these conditions are only met in summer. In flat country the statistical analysis allows us to show the existance of a correlation between the rate of dampness and the number of Pyroglyphids, and more specially, between the dampness rate and Dermatophagoides farinae, a predominant species at this sampling area. At middle and high altitude such a correlation cannot be shown clearly. At the three altitudes considered, no correlation can be established between the temperature and the number of Pyroglyphid mites found.


[Synopsis of a four-year research on the "maculipennis" complex (author's transl)]. The authors have carry out during four summers a study of the "maculipennis complex" on the Languedoc-Roussillon coast line. They have determined three sibling species: Anopheles maculipennis subalpinus (very abundant, with an important eggs ornementation' poly-morphism), Anopheles maculipennis maculipennis (found only once in that region) and Anopheles maculipennis atroparvus found only the last year of our research.


[Observations on the life cycle of O. ochengi in Simulium damnosum s.l. in Togo (author's transl)]. In the focus of human onchocerciasis in Togo (Mono River), the authors collected 250 Simulium damnosum s.l. engorged on a cow parasitized by O. dukei, O. ochengi, O. gutturosa and O. armillata. On 39 Simulium damnosum dissected 24 h after the blood meal, 5 had ingested O. gutturosa, 1 O. armillata, 18 O. dukei and 6 O. ochengi; only for O. ochengi, the microfilariae have reached the hemocoel (3. S. damnosum on 6). From 48 h to 5 days, 6 on 132 S. damnosum contained developing larvae (2 Simulium with young first stage larvae at 48th hour; 1 with young first stage at 3rd day; 1 with first molting at 4th day; 2 with second molting larvae at 5th day). From 6th to 9th days, 2 Simulium on 89 have infective stages. All these larvae cannot be distinguished from those of O. volvulus. A good presumption does exist that O. ochengi can develop in S. damnosum: crossing of the stomach wall only by these microfilariae, presence of larvae of which the development-stage corresponds to the moment of the blood-meal, observation of the second molting five days later. It is difficult to ascertain that the three infective stages observed from 6th to 9th day pertain to O. ochengi, because the presence of a natural (human or animal) infestation; but it appears quite impossible that larvae which can develop to the second molting cannot be transformed in an infective stage.


[The Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera) from the Mayombe area in the Popular Republic of Congo (author's transl)]. Fifteen species and subspecies of Phlebotomine sandflies have been inventorized in the Mayombe forest in the People's Republic of the Congo. Nine of them are confined strictly to the rain forest; the others belong to secondary forest, clearing or savannah. We have drawn a comparison between the Phlebotomine fauna in the Mayombe and those existing in several other dense Congolense forests.


[Effect of hormones on the metabolism of the swine cell line IB-RS-2]. The biological actions of hydrocortisone and insulin on the growth of swine cell line IB-RS-2 were studied. The data obtained showed that hydrocortisone at 2, 4 and 8 x 10(-6) M inhibits cell growth. This effect is directly related to the hormone concentration and to the time of exposure of the cells to the hormone. This inhibitory effect was found to be related to the glucose added to the maintenance medium. On the other hand insulin at 50, 100 and 200 ng/ml increased cell growth and antagonized the inhibitory effect of hydrocortisone. However at 500 ng/ml insulin inhibited cell growth and it was citotoxic.


[Effects of polyionic compounds on the metabolism of the swine cell line IB-RS-2]. The effects of polyons DEAE-dextran and dextran sulfate on IB-RS-2 cells were studied. DEAE-dextran (5 microgram/ml) inhibited cell growth and decreased the synthesis of proteins and RNA, while the synthesis of DNA remained essentially unchanged. Those effects depend on time of cell exposition to this compound. Dextran-sulfate (5 microgram/ml) increased cell growth, but inhibited protein synthesis and on a lesser extent the synthesis of RNA; those effects were seen 48 hours after the addition of Dextran-sulfate to the maintenance medium. The synthesis of DNA remained essentially unchanged.


[Swine cell sublines with different ploidies. I. Karyotypic evolution]. Two swine kidney cell sublines, one of them IB-RS-10-I, with diploid level of chromosomes and the other, IB-RS-10-II, with tetraploid level, were studied as far as their morphology and karyotypic evolution was concerned. Both of them derived from the parental cell line after seven months in continuous culture and maintained in the same type of nutrient medium showed peculiar chromosome alterations for each subline, though in both sublines were observed losses of chromosomes belonging to the gruop GIV.


Laboratory tests of the persistence of pesticides in two Brazilian soils. The persistence of 5 insecticides in two soils, one rich (soil 1), the other poor (soil 2) in organic matter was examined in the laboratory using gas chromatographyc and radiometric techniques. About half DDT and aldrin were lost in 256 days. The other pesticides, in order of decreasing persistence were lindane, parathion (Table I) and malathion (Table II). Aldrin was converted to dieldrin faster in soil 1 than in soil 2. Parathion and lindane were both lost faster from soil 2 than from soil 1. In contrast, malathion was lost more slowly from soil 2 than soil 1, from which all disappeared in 4 days (Table II)


[Anti-rabies vaccination. Comparative analysis of the responses of Flury Hep, Fuenzalida, and inactivated Flury Hep vaccines]. The authors verified the following: The FLURY HEP vaccine, with modified virus, confers a higher level of protection when applied by intracerebral route in laboratory animals. With an equal number of viral particles of FLURY HEP modified virus and fixed virus (FUENZALIDA type vaccine), inoculated intracerebrally and intramusculary, a better protection was obtained with the first kind of vaccine, specially by intracerebral route. These conditions suggest the possibility of replication of modified HEP virus in the cells of the central nervous system. The results show that the concentration of neutralizing antibodies in the serum is not the only responsable for protection, but suggests the possibility of factors or of cellular immunity acting in the animal's protection against rabies.


