Brugia malayi in Kresek, West Java, Indonesia: the effect of environmental changes of filarial endemicity. A survey was conducted in Kresek, West Java, Indonesia and 813 persons from six villages examined for filariasis. Only eight had microfilaremia and one male person had elephantiasis. Comparing results obtained approximately ten years earlier and the present survey, there was a marked decrease in the microfilarial rate in Kresek, especially in Penameng, during the interim. There was no drug treatment, insecticide application or any dramatic population movement. The development of a well-organized irrigation system and the conversion of the swamps into rice-fields resulted in a decrease of breeding sites for Mansonia mosquitoes and subsequently a decrease in filariasis.


Racial bias in intracranial arterial aneurysms? Low incidence of intracranial arterial aneurysms has been reported from India, Iran, and many parts of Africa. From Enugu, Nigeria, five proven cases and two suspected cases of intracranial arterial aneurysms are reported over a three year period. Only one of these was situated in the anterior communicating artery, the others were in the region of the posterior communicating artery. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of aneurysms are reviewed. According to the experience reported intracranial aneurysm in Nigerians is not different from that in Caucasians. Research efforts should be focused on congenital factors rather than on the acquired ones which are common in Nigeria.


Cardiovascular status and blood pressure in a population sample in Ghana--the Mamprobi survey. In a medical survey of an urban population in Ghana, abnormal cardiovascular findings were present in 25% of the population aged from 15 to 64 years. This was largely due to hypertension and to cardiomegaly of obscure origin. The prevalence of valvular heart disease was comparatively low. Abnormal cardiovascular findings were commonest in the lowest third of the socio-economic stratum and next most frequent in the highest third. Abnormal findings were not related to smoking or drinking habits; these seem to be only marginally important in the population at present.


Casual blood pressure in school children in Kaduna, Nigeria. Casual blood pressure was measured in 600 healthy school children in Kaduna, Nigeria. Of these children, 21 (3.5%) had blood pressure more than two standard deviations above the mean for age. There was no significant difference in the pattern of mean blood pressure in both sexes.


Chloroquine induced haemolysis and acute renal failure in subjects with G-6-PD deficiency. Three male children with G-6-PD deficiency developed intravascular haemolysis leading to acute renal insufficiency following the administration of chloroquine. In two cases chloroquine seemed to be the only offending agent. One child required peritoneal dialysis. All patients showed complete recovery. The prevalence of this deficiency in India is discussed.


Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among Indonesian children. A survey on the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemic was performed in 1160 pediatric out-patients of the General Hospital in Surabaya. Criteria for anaemia were haemoglobin concentrations of less than 10, 11 and 12g% for the age groups of 6 months to 2 years (I), 2 to 5 years (II) and 5 to 12 years (III), respectively. Criteria for Fe-deficiency among the anaemic children were serum transferrin saturation of less than 16% and a bone marrow devoid of iron. In group I 12,8% of the children had Fe-deficiency anaemia, in group II 10,7% and in group III 7,6%. The over-all prevalence of anaemia was 14,2% and of iron deficiency anaemia 9,8%.


Serum cholinesterase activity in patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever. Serum cholinesterase was estimated in eight male and 18 female children, 4 to 12 years old, admitted to the paediatric ward of the Gadjah Mada University Hospital, Yogyakarta, with dengue haemorrhagic fever. The mean serum cholinesterase activity was low, i.e., 0.299 +/- 0.036 deltapH/hour (mean +/- s.e.m.).


Urban hospital and rural village smallpox in Bangladesh. Smallpox mortality at Dacca, Bangladesh Infectious Diseases Hospital during 1972 and 1973 was 46 per cent. To determine if this was the actual rate within the population, data were compared to those collected from village populations in Noakhali District. Age/sex adjusted smallpox mortality for the rural population was 23 per 100 cases as compared to 52 per 100 for the hospital population. Analysis of the difference identified a selection bias of the hospital for severe disease.


Feeding practices, nutritional status and mortality in pre-school children in rural East Java, Indonesia. During the dry season of 1975 and 1976 two nutrition surveys were carried out in nine regencies of the province of East Java, Indonesia. The objective was to assess the geographical prevalence, magnitude and severity of nutritional deficiencies, especially among mothers and children. In this paper childfeeding practices, nutritional status of pre-school children and child mortality are reported. In the rural areas surveyed breastfeeding is commonly practiced for a prolonged period. In the regencies along the south and north coast of East Java 90%, respectively 94% of children aged 19-24 months were still breastfed; in Sidoarjo, a relative 'surplus' area, the corresponding figure was 73% and on the island of Madura 51%. Even in age-group 25-47 months 34% still were nursed in Blitar-Trenggalek regency, 54% in Tuban-Lamongan, 23% in Sidoarjo and 15% in Madura. The variation in the breastfeeding period between the regencies is a matter of further investigation. In these rural areas the roles as competitor of powdered milk is a minor one. It was intriguing that 9% of the pregnant women still nursed their youngest child. Supplementary food was introduced at a very early age, i.e. in the first week. This was, however, insufficient to maintain adequate growth after the age of six months. According to weight-for-age severe malnutrition was diagnosed in respectively 1%, 4% and 10% of age-groups 0-5 months, 6-11 months and 1-3 years. The anthropometric data suggest that lack of calories is more influential than the deficit in protein. Age-specific mortality, according to age at death was about 21% in the perinatal and 16% in the neonatal period; from 1-11 months (inclusive) it was 31%, from 1.5 years 19% and till 12 years 8%.