[Presence of virus-like particles in clonus C-13 and C-26-3 of swine cell line IB-RS-2]. Virus-like particles resembling those seen in baby hamster kidney (BHK-21) cell cultures, CK-bovine cells, pig kidney cell lines PK-13 and IB-RS-2 have been found in the clones C-13 and C-26-3 of the cell line IB-RS-2. The particle's average outer diameter is c.85nm and the core is c.53nm


[Changes in the electrophoretic proteinogram of calves with experimental helminthiasis]. Ten cross-bred calves (Holstein x Zebu) were infected with helmintics larvae. Three female calves had 4 to 5 months and 7 male calves, 4 to 7 months of age. Of the larvae given to them, 1720 were Cooperia sp., 1560 Oesophagostomum sp. and 720 were Haemonchus sp. This experiment was projected to study the changes in serum proteins, namely the total one and particulary its fractions: Albumin and the alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma globulins. Before infection and after it 54 days, with 6 day intervals, the animals were bled for making the respective examination. The results were as follows low percentage of protein and albumin, alpha 1, alpha 2, beta e gamma globulins, as well as the ratio albumin/globulin were practically unchanged. The data were statistilly analysed.


Studies on the apoproteins of the major lipoprotein of the yolk of hen's eggs III. Influence of salt concentration during isolation on the amount and composition of the apoproteins. When the major lipoprotein of hen's eggs was prepared by centrifuging yolk in salt solutions, the ionic strength affected the apoprotein mixture. At high salt concentrations (ionic strength above about 2) more protein was present in the lipoprotein than at lower ionic strength. The extra protein was not removed by subsequently lowering the ionic strength. This extra protein consisted largely of proteins of high molecular weight, including, according to electrophoresis, gamma-livetin from the aqueous phase of yolk.


The effect of semi-starvation on the digestibility of food in young adult female rats. The apparent digestibilities of organic matter, protein, lipid and carbohydrate of a laboratory chow were determined in young adult female rats fed ad libitum, after losing 40-50% body weight and prolonging the loss for up to 15 weeks, and while recovering the lost body weight during a second period of ad libitum food intake. During deprivation the animals increased the apparent digestibility of crude protein but there was no significant change in digestibility coefficients of lipid or carbohydrate in relation to treatments. When food was again offered ad libitum to the deprived animals they ate large amounts compared with their body weights but normal amounts when compared with their age peers. Apparent crude protein digestibility immediately returned to pre-deprivation values. No impairment of ability to ingest and digest quantities of food relative to age was detected.


[Swine cell sublines with different ploidies. II. Kinetics of population growth]. The growth rate and the protein level of two swine cell sublines, one of them with a diploid and the other with a tetraploied level of chromosomes, were studied during 96 hours at 37--38 degrees C. Both of them showed similar growth rates, although the cell number of the diploid cell subline had been higher than the tetraploid cell subline on the first observation at 24 hours. On the other hand the diploid cell subline showed lower protein level than the tetraploid cell subline.


The administration of flumethasone, by three different routes, its measurement in the plasma and some effects on wool growth in Merino wethers. Flumethasone was given to Merino wethers weighing 30-50 kg at rates of 0.62-1.35 mg/kg(0.75) by intravenous (experiments 1 and 2), intraruminal (experiment 4) and subcutaneous (experiment 5) routes over 8 days. In experiment 3, 1.2 mg flumethasone/kg(0.75) was given intravenously over 4, 5 or 6 days. The plasma concentration profiles showed concentrations in the order: intravenous greater than subcutaneous greater than intraruminal. Plasma concentration patterns usually were highest during the first 48 h of infusion followed by relatively stable values. This last feature was not evident in experiments when the rate of hormone infusion was increased. Estimates of the metabolic clearance rates for flumethasone in experiments 1, 2 and 5 were 200-700 ml/min during the equilibrium concentration periods. The effects of flumethasone on some aspects of wool growth revealed interactions between the routes of administration, the period of dosage and the rate of wool growth in the recipients. In experiments 1 and 2 intravenous infusion of 1.20-1.33 mg flumethasone/kg(0.75) caused the shedding of all wool fibres about 30 days after treatment. Some effects of dosing sheep with flumethasone at a time when wool growth was decreasing were also observed in experiment 2. Flumethasone given at a rate of 1.2 mg/kg(0.75) over 4, 5 or 6 days caused the shedding of only some wool fibres which were firmly retained on the sheep by the continuous fibres. Intraruminal and subcutaneous infusions of 0.62-1.35 mg flumethasone/kg(0.75) had similar results to the last in the majority of animals although in a few cases no discontinuity of wool fibres was observed. Recovery in wool growth was observed after treatment. Animals regained their pretreatment wool growth in experiments 1, 4 and 5 by 60 days after treatment and probably equalled at that time wool growth in controls. Recovery was retarded in some individuals in experiment 2 and in some groups in experiment 3. In experiment 1, 21 days wool growth was estimated to have been lost. Some aspects of complete versus partial shedding of wool fibres are discussed particularly with reference to wool harvesting. Some similarities in the appearance of fleeces of steroid-treated sheep and naturally shedding animals are also discussed. In some experiments, particularly when the infusion rate of flumethasone was increased (experiment 3), the sheep showed temporary but significant feed refusals during, but more commonly after, treatment. Speculative discussion as to the metabolic causes of this response is included.


[Effects of the organophosphorus insecticide Ofunack on the metabolism of cells cultured in vitro]. The effects of "ofunack (0,0-diethyl-0-(3-oxo-2-phenyl-2H-pyridazine-6-y1) phosphorothionate on the metabolism of IB-RS-2 cell line were studied. "Ofunack" stimulates cell growth and protein synthesis till 24 hours after its addition to the maintenance medium. Otherwise after this time "ofunack" induces an inhibition both on cell growth and on protein synthesis. This insecticide also inhibits the synthesis of RNA and DNA.


Lipid content of sheep ovarian follicles in culture. A detailed examination was made of the lipid content of sheep ovarian follicles maintained in organ culture, and of the effect on this of human chorionic gonadotrophin. Lipid classes were isolated by thin-layer chromatography and the fatty acid composition determined by gas chromatographic analysis. The mean total lipid content of isolated follicles, 4-6 mm in diameter, after 18 h in organ culture was 43.1 nmol/mg wet weight tissue. Five major lipid fractions were detected, namely phospholipids (21.0 nmol/mg), cholesterol (14.5 nmol/mg), triglycerides (3.1 nmol/mg), free fatty acids (1.1 nmol/mg), and cholesteryl esters (3.4 nmol/mg). The phospholipid fraction was distinctive in that it contained a large percentage of sphingomyelin (28.0%). Other phospholipids present were phosphatidyl choline (42.0%), phosphatidyl inositol (6.9%), phosphatidyl serine (6.1%), and phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidic acid (16.9%). Each lipid fraction had a characteristic fatty acid profile which was rich in the content of unsaturated fatty acids. Inclusion of human chorionic gonadotrophin (20 i.u. ml-1) in the culture medium caused no discernable effects on the follicular content of lipids nor on the fatty acid composition of individual lipid fractions.


Effects of reduced food intake on reproduction in mice. The effect of undernutrition on the reproductive performance of the Quackenbush strain of mice was studied using four dietary levels: ad libitum (8.0 g per mouse per day; D100), 85% (D85), 70% (D70), and 55% (D55) of ad libitum food intake. Dietary restriction for 60 days at the 55% level resulted in an increase in the length of the oestrous cycle compared with other dietary levels, whereas D85 and D70 mice did not differ from the control group. When the underfed mice were fed ad libitum their reproductive performance did not differ from that of the D100 mice. In a second experiment mice were fed the restricted diet for 2 weeks before males were introduced. The males were fed ad libitum except for a 5-day mating period, when they were removed and replaced by another group of males. On days 1, 7, and 16 of pregnancy approximatley 10 mice per dietary level were killed and the ovulation rate, implantation rate, and late embryonic survival were estimated. The remainder of the mice were allowed to litter for studies of the litter size, birth weight and sex ratio. Dietary restriction did not affect the ovulation rate and only 45% restriction resulted in a decreased implantation rate. The late embryonic survival was reduced at all levels of restricted food intake, but sex ratios were unaffected by dietary intake. Dietary restriction of 30% and 45% decreased the littering rate and increased foetal resorption. The litter size decreased at all levels of dietary restrictions, but the birth weight was reduced only with moderate (D70) and severe (D55) restrictions. The litter size and the pup weight of the D70 and D55 mice following ad libitum refeeding were greater than those of their counterparts maintained on restricted feeding.


Effects of ovarian hormones on foetal and placental growth in the mouse. The effects of ovariectomy and treatment with progesterone and oestradiol on foetal and placental growth were examined. The occurrence of cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia in the placenta in response to treatments was determined by measuring protein, DNA and RNA:DNA ratios. In control mice, which had not been ovariectomized, the daily administration of 0.01-2.56 microgram oestradiol on days 10-15 of pregnancy caused only small decreases in the number of live foetuses and foetal and placental weights on day 16. When mice were ovariectomized on day 10, gestation was maintained by administering 5 mg progesterone daily, but terminated when only 1 mg progesterone was given daily. However, when ovariectomized mice receiving 1 mg progesterone were also given 0.01 microgram oestradiol on days 10-15, gestation was maintained and the number of live foetuses and foetal and placental weights on day 16 were normal. Increasing the daily dose of oestradiol up to 2.56 microgram in mice receiving 1 mg progesterone on days 10-15 had no effect on foetal and placental growth. In contrast, the daily administration of 0.64-2.56 microgram oestradiol to ovariectomized mice receiving 5 mg progesterone on days 10-15 terminated gestation in some mice and considerably reduced the number of live foetuses and foetal and placental weights in those mice which remained pregnant on day 16. None of the treatments increased protein DNA or the RNA:DNA ratio in the placenta to levels above those seen in control mice. The results are discussed in relation to ovariectomy-induced placental overgrowth in the rat.


[Natural development of gastrointestinal helminthiasis in calves born during the dry season in Guaira, State of São Paulo, Brazil]. Proceeding with their observations on bovine nematode epidemiology in Guaíra, State of São Paulo, the authors carried a study on the natural development of nematode infections in crossbred calves born at the dry season. The fecal nematode egg counts per gram (e.p.g.) performed every fortnight were positive at the start, in October, when calves were two months old, and reached the peak when they were five months old; cultures of faeces revealed larvae of Cooperia, Haemoncus, Oesophagostomum and Trichostrongylus. From this time on, until 12.5 months old, when the calves were slaughtered, the variable e.p.g. decreased continually, the average being, in the last examinations, 40 e.p.g. Strongyloides eggs were present in the faeces when the calves were two months old but they disappeared by the 5th month of age. The post-mortem examination revealed the following species of nematodes: Haemoncus similis, Haemoncus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, Bunostomum phlebotomum, Cooperia punctata, Cooperia pectinata, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Trichuris discolor and Dictyocaulus viviparus.


Response to partial selection on clean fleece weight in south Australian strong-wool Merino sheep. III. Genetic distance between flocks. Divergence over time in flocks selected for clean fleece weight and for fecundity is measured by gene frequency changes at the R-r-i blood group, haemoglobin, and transferrin loci. No unequivocal effect of selection is demonstrable. Problems of interpretation even in flocks of known history are discussed.


[Immuno-stimulating effect of levamisole in the immunization of guinea pigs vaccinated against brucellosis]. The immuno-stimulating Levamisole action was checked by the authors in guinea-pigs vaccinated against brucellosis and exposed to the challenge test afterwards against 2.308 Brucella abortus pathogenic strain. Twelve lots of eight guinea-pigs were used disposed in the following distribution: Lots I, III, IV were vaccinated with B-19 strain vaccine; lots II, IV and VI were vaccinated with the same vaccine and, after 48 hours, received the Levamisole injection. Lots VII VIII received only the Levamisole injection and the pathogenic Brucella strain, forming the control groups. The vaccinated guinea-pigs showed a higher protection against challenge, always above 75% in relation to the lots that were only vaccinated, demonstrating a dear immuno-stimulating action of the essayed product. Considering the obtained results in this assay, the authors speculate on the anti-brucellosis vaccines potentialization with immuno-stimulating products, as Levamisole.


Morphological abnormalities in buffalo spermatozoa in fresh and frozen semen. Spermatozoa of eight Murrah buffalo bulls were diluted in citric acid whey, sodabicarbid-glucose-fructose egg-yolk, and skim milk egg-yolk, respectively, at a rate of 1 : 10, and were stored as liquid or frozen. The morphological evaluation of the spermatozoa revealed a marked superiority of the first-named diluent as regards survival and damage rate under liquid and freezing storage.