Physical growth of Negro children in the Durban area. Physical growth measurements from birth to 145 months in 5,743 urban Negro children in the Durban area have shown that the median weight of the youngest members is similar to or heavier than an international reference standard (Harvard), whereas older children are generally lighter. Length measurements up to 24 months are similar to the standard whereas older children are shorter. Head circumference is greater than international values at all ages measured. The prevalence of malnutrition, assessed by values less than the third Harvard centile for age, reached a peak incidence for height in the pre-school children and for weight in the older male school children. Decreases in height and weight in the Negro child probably reflect the damaging effects of an impoverished socio-economic environment on growth. The development of the young Negro child along reference centiles implies that such standards established in the 'developed world' are appropriate for assessment of adequate growth in South African Negro children of all ages.


Machakos Project Studies: agents affecting health of mother and child in a rural area of Kenya. Viii. food resources and eating habits of the Akamba household. In two ecologically dissimilar locations in Machakos District, Kenya, investigations were carried out on the nutritional state of infants, pre-school children and mothers in two different seasons. The methods applied and findings on the specific age groups are reported elsewhere. The results presented are observations made on factors conditioning the pattern of foods and food availability, food consumption, and household economy. In the year of study, harvests were fair. Corresponding, qualitatively good diets were observed in the two areas during both seasons. The relatively well-off households of small farmers in a mixed economy on the West side, consumed daily maize and beans only partly derived from their own fields. Household incomes, farm-and non-farm alike, were spent largely on the purchase of additional staple foods and milk, vegetables, fat and sugar. The poorer households in the Eastern part derived their daily foods (maize, legumes and milk) for the most part from own production; vegetables, fat and sugar were purchased and required a relatively large part of total income. In spite of the satisfactory food intake pattern, the latter people remain in a vulnerable situation; years of crop failure regularly occur and total income does not allow for increasing expenditure. Similarities and differences in respect of the food pattern now and half a century ago are described. Future prospects and constraints are discussed.


[Ultrastructure of the oocyte nucleus and cytoplasm in the mollusk, Littorina saxatilis. I. The structure of the meiotic chromosomes and of the products of their activity in the period of great oocyte growth]. At the beginning of the early diplotene, the chromosomes are getting despiralized and are seen to be made of a mass of fibrous material and chromocentres. During previtellogenesis the chromosomes are made of fibrilles 4--20 nm in diameter. At the beginning of vitellogenesis nucleolus-like bodies are seen to appear on bivalents made of granules (25--30 nm) and fine fibrilles. At the same time, in association with chromosomes a structure of irregular form was observed made of granules 25--30 nm in diameter and a string 20 nm in diameter. This structure is analogous to granular loops of the lampbrush chromosomes of the amphibia. During the large growth of the oocyte perichromatin and interchromatin granules are seen in the nuclei. By the end of the large growth numerous protein spheres, formed by fibrilles 12--13 nm in diameter are seen on the chromosomes. It is concluded that chromosomes of the L. saxatilis oocytes function as the lampbrush chromosomes of the amphibia and other animals having the solitary type oogenesis.


[Pathways of substance penetration into the neurosecretory axons in the posterior lobe of the rat hypophysis]. The penetration of horseradish peroxidase and ferritin into the neurosecretory axones in the rat's posterior pituitary has been studied with the electron microscope. Markers were revealed in neurosecretory granules, in empty vesicles of the same size, in neurotubules, in lamellar bodies and in the axoplasm. Markers were taken up from the extracellular space by micropinocytotic "synaptic" vesicles and probably by larger empty vesicles. It is supposed that the contents of these vesicles penetrate into the granules to take part in their maturation. Besides, the contents of synaptic vesicles probably penetrate into neurotubules and are retrogradally transported to perikaryons of neusecretory cells. Ferritin is taken up from axoplasm by lamellar bodies that possess lysosomal activity.


[Sister chromatid exchanges under bromine incorporation into DNA cytosine nucleotides. II. Utilization of 3H-deoxycytidine as a DNA cytosine precursor]. The incorporation of 3H-deoxycytidine (3H-Cdr) in the presence of thymidine (Tdr) into cultured human blood lymphocytes has been studied. The analysis of the label in interphase nuclei as well as in chromosomes at metaphase was carried out. The labeling was much higher when 3H-Cdr (0.5 to 1.0 C/ml, 2--4 x 10(-5) mM) was added to the cultures simultaneously with Tdr (4 x 10(-1) mM). This observation is considered as an indication that in the presence of high doses of Tdr exogeneous Cdr is utilized to synthesize cytosine of DNA rather than thymidine. During the first hours after its addition, the bulk of 3H-Cdr is eliminated from the culture medium. At 12 hrs of the incubation, the medium seems to be free of the nucleoside as shown particularly from the single chromatid localization of the label in chromosomes of the second mitosis. The incorporation into lymphocytes of 3H-Tdr administered in the same dose under the same conditions was registered for the whole period of observation (24 hrs). The data obtained are discussed in relation to lymphocyte catabolism of exogeneous nucleosides.


[Interrelationships of the neurosecretory cells and capillaries in the preoptic nucleus of the carp]. Three layers are tentatively recognized in the wall of a blood capillary of nucleus praeopticus (NP) of the carp, Cyprinus carpio L: the inner layer--endothelium, the middle layer--basement membrane with pericytes, and the outer broken layer containing mostly leucocytes and fibroblast-like cells. 1). The plasmalemma of the neurosecretory cells (NSC) makes a direct contact with a capillary: (a) with the plasmalemma of a sole-like process of the endothelial cell (0.1%), (b) with the basement membrane of the capillary (4.9%), (c) with the plasmalemma of the outer layer cells (41.3%). 2) The plasmalemma of the NSC is separated from the capillary by a glial process (53.7%). The first kind of the contact is frequent in the ventral part (3.7%), and the second one--in the dorsal part (29.4%) of NP. The different relations of the NSC--the capillary of the ventral and dorsal parts are due to heterochronism of their development in ontogenesis.


[Effect of irradiation on early gametogenesis in Tilapia]. The 10 day old fries of Tilapia mossambica Peters were irradiated with 350 R dose. Dynamics of germ cells in control and after irradiation was studied. In 10 day old fry primordial germ cells and gonial cells were observed; in 15 days--mainly gonial cells were seen; in 20 days part of gonial cells move in the early prophase of meiosis; in 25 days gonial cells and oocytes of early prophase of meiosis are seen; in 30 days oogonial cells, oocytes of early prophase of meiosis and of previtellogenesis are observed. After irradiation of 13--14 day old fries some anomalies of mitosis were observed. But mass destruction of germ cells took place during the pachytene stage in 25 day old fries. The causes of the destruction of germ cells are discussed.


[2-component nature of the displacement currents in a nerve fiber membrane: a kinetic and pharmacological analysis]. Asymmetrical displacement currents in the Ranvier node membrane were recorded in the normal Ringer and under the action of a neurotoxin from the scorpion Buthus eupeus venom and of the alcaloid aconitine. In the total displacement current (DC) at the beginning of the pulse (Ion), two-exponentially decaying components were extracted: a rapid component with the maximum time constant of decay about 70 microns, and a slower one with the time constant of decay--300 microns. At high negative levels of conditioning prepulse (Vc) (-130 divided by -145 mV), the maximum value of the charge transferred by the fast and slow components was estimated to be 2.6 x 10(-14) and 4.8 x 10(-14) C, respectively. The slow component of Ion decreased with lowering Vc and was inhibited by the scorpion neurotoxin and aconitine. The fast phase of Ion remained unchanged with decreasing Vc from -145 to -100 mV and toxin-treated axons. Aconitine evoked a shift in the curve relating the change displaced by the fast component to the membrane potential in the direction of hyperpolarization by 40--50 mV. The results obtained suggest that the fast and the slow components of DC are associated with the initial potential-dependent stages of the processes of channel activation and inactivation, respectively.


[Quantitative description of the process of cellular radiation inactivation. IX. Remarks on the relative biological effectiveness of ionizing radiations in the reproductive death of diploid and polyploid cells]. The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) has been considered for three kinds of cell radiation damages: subdamages (sublethals), one-track, and two-track lethal damages. In contrast to the "dual theory", which postulates the square relation between the lethal damage yield and the specific energy, it is assumed that the one-track lethal yield is linearly related to the specific energy per cell nucleus. As a result, the identical dependence has been obtained of both one-track lethals and subdamages on specific energy and absorbed dose. It is established that RBE for all three kinds of damages does not depend on the radiation dose. It is shown that RBE for subdamages and one-track lethals depends on LET of radiation only, and involves molecular parameters of sensitive cell structures. Within the limits of this assumption, the relations are general for all the types of eukaryotic cells. These can be used for a further development of the RBE theory, with spectra of LET, the track structure of charged particles, the contribution of delta-electrons etc being taken into consideration.


[Synaptogenesis in organotypic tissue cultures of the central nervous system]. The growth cones of differentiating neurone processes and developmental synaptic formation in organotypic rat hippocampus cultures have been studied with the electron microscope. The vesicular structures ("growth" and synaptic vesicle) appearing in growth cones and in terminal axonal boutons, even before specialized synaptic membrane formation, are the earliest indications of synaptogenesis. First immature synapses are formed on day 5--7 on the growth cones. Most of them represent passant axo-dendritic synapses, axo-somatic and axo-spine-dendritic appearing later. Electrophysiological investigations agree with morphological data, showing the stable spontaneous activity to correspond to the time periods when immature synapses are detected in the explants, while the formation of impulse flows of two types (single and packed discharges) exhibits a rapid increase of morphologically mature synapses in the process of cultivation.


[Electron microscopic study of mammalian somatic cell fusion under the action of polyethylene glycol]. An electron microscope study of heterokaryons and synkaryons, obtained after the treatment of suspension of human embryonic fibroblasts and cultured fibroblasts of Chinese hamster (clone M151) with polyethylene glycol (PEC, m. v. 6000) has shown that in 15 minutes after the administration of PEG, the cell agglutination and disappearance of plasma membranes between cells takes place. It is not obvious, however, how PER is passing through the cell envelope, but the similar action of PEF towards the inner cell membranes was observed. In the heterokaryons, the nuclear fusion may occur not only during mitosis but also in interphasic cells. Therefore heterokaryons transform to synkaryons extremely synchroneously. During 20 hours the majority, and during 48 hours all the heterokaryons are seen transformed to synkaryons.