Changes in dengue and Japanese encephalitis (JE) antibody after JE vaccination. Serological studies before and after Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination were made on subjects of various ethnic groups with or without dengue and/or JE antibodies. In these subjects dengue and JE hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) and neutralization (N) antibodies were measured. Seroconversion to JE was observed in about 45% of the subjects by the HI test and 63% by the N test, whereas seroconversion to dengue with only 4-fold increase in titer after vaccination was detected in 14% by the HI test and in a single case (3%) by the N test. The presence of JE and/or dengue antibody in the prevaccination sera did not significantly influence the seroconversion rates of JE-HI and N-antibodies after vaccination. Moreover the seroconversion rate did not seem to vary markedly in different ethnic groups, although tendencies for subjects from Southeast Asia to have dengue antibodies and Japanese people to have JE antibodies were demonstrated. The presence of dengue N-antibodies in the prevaccination sera did not significantly influence the geometrical mean titer of postvaccination JE-N antibody. Thus the antibody response to JE vaccination was fairly specific to JE, and no marked secondary response was observed.


[Transfusion-infusion therapy in modern wars]. All previous experiences have shown that the application of blood, blood components and intravenous solutions presents an unreplaceable therapeutical measure in modern surgical-resuscitative management of war injuries. Together with the broad application of the whole blood, there have been also used other blood components (even such as cryoprecipitate and platelet rich plasma). Among intravenous solutions the most frequently mentioned were isotonic saline, Ringer's lactate solution, glucosaline, 5% dextrose solution, dextran solutions and, recently, human albumin solutions. Due to a high risk of transmission of hepatitis virus, the dried pooled human plasma is less frequently used. There is the generally accepted agreement that availability of the sufficient quantity of blood, blood components and intravenous solutions resulted in the decreased mortality of the wounded. The role of intravenous solutions is of particular importance in the initial phase of management of the wounded and in the situations when it is necessary to wait for blood.


[Thalassemia major (with a case report of a 6-month-old patient)]. This article describes recent views about patophysiology of thalassemia, and deals with a case of thalassemia major in a 6-month infant from the continental part of Croatia. Based on literature data, therapy included frequent transfusions of blood so as to correct anaemia to the level enabling the child to develop and interact with his environment as normally as possible. Administration of desferioxamine promoted excretion of iron in urine and decreased its concentration in serum.


[Hemoglobin components in normal and anemic b/b rats]. The analitical comparison of normal and anemic b/b rat hemoglobins was made by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PGE) nad also by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Six different hemoglobin components constitute total hemoglobin of normal rat. The component six of total hemoglobin (Hb VI) of controls was absent from the hemolysates of anemic animals. This could be demonstrated either by PGE or by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Hb V was also missing to a verying degree in some of anemic animal.


[Chronic granulomatous disease (in a 2-month-old infant)]. The paper describes a severe form of chronic granulomatous disease with onset in the neonatal period; the case presented is a 2-month-old male infant, coming from a family in which hid older brother died with signs of the same illness. The disease is rare. This is the second report in our literature. The clinical picture showing various severity confirms the heterogenity of the disease and difference in the gene expressivity. Further investigation involving the function of granulocytes in children with recurrent infections might help us to reveal this disease characterized by disfunction of granulocytes, more frequently.


[The most frequent intrahospital infections in children with malignant diseases]. In 100 children, suffering from different malignant diseases, who were hospitalized on our ward, during the period of 5 years, we have performed the examination of bacterial, viral and fungias infections. The majority of our patients belonged to the group, suffering from acute leukaemias and malignant lymphomas, 94%. In our patients was the clear prevalence of bacterial infections in the 41%, of all our cases. Most of children had the mild clinical picture, as the consequence of infection, while less of them had the middle severe or very severe clinical picture. Our position in treatment, was due to the fact that appearance of every febril epizode is conected with the existence of infection. The therapy was combined, and was consisting from: hemio, haemo, support and Rö therapy, recommended from the Highes group in 1975. The succesful treatment of bacterial infections was in 96%, while in 2%, in spite of therapy the end was fatal.


[The effect of dipyridamole on coagulation status in stenocardia]. The laboratory examination of Dipyridamole concerning its antiaggregation effect is presented in the paper. Thirty patients with coronary insufficiency have been taking Dipyridamole for one year. The average dosage was four pills à 75 mg of Dipyridamole a day. The aggregation and adhesion of the platelets with the examined patients was checked before and during the treatment. The inhibition platelet aggregation with Dipyridamole has been confirmed in vitro.


Radioassay services in developing countries. Findings and recommendations of an International Atomic Energy Agency advisory group. The findings and recommendations of an advisory group convened by the IAEA to give guidance relating to the development of IAEA projects involving radioassay are presented. The current status of radioassay services in different countries is reviewed; guiding principles relating to the organization of such services are affirmed, with particular reference to services in developing countries; the needs of services at various levels as regards accommodation, staff, equipment, supporting services and running costs, including minimum initial needs, are specified; operational problems are identified and indications given how they may be solved; facilities for training in radioassay are reviewed; finally, reference is made to IAEA activities in the field in question.


[Blind pouch after choledochoduodenostomy (author's transl)]. In order to define the role of the blind pouch as causal factor of late complications after lateral choledochoduodenostomy ("sump" syndrome), the Authors have reviewed 37 patients previously operated on for common duct stones and/or benign papillary stenosis. In 19 patients, clinical and laboratory data have been associated to cholangiography, barium meal and 99mTc HIDA hepatobiliary scanning. Although we considered a few cases, the results were satisfactory. Slight symptoms noticed in some patients do not derive from "sump syndrome", as proved by the lack of correlations between clinical results and roentgenologic and radioisotopic data.


[The effects of testosterone on the adenohypophysis of female rat (author's transl)]. The research regards the action of rapidly and slowly absorbed testosterone in the adenohypophysis of female impuberal rats. The results are that the rapidly adsorbed testosterone if administered in small quantities stimulates the activity of synthesis in the FSH cells, if administered in large quantities stimulates the activity of synthesis both in the FSH cells and in the LH cells. The slowly absorbed testosterone stimulates again the activity of synthesis only of the FSH cells. Both rapidly absorbed and slowly absorbed testosterone inhibit the release activity in both the FSH cells and the LH cells.