[Rhythms of the number and secretory activity of mouse goblet enterocytes under adequate and inverted feeding regimens]. The autocorrelation function followed by the definition of spectral density showed the appearance of infradian, circadian and ultradian components of biorhythms of the total number and secretory activity (accumulation and release) of the small intestine goblet enterocytes in the basal, medium and apical portions of the villi. Biorhythm changes were also observed after the inverted feeding. After the inverted (ecologically adequate) feeding, the circadium component of the rhythms was revealed for almost all the indices. The ultradian rhythms formed four ranges; within each of them the ultradian components of biorhythms increased in frequency in the basal-apical direction. After the morning (inverted) feeding, the circadian component was found to decrease in its power for the majority of indices, while the ultradian oscillations became of more complex spectral composition.


[Determination of the permeability coefficients of spherical bilayer membranes for ions and nonelectrolytes]. A method for determining permeability of spherical lipid bilayer membranes for ions and nonelectrolytes is proposed. This method is based on measuring the quantity of substances penetrating inside some membrane limited volume. This method allows to measure the permeability coefficient of several substances in one membrane. Permeability coefficients have been measured in non-modified membranes for glucose. Li, K, and in membranes modified with amphotericin B for glucose, ribose and lactate.


[Quantitative description of the process of cellular radiation inactivation. X. Closing remarks. Ways for further development of the concepts]. The series of communications to check the applicability of one of the most likely models of the loss of reproductive integrity of irradiated eukaryotic cells has been completed by this paper. Many radiobiologists accept the cytogenetic model but no one has analyzed mathematically its applicability. We have succeeded in explaining some significant experimental data and therefore our model is something more than a simple working hypothesis. In this paper the model is considered to prove its significance as the first approach to a more detailed study of the phenomenon.


[Polymorphism of a tumor cell population and selective processes. II. Change in the correlation of the numbers of 2 subpopulations of Ehrlich-Ich Ph ascites tumor cells in mice under the action of cell-free ascitic fluid and its fractions]. After repeated injections to mice of cell-free fluid the inhibition of growth of ascitic cell number was noticed already on the 5th day after transplantation of tumor. It was found that the inhibition of growth was due to the death of cells having 45 chromosomes, and containing A + B + 2C- and A + D + 2C-markers.


[Effect of local UV irradiation of the generative nucleus on the vegetative functions of the infusorian, Paramecium putrinum]. The influence of the generative nucleus on the vitality in three clones of Paramecium putrinum was studied. The selective functional inactivation of the micronucleus (MI) was achieved with a local ultraviolet microbeam. After irradiation of micronuclei these soon disappeared and the irradiated cells perished shortly afterwards. In the part of UV treated-subclones the macronucleus (MA) fragmentation was discovered. It is possible that the fragments of MA are some kind of functional replacement of the lost or damaged generative nucleus. That data obviously demonstrate the function of MI of P. putrinum during its vegetative growth.


[Centrioles in mouse bone marrow megakaryocytes]. In immature megakaryocytes, centriolar complexes have been observed with 8, 16, or 32 centrioles. In maturing and trombopoetic megakaryocytes, such a centriolar complex is absent, and individual centrioles lie separately in the cytoplasm. It is suggested that the quantitiy of centrioles in the centriolar complex correlates with the cell ploidy, and that only the cells with potential ability to divide have the centriolar complex.


Molecular weight determination by scanning transmission electron microscopy. A scanning transmission electron microscope is employed to determine the mass of biological macromolecules. Elastically scattered electrons are collected by an annular detector that is capable of counting single electrons. Off-line processing of these dark field micrographs stored on a magnetic tape is accomplished by a mini-computer. It allows the number of electrons scattered by spherical or filamentous proteins to be evaluated. The calibration factor relating the number of scattered electrons to the mass of the protein is derived from scattering theory and is experimentally determined from biological macromolecules of known mass. Mass-loss kinetics of biological specimens due to the electron beam are measured for various protein structures. The application of this method is illustrated by determination of the mass of an oligometric protein (major phage T4 head protein) and the mass per unit length of a filamentous protein aggregate (F-pili). The unique possibilities of this new technique as well as its limitations are discussed.


Applications of electronically controlled illumination in the conventional transmission electron microscope. A device used to produce electronic cone illumination in an analog fashion in the conventional transmission electron microscope has been applied to a number of materials problems which require special diffraction conditions not readily achieved in the microscope's normal operating mode. The device manipulates the primary beam tilt to produce a variety of virtual condenser aperture conditions, and hence electron diffraction patterns can be recorded which reflect the manner in which the direct beam is tilted during the exposure of a micrograph. For single crystalline material, the device provides an improvement over convergent-beam electron diffraction for systematic row reflections and allows direct observation of dynamical beam interactions. It has also been applied to imaging defects in thin crystalline films which would often be obscured under normal microscope conditions. The device allows the imaging of polycrystalline material and the selection of given diffraction orders to determine the orientation of crystallites in a large field of view. It can also modify amorphous patterns to extend the information contained in dark-field images beyond normal tilted-beam dark-field imaging. Control of the incident beam can be accomplished digitally for more varied beam manipulation requirements. A few cases of manipulation of diffraction patterns will be considered.


Instrumentation for direct observation of frozen hydrated specimens in the electron microscope. Instrumentation and techniques are described for the transfer and observation of frozen hydrated specimens in the transmission electron microscope. The transfer is accomplished without the complexity of a vacuum transfer device but also without significant sublimation of specimen ice or frosting. Examples are given of the transfer and observation of thin sections of rapidly frozen muscle and of rapidly frozen thin film preparations of isolated cells.


A rapid preparation technique for studying highly water-swollen membranes with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) supplied with a cryo-unit. In this study the cryo-unit is introduced as a new and useful instrument to investigate water-containing specimens with the SEM. Often water-containing biological specimens are studied, but in our case we used water-swollen polymer membranes. The results show that application of a cryo-unit permits the study of this material at low temperatures up to magnifications of about 10 000 times, while other techniques failed to give reproducible results.


The kangaroo rat as a model for type I decompression sickness. This study involved 720 exposures of 70 kangaroo rats trapped in West Texas and showed that decompression-induced tail biting in this animal provides a good animal model for marginal limb bends in man. That this phenomenon can be reversed by recompression and pathological examination of the tail both indicated that a similar mechanism is probably involved in kangaroo rats and humans. Quantitatively, the most susceptible 20% of kangaroo rats can reproduce the no-stop decompression limits for man for exposure times ranging from 5 min to 8 h, for both air and helium-oxygen. Even the average minimum no-tail-biting depth of 46.2 fsw (2.40 ATA) for this species is much closer to the minimum bends depth of man than to the equivalent depth for other animals of its size, and is as good as the goats'. Its size and habits make the kangaroo rat much more convenient than other animals to use as a model for marginal decompression sickness, and particularly attractive economically for testing long helium-oxygen schedules and other means of decompression sickness prevention.


Pressure reduction limits for rats subjected to various time/pressure exposures. The impact of the combined effects of exposure time and hydrostatic pressure on pressure reduction is explored in this study. In Phase I of the study, excursion dives were made to 10, 20, and 30 ATA for 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 min. In Phase II, the animals were saturated at 1.3, 10, or 20 ATA for 60 min; each saturation exposure was followed by a 10-atm excursion dive of either 1, 5, 10, 20, or 40 min. The chamber gas mixture during all pressure exposures was 0.51 ATA oxygen, 0.79 ATA nitrogen, and the remainder helium. The subjects were 655 rats; during each pressure exposure 5 rats were exercised in a rotating cage. After each exposure, the rats were abruptly decompressed to a lesser pressure for observation and tabulation of the decompression sickness incidence. Results suggest that neither the starting saturation pressure nor the differential excursion pressure alters the time required for an animal to reach equilibrium with the surrounding environment. Pressure-reduction values, however, vary with both the exposure pressure and exposure time. These results will have a direct impact on the formulation of future decompression models.


Testicular blood flow and plasma testosterone concentrations in anesthetized rats previously exposed to air at 6 ATA. Testicular blood flow and peripheral testosterone levels were measured in sodium pentobarbitone anesthetized adult rats within 3 h of exposure to air at 6 ATA for 24 h. The animals appeared clinically healthy and showed no signs of dehydration. The treated rats showed a small but significant reduction in arterial blood pressure, and blood flow to the testis, epididymis, ventral prostate, and kidneys was also reduced. Calculations of regional vascular resistance revealed a vasoconstriction in all organs studied. The plasma testosterone concentrations were also significantly reduced after hyperbaric exposure. It is suggested that this may be due partly to the reduction in testicular perfusion.


Decompression sickness or cold injury?

Decompression sickness or cold injury? This paper reports two cases involving divers who presented with painful hands and were treated for decompression sickness. Although treatment was successful, their symptoms and diving history suggest non-freezing cold injury, the so-called immersion hand, rather than decompression sickness. For long exposures or cases where the diver may have inadequate insulation, thermal protection of hands is recommended even in water as warm as 16 degrees C.


Hyperbaric oxygen and corneal incision healing. Corneal incision healing in the presence of daily or twice daily exposures to hyperbaric oxygen was compared in dogs to the natural course of such healing. Exposures lasted for 90 min and consisted of 60% oxygen administered at 60 fsw, an oxygen exposure of 2 ATA. Twenty corneas received such exposure, and 20 corneas were allowed to heal under natural conditions. Eyes were enucleated between 5 and 56 days after incision. The corneas were studied by gross observation and light microscopy. Uncomplicated and essentially comparable healing of the incisions occurred. There was a suggestion that superficial central clearing of the incision opacity occurred more quickly in the hyperbaric oxygen series.