[The clinical significance of Serratia infections during the post-operative course (author's transl)]. A series of 25 cases of Serratia infections, during the period from november 1977 through aptile 1978, is reported. Serratia isolates were identified with increasing frequency from urine, surgical incisions and blood. All the patients had received antimicrobial therapy prior to the time Serratia was first isolated. These patients (92%) had had indwelling urinary catheters inserted during the post-operative course and Serratia was isolated predominantly from the urinary tract. In 3 patients who died, Serratia played a role in the ultimate demise of the patient. Prophylaxix and antimicrobial therapy are discussed.


[Intracranial and spinal dermo-epidermoid tumours. Anatomoclinical study (author's transl)]. The authors review the previous report of intracranial or spinal dermo-epidermoid tumours, in concern with both nosographical and biological problems. They report their clinical and anatomical findings on a patient who presented the same tumours within the skull and in the vertebral canal. The authors underscore the rarity of such finding, the length of the course. albeit a few symptoms and no positive neuroradiological findings had been remarked, and the quite atypical eventual troubles.


[Diaphragmatic paralysis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (author's transl)]. One clinical case of neurogenic diaphragmatic paralysis secondary to amyophic lateral sclerosis as a prominent presenting symptom is described. The condition is a very rare one, only eight cases being reported till now in literature. The Authors lay stress one some diagnostic criteria for the individuation of neurogenic diaphragmatic paralysis due to motor neuron disease.


[Melorheostosis: study of a case (author's transl)]. The Authors describe a case of melorheostosis. The diagnosis, which is only radiological, is characteized by the tipical aspect of flowing hyperostosis.


[Fine structure or retina in Chiroptera (author's transl)]. The retina of Chiroptera, studied during the various seasons of the year, appears well developed, and provided with morphological and structural characters very near to the humans and other mammalians. The retina of Chiroptera it is composed of five layers: 1) it is composed exclusively by rods: his morphological behaviour has been yet described in other night life birds and mammalians (e.g. mice and guinea pigs (Hollenberg e Bernstein), 2) plexiform layer, composed by rod's prolongations and by bipolar cells that there form conventional synapsis and mainly ribbon synapsis, 3) horizontal and amacrine bipolar cells and the middle portion of Müller's cells, 4) inner plexiform layer with conventional type synapsis, 5) layer of the ganglionar cells and of the enlarged prolongations of the inner portion of Müller's cell. The prolongations are separated from the vitreous body by basement membrane. After a detailed description of the elements constituent the different retina's layer, the Author asserts that remarkable qualitative, quantitative and season variations were not found. The inner granular layer as well as the middle part of the Müller's cells, is composed by three different types of cells: horizontal, amacrine, bipolar, which have all the characters of a typical nervous cell. Granules found in pigmented cells how a structural range of variations linked more with the different stages of maturation than with the variety of species investigated. Citoplasmatic polarity of the granules and mytochondria concentration were not noticed as, on the contrary, in other mammalians. The Author emphasizes pynocitosis phenomena both a level of the inner and outer surface of pigmented cells, and at the level of the most outer prolongations of Müller's cell: those cytologic aspects seem to witness a possible transfer of liquids, salts and metabolites from capillaries of the choroid to photoreceptors. Moreover the total absense of blood capillaries in all five layers of the retina is emphasized.he


[Cystine aminopeptidase (CAP) in induced labour and puerperium (author's transl)]. Serum cystine-animo-peptidase (CAP) is a valid test for placental function. We found it interesting following up the variations of CAP during induced labour and early puerperium; with this aim in view we determined the values of the enzyme in 33 pregnant nullipares. Six blood samples were taken from each woman. (174 determinations in all): 1) before labour; 2) at 5 cm. dilatation of the uterine neck; 3) immediately after the expulsion of fetus; 4) two hours after delivery; 5) first day of puerperium; 6) in the fourth day of puerperium. Statistical analysis -- Wilcoxon's test and rank bivalent variants analysis of Friedman (X2r) -- show that the variations of values in the first four groups are not statistically significant; values from 1th and 4th day of puerperium show a mean reduction in level of CAP which is remarkable and statistically significant.


[Fistulae and congenital cysts of dorsum of the nose. Report of a case (author's transl)]. The Authors, after a brief review of the literature concerning the congenital fistulae and cysts of the nasal dorsum with special regard to the etiology, pathology, diagnosis and therapy, report a personal case of such fistulae in a 15 year old male. They stress importanct, for an accurate diagnosis, of radiography and fistulography and reccomend, radical surgery.


[Serum fibrin degradation products in 13 cases of E.P.H. gestosis (author's transl)]. Intravascular coagulation causes fetal risk, because it produced placental damage in E.P.H. gestosis. F.D.P. values are above the normal range of the third trimester in 11 out of our 13 cases. Fetal risk is revealed by pathological C.T.G. patterns; fetal death occurred in 4 cases. Therefore, high F.D.P. values are considered D.I.C. indexes, and a sign of fetal risk.


[Percentile trends in BPD (biparietal diameter) development: reliability in the diagnosis of PIFG (poor intrauterine fetal growth) (author's transl)]. The use of BPD percentile trends allows us to improve the diagnosis of PIFG in comparison with the average +/- 2SD (from 44,44% to 65,71%). SGA distribution study related to 10th percentile and delivery period confirms the existence of two different SGA groups. They have different characteristics related to the moment of the beginning of the pathological manifestations.


Interpretations couched in the poetic style. In addition to the issues of content, timing and depth of interpretation in the service of enabling insight, recall, or deepening of the analytic regression, we might consider the more intangible manner, or style, in which the interpretation is offered. Several writers (Fenichel 1941, Glover 1955, Kris 1951, Ornstein and Ornstein 1975) have raised the possibility that what the patient receives and absorbs of the analyst's communications is not only a function of what is said but, on a more subtle level, how it is said. When interpreting, the analyst often subordinates image to idea, so that what emerges is treatise, polemic, or catechism-anything but revelation or a deeper vision. In contrast, in poetry we experience the most effective, the most concentrated and emotionally textured communication man has, as yet, devised. It is through richly layered imagery that the poet works to create those fusions of echoed meanings that can set off landslides of resonating associations in readers. Can we, then, learn from the poet, for our interpretive interventions, something about the art of expression? This paper addresses an issue of style of interpreting, one of concretizing images of the patient's underlying psychic states.