Thermoregulation in surfers and nonsurfers immersed in cold water. During immersion to the neck in 19 +/- 0.6 degrees C water, surfers maintained higher toe temperatures than nonsurfers. The Lewis hunting response was seen only in the toes of the surfers. The shivering response of the surfers occurred later and was of lesser intensity. Threefold increases in metabolic heat production (140 kcal/m2-h) above rest level were found in both groups. Rectal temperature changes were similar in both groups, with a mean decline of 1.2 degrees C over the 1-h exposure period. Individual changes in rectal temperature were negatively correlated to percent of body fat. An initial hyperventilation upon immersion was followed first by a decline and then by a rise to three times that of rest. A transient rise in heart rate (35 beats/min) occurred in the initial stage of immersion in both groups and subsequently fell to basal levels, rising slightly thereafter. Sinus arrhythmias were observed during the first few minutes of immersion. In nonsurfers, plasma cortisol approximated the decrease anticipated because of the circadian cycle but was elevated in the surfers. Plasma volume decreased 12.2% (surfers) and 17.6% (nonsurfers). Diuresis was observed in both groups, and was 3.2 and 5.0 ml/min for surfers and nonsurfers, respectively.


Roles of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in compressed-air narcosis. In an attempt to determine the roles of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in compressed-air narcosis, the effects on performance (mental function and manual dexterity) of adding CO2 in various concentrations to the inspired gas under three different conditions were studied in eight healthy male volunteers. The three conditions were: (1) air breathing at 1.3 ATA; (2) oxygen breathing at 1.7 ATA; and (3) air breathing at 8.0 ATA (same inspired O2 pressure as in (2)). By relating performance to the changes induced in end-tidal (alveolar) gas pressures, and comparing the data from the three conditions, we arrived at the following results and conclusions. A rise in O2 pressure to 1.65 ATA, or in N2 pressure to 6.3 ATA at a constant high PO2 level, caused a significant decrement of 10% in mental function but no consistent effect on psychomotor function. A rise in end-tidal PCO2 of 10 mmHg caused an impairment of approximately 10% in both mental and psychomotor functions. The results suggest that, at raised partial pressures, all three gases have narcotic properties, and that the mechanism of CO2 narcosis differs fundamentally from that of N2 and O2 narcosis.


Endocrine evaluation of the infertile male. Hormonal evaluation of the infertile man can help to identify a treatable abnormality or to suggest, with a minimum of patient discomfort, that the infertility is not treatable. The need for testosterone replacement can also be determined. Impaired spermatogenesis associated with an elevated serum FSH concentration suggests primary damage to the seminiferous tubules, and a low serum testosterone concentration associated with an elevated serum LH concentration suggests primary damage to the Leydig cells. A low serum testosterone concentration associated with a serum LH concentration that is not high, on the other hand, indicates secondary hypogonadism, the result of pituitary or hypothalamic disease.


The small-carrion penile prosthesis.

The small-carrion penile prosthesis. A normal state of erection can be achieved by bilateral, intracorporal implantation of the Small-Carrion penile prosthesis. This prosthesis gives adequate length and, more importantly for normal intercourse, normal width to the penis. Although the prosthesis is firm, it is flexible enough to keep the phallus inconspicuous under various types of undershorts, either in the normal position or against the abdominal wall. The fact that the patient will have a permanent erection has not been a deterrent. Furthermore, there have been no complaints about this postoperatively. Raz and Kaufman, Goodwin, Melman, Nellens et al., and others have reported excellent results with the use of the Small-Carrion prosthesis.


Vasectomy and its microsurgical reversal. In our series the overall pregnancy rate after vasovasostomy in an unselected group of early patients was 71%. Recovery of fertility correlated with the return of normal sperm counts and with the quality of vas fluid on the testicular side of obstruction at the time of vasovasostomy. The three most important factors in our group influencing return of fertility after vasovasostomy were a meticulous microscopic technique for reconnection, the duration of time the vas deferens has been obstructed, and the presence or absence of a sperm granuloma at the site of vasectomy. The presence of a sperm granuloma at the site of vasectomy virtually ensured the presence of good quality sperm in the vas fluid at the time of vasovasostomy. If all three of these factors are favorable, vasectomy may be reversible for more patients.


The Warble Fly Orders.

The Warble Fly Orders. The provisions and the operational aspects of the new Warble Fly Orders are described. The new Orders will apply between March 15 and July 31 and during this period owners of cattle showing visible or palpable signs of warbles must treat them with a systemic warble fly dressing. During this period no infested cattle may be moved, even to a slaughterhouse, unless they have been treated and are accompanied by a statutory declaration of treatment.


A skeletal growth defect in the puma (Felis concolor). Clinical and radiological signs shown by a young deformed puma cub, and the pathological findings following its euthanasia at eight months, are presented. These findings do not resemble those in the recognised nutritional bone diseases of the growing carnivore, but closely resemble an hereditary disease of the dog and, at least in one respect, an hereditary disease in man. This case may be an example of hereditary chondrodysplastic dwarfism in the puma. An unusual finding was the presence of iron in the cartilage of abnormal growth plates.


[Serum antiprotease activity following parenteral administration of proteolytic enzymes, histamine and acetylcholine]. State of tryptic and antienzymatic activities of rabbit blood serum was studied after parenteral administration of trypsin, chymotrypsin, histamine, acetylcholine and kallikrein. Treatment with chymotrypsine led to the most favorable alterations in animals as compared with trypsin and kallikrein effects. Activity of trypsin was increased and the antienzymatic activity was decreased in blood serum after administration of histamine and acetylcholine. This suggests that antiprotease drugs may be used in therapy of diseases, accompanied by increase in content of histamine and acetylcholine.


[Effect of hyperoxia combined with hydrocortisone administration on respiration of rat brain mitochondria]. After exposure of rats in oxygen atmosphere under pressure of 3 kgs/cm2 within 2 hrs phosphorylating respiration, respiratory control and the ratio ADP/O were decreased, while time of phosphorylation was increased in mitochondria of brain cortex. Content of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids was increased in blood plasma. Reaction of adrenal cortex to hyperbaric oxygenation was inhibited, if hydrocortisone was administered into animals within 1 hr before the treatment; in this case the patterns of mitochondrial function studied were similar to normal values.


[Changes in the kallikrein-kinin system of the blood during development of experimental myocardial infarct]. Bradikininogen, kallikreinogen, kallikrein, kininase I as well as blood BAEE-esterase and antitryptic activities were studied in development of extensive myocardial infarction in dogs. Some components of kinine system were activated already within 1 hr after ligation of coronary artery, maximal their activation was observed within 3 hrs. In this period content of bradikinin was distinctly decreased--up to 42% of the initial level, kallikrein was activated 8-8-fold, content of kallikreinogen was twice decreased and BAEE esterase activity of blood was increased moderately. Simultaneously, inhibition of kininase I by 30-40% and of antitryptic activity was observed. Gradual normalization of the patterns studied occurred further: kininase I--with 5 days, kallikreinogen, kallikrein and bradikinin--within 10 days of infarction development. Antitryptic activity of blood not only reached normal values but exceeded them within 2 days after the artery ligation. The data obtained suggest the hyperproduction of kinins; the possibility is discussed on the potentiation and prolongation of effect of these physiologically active polypeptides.


[Intracellular distribution of phosphoorganic cholinesterase inhibitors in rat brain]. Content of organophosphorous inhibitors (with the structure RO/CH3/P/O/SC2H4SC2H5) of cholinesterase as well as their hydrophobic properties (distribution coefficient in hexan/water system) were studied in subcellular fractions of rat brain. Relative content of organophosphorous inhibitors was distinctly decreased in supermicrosomal fraction with increase of hydrophobic properties of the fraction. Nuclear and mitochondrial fractions contained the more hydrophobic substances in relatively higher amount. When homogenate of supermicrosomal fraction was incubated at 37 degrees, own brain cholinesterase was not depressed by organophosphorous inhibitors, containing in the fraction at low concentration. The phenomenon exhibits that content of free organophosphorous inhibitors is distinctly lower in the subcellular fractions studied than amount of the inhibitors, extracted with chloroform.


[Role of the blood kinin system in the pathogenesis of the hemorrhagic syndrome in hemorrhagic vasculitis]. Total esterase activity of blood plasma from healthy persons was equal to 27.4 +/- 4.96 micrometer/ml/hr, activity of kallikrein--74.4 +/- 8.65 micrometer of hydrolysed substrate/hr/ml of blood plasma, inhibitory capacity of blood plasma towards kallikrein was 0.9 +/- 0.1 app. un. Total esterase activity of blood plasma, reflecting the activity of trypsin-like enzymes and kallikrein, was distinctly increased in patients with hemorrhagic vasculitis as compared with control group; content of prekallikrein and the inhibitory capacity of blood plasma towards kallikrein were decreased. In patients with severe forms of hemorrhagic vasculitis the most pronounced activation of blood kinine system was observed due to decrease in content of kallikrein and in the inhibitory capacity of blood plasma towards kallikrein.


[Isolation and purification of angiotensinogen from swine and sheep plasma]. Angiotensinogen (a substrate of renin) was isolated from pig and sheep blood plasma. Content of angiotensinogen was estimated in the preparations obtained by an indirect biological method, which was based on estimation of an increase in blood pressure in rats, caused by angiotensin, liberated from angiotensinogen during incubation with renin. The preparation, obtained by ammonium sulphate fractionation of pig blood plasma, contained 0.4% of angiotensinogen. Angiotensinogen was also isolated from sheep blood plasma using ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE-Sephadex chromatography and gel filtration through Sephadex G-100; this preparation contained 10-13% of angiotensinogen.


[Importance of cooling after death for restoration of metabolism during resuscitation]. Incorporation of labelled metabolites into proteins, RNA and DNA was completely inhibited in rabbit tissues under conditions of prolonged hypothermia (10 degrees). The incorporation of labelled metabolites into all the biopolymers studied was restored after subsequent warming up to 38 degrees. Within 60-90 min after death of the animals due to acute anoxia, the labelled metabolites did not incorporate into protein, RNA and DNA. Artificial postmortal hypothermia (20 degrees) increased (by about 2.5-3-fold) the period of viability, during which reanimation is possible. The hypothermia enables subsequent restoration of the anabolic processes from the zero level.