[Liberation of inorganic phosphates in the coronary sinus as an indicator of human myocardial ischemia]. The effects of atrial pacing (A.P.) on the myocardial balance of inorganic phosphate (Pi) were studied in 11 patients with coronary atherosclerosis and pacing-induced angina (Group C) and in 5 normal subjects (Group N). During A.P. in group C 64% of patients had myocardial loss of Pi, statistically significant (p less than 0,025) always with concomitant reduced myocardial extraction or production of lactate, but only 70% of patients with reduced myocardial extraction or production of lactate had myocardial loss of Pi. In only 1 p. of group N myocardial loss of Pi with normal lactate extraction was observed. These data show that during pacing-induced ischemia there is a negative myocardial balance of Pi, that can be used as a metabolic indicator of ischemia, but less reliable than lactate reduced extraction or production.


[Angiotensin II-acetylcholine interaction on the mechanical response of the isolated rat stomach]. This research was carried on denervated isolated rat stomach. Mechanical response to Ach treated with three different ATN II concentrations was recorded. No competitive antagonism was observed so that no common receptor can be supposed. The apparent noncompetitive antagonism may be ascribed to the action of ATN II on P and T Ca++ activating systems.


Distribution of Pseudomonas fluorescent bacteria in soils and in the root zone of plants. The authors studied the ecology of fluorescent bacteria of the genus Pesudomonas. These were found to proliferate most actively in soils very high in fresh organic matter. In grassy and woody residue their numbers attained 30--60%, depending on the specific methods of bacterial sowing. Pseudomonas was particularly numerous in the root zone of plants fertilized by external metabolites of roots and decomposed roots and leaves.


Intensity of nitrogen fixation in yellow lupine in presence of different doses of mineral nitrogen. The effect of different doses of mineral nitrogen on the nitrogen-fixing activity of lupine nodules during vegetation was studied. It was shown that 0.5 of the dose of mineral nitrogen had an inhibitory effect only in the initial period of development of the nodules, whereas full and double doses of mineral nitrogen inhibited nitrogen fixation throughout the period of vegetation. Supplements of mineral nitrogen switch the lupine nutrition from the symbiotic to the autotrophic type, which is accompanied by a decrease in the nitrogen-fixing activity in the nodules and by an increase in the nitrate-reducing capacity of the roots and leaves.


Mechanism of the action of factor XIII on the structure of fibrin in the normal and pathological states. The work discusses the influence of factor XIII on the molecular structure of fibrin and its properties under normal conditions and in certain forms of coagulopathies. It was shown that the reaction of stabilization is accompanied by an exothermic effect, the thermal effect of which on donor blood plasma is 15.5 kcal/mole. It was also established that the enrichment of blood plasma with fibrinogen leads to an increase in the thermal effect, which is due to the influence of the density of the terminal and lateral bonds in the fibrin molecule and the process of its covalent cross-linking. An examination of groups of patients structure of fibrin and its physiological properties, on account of a change in the number of peptide bonds formed. On the basis of the results obtained, a new energy test for the determination of the fibrin-stabilizing factor is suggested.


Ambulatory and in-hospital continuous recording of sleep state and cardiorespiratory parameters in 'near miss' for the sudden infant death syndrome and control infants. Electrophysiologic and cardiorespiratory events were studied polygraphically and by ambulatory monitoring in 'near miss' for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and normal control infants 1-4 months old. The data show that 'near miss' babies typically have many apneic periods in their sleep, particularly apneas lasting 10 sec or longer. These tend to decrease with age. They have longer lasting apneas than controls, although the latter have respiratory pauses lasting less than 10 sec, in particular during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. An upper respiratory infection (URI) in 'near miss' infants clearly appears to be a risk factor which will be studied further both in-hospital and at home using a monitoring technique with our Medilog ambulatory system.


Influence of the conditions of growth on the chemical composition and activity of the enzymes of the cell envelope of the yeast Candida tropicalis IBFM-303. The article is devoted to a study of the changes in the activity and chemical composition of the enzymes of the cell envelope of the yeast Candida tropicalis IBFM-303 during growth on n-alkanes and glucose, as well as the transport of n-alkanes through the cell membrane and the redistribution of the cell contents in the process of budding on the indicated carbon sources.


A portable infusion pump, programmable with 16 rates. An external, portable, programmable infusion pump has been developed for long-term therapeutic intravenous infusion of drugs. The impulse-controlled system consists of a 250 g CMOS-electronic unit, and an electromechanical infuser (250 g) containing a 10-ml disposable syringe. The infusion rate pattern is manually preprogrammed from 24 to 384 microliter/0.5 h. The coefficient of variation of the volume infused is less than 2% per. 0.5 h. The system has been tested by continuous administration of insulin in diabetics during 4 consecutive days, and can operate for 6-7 days with a 1 Ah, 5.4 V battery. The mean capillary blood glucose concentration could be maintained at levels close to normal (i.e. 7.0 mmol/1 +/- 2.3 (SD)) during the treatment period.


Adaptability of Rhizobium meliloti in callus tissues of alfalfa roots. The establishment of associative interrelations between nodule bacteria and cells of a callus culture of alfalfa roots, evaluated according to the criterion of nitrogenase activity, was accompanied by considerable inhibition of the plant cells in the period of maximum infection as well as by the dispersal of actively multiplying nodule bacteria on the surface of the callus cells in the first 7 days after infection. The dynamics of the localization of nodule bacteria on the surface of callus cells was studied by the method of scanning electron microscopy.


Action of metabolites of isolated plant tissues on the nitrogenase activity of Rhizobium vigna and Rhizobium meliloti. The dependence of the nitrogenase activity of Rhizobium meliloti on the strain peculiarities of the cultures, the composition of the media used, and the metabolites of legume tissue cultures was demonstrated by the acetylene method. The nitrogenase activity is significantly higher in R. vigna than in R. meliloti, under the same experimental conditions. Enrichment of the Murashige-Skoog medium with arabinose (25 mM), succinate (25 mM), glutamine (2 mM nitrogen), and yeast extract (0.1%) substantially stimulated the nitrogenase activity of a pure culture of R. vigna. The maximum nitrogenase activity on this medium was noted when metabolites of sweet clover tissue were introduced.


A method for continuous electrocardiodynamic monitoring. A new method is presented for the monitoring of cardiac time intervals, e.g. in clinical and industrial work investigation. The methods yields 'on-line' the electrocardiodynamic time profile during rest as well as effort, and has applications in health care, sports and occupational medicine. By means of analog processing of an electrocardiographic signal, ear densitogram and beat-by-beat display of the measured cardiac time intervals as amplitude-modulated pulses, an 'electrocardiodynamic time profile' is obtained. In order to estimate the accuracy and the limitations of the method, a comparison with computerized methods was performed. In an ergonomic experiment carried out by a Romanian-Swedish research team, analog and digital methods for the detection of cardiac time intervals showed good agreement.


Fish heart rate telemetry in the open sea using sector scanning sonar. Real time monitoring of heart rate from free-swimming fish in the open sea has been used in conjunction with high resolution sonar to track plaice and observed the variation in heart rate in relation to environmental parameters. The heart rate can be observed at the same time as the acoustic picture of the sea bed or the midwater volume of sea surrounding the fish.


Investigation of the turnover of the carbon of organic fractions of yeasts in the logarithmic phase of growth. An investigation of the isotopic exchange (turnover) of carbon among the basic groups of organic substances of yeast biomass (proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, free amino acids, carbohydrates, and organic aicds) showed that in the presence of a carbon source and all the necessary nutrient elements in the logarithmic phase of growth of the culture, the bulk of the organic substances of the cell are extremely stable. Under these conditions, no appreciable utilization of the carbon of low-molecular-weight pools, nor any significant degradation of high-molecular-weight substances can be detected. Nor was there any redistribution of carbon-14 among individual components of the fraction of free amino acids and lipids. It was shown that the fraction of exchangeable carbon of the biopolymers of mature cells, like the fraction of the exchnage pool of low-molecular-weight substances, does not exceed 10% of the total carb-n of these substances. It is suggested that there is no mixing of the old and newly synthesized low-molecular-weight carbon pools in the parent cell, and all the components of the biomass of the daughter cells are synthesized chiefly from the carbon of the substrate.


Effects of telemetry transmitter weight on breeding success in herring gulls. Dummy ratio-tracking transmitters weighing 10, 30 and 50 g were attached to randomly chosen pairs of breeding herring gulls (Larus argentatus). Breeding success was measured as a function of eggs hatched and chicks fledged. Fewer clutches survived if patients were subjected to more severe treatments (p less than 0.02). Component effects (catching pairs of gulls or increased transmitter weight) were not singularly significant in decreasing clutch success.


Arrhythmias in ambulatory persons. A review and experience of 1,000 consecutive recordings. The value of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring of the ECG for the diagnosis of symptoms of dizziness, palpitations and syncope is controversial. In this study results from a hospital-based, clinical service have been analysed. Of 1,000 consecutive dynamic electrocardiograms (DCG), 678 were performed for assessment of dizziness, syncope or palpitations in 405 patients. 36 of the patients had pacemakers. 60 DCGs were technically inadequate. The recordings were classified according to the correspondence between DCG findings and symptoms noted in the patient diary: (I) Completely diagnostic: significant arrhythmias (SA) corresponding to diary symptoms - 99 recordings. (II) Incompletely diagnostic: (a) absence of SA in the presence of diary symptoms - 90 recordings; (b) presence of SA but no diary symptoms - 197 recordings; (c) presence of SA corresponding to symptoms other than that for which the DCG was indicated - 52 recordings. (III) Non-diagnostic: absence of both SA and diary symptoms - 180 recordings. Incompletely diagnostic categories were regarded as clinically valuable in that they either excluded a cardiac arrhythmia as a cause of symptoms (group IIa) or they revealed SA which did not correspond to diary symptoms (group IIc). The absence of symptoms corresponding to SA was ascribed to poor diary keeping in 54 of 197 recordings. These results are discussed in the context of the findings in normal and symptomatic patients. A clinical 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring service provided useful diagnostic information in 65% of recordings and 74% of patients.


PCM telemetry for physiological data.

PCM telemetry for physiological data. PCM technology offers significant advantages in the application of telemetry to medical and physiological studies. The requirements for less complicated handling, standardized system layout, improvement of weight, size and power supply by commercial battery modules, as well as different wireless data links are met better by a PCM encoder which was specially developed for physiological applications. The advantages of PCM are illustrated in this paper by relating the experimental requirements to technical specifications for the elements of a telemetry link. A newly designed 8-channel PCM-telemetry system satisfying these requirements is described.


A microcomputer-based data acquisition and analysis system for CO2 rebreathing studies. A real-time microcomputer-based data acquisition and analysis system has been developed to automate the measurement of the ventilatory response to CO2 by the rebreathing method. Previous systems acquire the data on-line and then analyze and display the results off-line. The system described here performs all processing on-line and displays experimental results in real-time. The results of 5 min of data acquisition are available for display only 1.5 sec after completion of the experiment. Immediate interpretation of the results of each experiment enable a series of related studies to be performed on the same patient in a short time period. The microcomputer is Digital Equipment Corporation's LSI-11, a low cost 16 bit machine with the basic instruction set of a PDP-11/40. The system has 16 kbytes of memory, a CRT for data display, and a paper tape reader for program loading. Due to the time constraints of real-time processing and the memory constraints of a small system, the software is written entirely in assembler language. The software includes routines for numeric and character input, line and graphical output, linear curve fitting, start of rise detection and floating point computations.


Long-term trends in human eye blink rate. Long-term recordings of normal human eye blink behavior (up to 14 h continuously) showed a number of periodic trends in blink rate. Mean rates varied from 2 to 50 blinks/min and periods ranged from 10 min to 2.5 h. Three dominant groupings of mean rates were observed (1) under 6, (2) 8--15 and (3) 20--30 blinks/min; these groups appear to be related to more or less distinct behavioral states of the individual. Blink amplitudes also varied and amplitude and rate showed correlations of possible functional significance. Vision-related behaviors affect both the mean rate of blinking and blink amplitude, and may impose a characteristic strategy on the timing of the individual blinks as well. The latter is referred to as bimodal blinking; this strategy contrasts with the random occurrence of blinks seen normally.


Studies of water in biological systems by a pulsed NMR method. 1. Flow profile in a cylindrical tube. Pulsed NMR experiments on water flowing through cylindrical tubes are discussed. Spin echo signals of proton nuclear spins in water molecules were detected RF (radio frequency) phase-sensitively in static magnetic field gradients which were superposed on a main magnetic field. Both the intensity and the RF phase of the spin echo signal depended upon the flow pattern. It is shown that the velocity distribution function was driven from the magnetic field gradient dependence of spin echo signals. Velocity distributions (or velocity profiles) of the fluid in a uniform cylindrical tube have been measured from the spin echo signals. The data on the flow behind a stenosis were widely different from the data on laminar flows.


Diagnostic catheterization and bacteriuria in women with urinary incontinence. The risk of single catheterisation in females with urinary incontinence and/or genital prolapse was studied in patients referred for urodynamic examination. Two hundred and eighty-six catheterisations were performed followed by a mid-streem specimen 1 week later, and in 31 of these the initial specimen contained more than 10(5) bacteria. Following catheterisation bacteriuria occurred in 5 (2%) of the patients with initially sterile urine. The phenomenon of "asymptomatic bacteriuria", "transient significant bacteriuria" and "bladder defence mechanism" is discussed. The risk of introducing urinary tract infection in urodynamic studies is low.


Should patients be shaved prior to transurethral surgery? In a prospective randomised trial no significant difference in urinary infection was found when routine pubic shaving prior to transurethral surgery was compared with no pubic shave. An argument based on financial and aesthetic considerations is presented to support the abolition of this traditional policy.


Procarbazine (Natulan) in the treatment of Peyronie's disease. Thirty-four men with Peyronie's diseases were treated with a 12-week course of the drug procarbazine (Natulan), preceded or followed by a 12-week course of vitamin E. Ninety-one per cent of the men failed to improve or became worse whilst receiving Natulan and toxic side-effects were common. In comparison 39% improved whilst taking vitamin E. We concluded that Natulan is of little benefit in the treatment of this condition and may indeed be harmful.


Surgical management of impotence using the inflatable penile prosthesis: experience with 103 patients. The inflatable hydraulic penile prosthesis has been implanted in 103 patients with both organic and psychogenic impotence. The 4 failures in this series resulted from infection. Mechanical problems occurred in 27 patients, but with additional implant experience, these have been significantly induced. All mechanical complications are correctable through secondary and tertiary surgical procedures. Ninety-eight of 99 patients with a normally functioning prosthetic device had satisfactory intercourse without significant difficulty. The inflatable penile prosthesis has improved to be a highly satisfactory method of treating male impotence.


The thermographic characteristics of varicocele: an analysis of 65 positive registrations. Sixty-five positive thermograms in patients suspected of subclinical varicocele or presenting with clinically palpable varicocele have been analysed. Two distinct patterns of varicocele associated thermograms could be distinguished, herperthermia always exceeding 1 degrees C. A correlation was found between the clinical grade of varicocele and both the extension and the degree of hyperthermia.


Chyluria--a 10 year follow-up.

Chyluria--a 10 year follow-up. One hundred and sixty-one cases of chyluria have been studied. The possible aetiological factors, the approach to investigation and the methods and results of treatment have been discussed. In this series, the diagnosis was established by the presence of chyle in the urine. Lymphography was carried out in 90 patients for the localisation of the site of lymphatic reflux while cystoscopic examination after fatty meal was useful in determining the side with the heavier leakage. One hundred and nineteen cases responded to conservative treatment and only 42 cases required operative treatment. Stripping of the renal pedicle via the retroperitoneal route gave the best results.


Renal mobility in women attending a pyelonephritis clinic and in controls. The range of vertical renal mobility was established in a group of 129 healthy female subjects and compared with the range of mobility observed in 236 female patients attending a pyelonephritis clinic. The mobility was significantly greater on the right side in both groups and both kidneys moved significantly more in the patient group than in the controls. Excessive mobility could not be directly related to bacteriologically confirmed infection, renal pain or IVP abnormality. Nephroptosis remains an enigma and excessive renal mobility must not be interpreted in isolation.


Diuresis renography in equivocal urinary tract obstruction. A trial of the value of diuresis renography in equivocal upper urinary tract obstruction is presented. Fifty-two patients were examined by standard renography and renography under a diuretic provocation. The results indicate that the technique is of considerable value in making the vital distinction between dilatation on the excretion urogram due to atonicity and that caused by a genuine obstruction. A quantitative index of the response to diuresis reflecting the degree of impedance to flow is described--the Diuresis Excretion Index. Diuresis renography is recommended in the evaluation of the patient with equivocal urinary tract obstruction.


Exstrophy of the bladder: treatment by trigonosigmoidostomy--long-term results. Twenty-five patients with bladder exstrophy were treated by implanting the vesical trigone into the sigmoid colon. Twenty-three have been followed for 3 to 19 years, with an average of 10 years. Taking into account the clinical status, renal function, the intravenous urogram, continence and social life, 18 patients were considered to have had an excellent result. There were 2 failures; 1 post-operative death occurred due to ruptured oesophageal varices and 1 patient developed bilateral hydronephrosis which necessitated cutaneous urinary diversion. In 4 cases the results, while satisfactory, were only fair in that 2 developed stones and 2 showed symptomatic electrolyte disturbances requiring treatment. Trigonosigmoidostomy preserves intact the ureterovesical junction which prevents colo-ureteric reflux and this probably accounts for the generally excellent long-term results. We believe the operation is preferable to ureterosigmoidostomy in the management of bladder exstrophy.


The incidence and consequences of damage to the parasympathetic nerve supply to the bladder after abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for carcinoma. Fifty-one patients undergoing abdominoperineal resection of the rectum for carcinoma were studied with regard to bladder function after surgery. Fifty-nine per cent had motor denervation of the bladder due to tumour or operative damage to the pelvic parasympathetic nerves and this produced symptoms of incomplete bladder emptying requiring treatment in 90% of this group. The factors affecting the incidence of nerve damage were discussed. The long-term effect of parasympathetic nerve damage was investigated and the management is discussed.


Experience with anteromedian (12 o'clock) external urethral sphincterotomy in 100 male subjects with neuropathic bladders. One hundred male spinal cord injured patients have now undergone anteromedian (12 o'clock) external urethral sphincterotomy alone or in combination with transurethral incision or resection of the bladder neck. The functional affect of this procedure has been documented by voiding cystourethrogram and urodynamic studies. The morbidity and clinical results including blood loss and loss of reflex erection are reviewed. The short-term clinical results suggest that this is the best of currently available techniques to lower external urethral sphincter resistance.