[Collagen metabolism in systemic scleroderma]. Rates of biosynthesis, maturation and degradation of collagen were studied in skin of patients with systemic sclerodermia. The rate of collagen biosynthesis was increased about 3-fold in most patients and in several persons--increased 4--6 fold. Collagen maturation was approximately twice increased in systemic sclerodermia. Content of collagen was decreased in skin of the patients and the rate of collagen degradation exceeded distinctly that of controls. The rate of collagen biosynthesis did not depend on the type of skin impairment. With development of sclerodermic disease maturation of collagen was increased and the rate of its degradation was, by contrast, decreased. The rate of collagen biosynthesis was the highest in chronic and progressive forms of sclerodermia. In subacute sclerodermia the rate of collagen biosynthesis was decreased as compared with chronic and progressive forms of the disease but it was higher than in normal state. Processes of biosynthesis and maturation of collagen were coupled, related to each other in subacute sclerodermia and in indurative skin. These processes were uncoupled in visually unimpaired skin under progressive and chronic sclerodermia.


[Collagen metabolism in Dupuytren's contracture]. Impairments in collagen metabolism were observed in patients with Dupuytren's contracture. These impairments were manifested as an increased excretion of hydroxyproline with urine and a decrease in content of the amino acid in tissues of aponeurosis palmaris of the patients. The alterations correlated with the damage caused by contracture. Increased catabolism of collagen appears to be the main reason of the metabolic impairments observed in Dupuytren's contracture, considering the opposite direction of changes in hydroxyproline content in urine and in aponeurosis palmaris of the patients. Impairments in collagen metabolism were of considerable importance in Dupuytren's contracture as demonstrated by the correlation between biochemical alterations and severity of the pathology. The Dupuytren's contracture might be considered as a disease affecting the connective tissue.


[Metabolism of L-albizziin in rat liver slices]. During incubation of rat liver slices with L-albizziin (L-alpha-amino-beta-ureidopropionic acid) formation of the UV-absorbing compound was observed. This compound was isolated from the incubating medium; it possessed two peaks of maximal absorption--at 206-207 nm and 264-265 nm, but a single minimal value at 242-243 nm. The presence of ribose as a constituent of the UV-absorbing compound was demonstrated. Two possible mechanisms explaining formation of the UV-absorbing compound were proposed: 1) metabolic conversion of L-albizziin, and 2) inhibition of purine biosynthesis de novo. The latter mechanism appears to be more probable.


[Relationship between age and the character of changes in several liver lipid metabolism indices in the early stages of experimental atherosclerosis]. Content of cholesterol, tryglycerides and phospholipids in blood and liver tissue as well as the rate of their biosynthesis in liver tissue were studied in young (8-12 months old) and old (42-48 months old) rabbits in normal state and in dynamics of experimental atherosclerosis within 10-15 and 25-30 days. The rate of biosynthesis of these lipids was decreased in liver tissue with ageing. In maintaining of animals at atherogenic diet the most distinct impairments of lipid metabolism were observed in 42-48 months old rabbits, especially in those of the 25-30 days group. Considerable accumulation of cholesterol in liver tissue of old rabbits was accompanied by inhibition of its biosynthesis and by more distinct hypercholesterolemia in blood.


[Acrylonitrile stimulation of lipid peroxidation in rat liver]. Acrylonitrile stimulated slightly the lipid peroxidation in isolated microsomes and exhibited distinct prooxidative effect in postmitochondrial supernatant, containing microsomes and cell juice. Acrylonitrile did not form a complex with cytochrome P-450, possessing distinct spectral properties of the I or II types, and did not stimulate the oxygen utilization by microsomes in presence of NADPH. The hepatotoxic effect of acrylonitrile appears to be due to its property to stimulate the formation of lipid peroxides in hepatocytes.


[Acetylation of the 7-aminoderivative of nitrazepam by subcellular fractions of several organs and the blood of white rats]. Enzymes from mitochondria and soluble fraction of lungs, kidney and liver tissues as well as from blood cells were shown to acetylate 7-aminoderivative of nitrazepame (7-amino-5-phenyl-1-1,2-dihydro-3-N-1,4-benzdiazepine-2-on). The investigation was carried out using thin-layer and column chromatography, UV-spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Acetylation of the substrate was inhibited in mitochondria but in soluble fraction the reaction was activated by equimolar concentrations of coenzyme A. The acetylating activity towards substrate was 1,000-fold higher in leukocytes than in erythrocytes.


[Aspiration cytodiagnosis of breast tumors]. Aspiration biopsy cytology was employed by the authors in 250 cases for pathological changes in the mammary gland, in 183 cases the cytological investigation was followed by the histological one. The method proved to be of diagnostic value in 86% (sensitivity). Together with other methods of clinical diagnostics (palpation, mammography, xeromammography, thermography) the method concerned may widen the diagnostic opportunities and allows getting the information on the morphological nature of the tumor. Due to this, the practical application of this prompt, economic and devoid of any complications method seems to be rational. It is suggested to employ it routinely in the clinical practice.


[Clinical and immunological parallels in soft tissue tumors]. The authors report the results of studying the cell immunity by skin delayed hypersensitivity response to DNCB and tuberculin as well as the reactions of spontaneous rosette-formation, blasttransformation to PHA, inhibition of leucocyte migration in 88 patients with soft tissue sarcomas, in 12 patients with desmoids, the control group comprised 19 patients with benign soft tissue tumors. The study has indicated a reliably impaired cell immunity in patients with sarcomas.


[X-ray studies in the early diagnosis of stomach cancer]. The work was undertaken to find out by means of serial roentgenological investigations of the stomach in specially high cancer risk age groups whether it is possible, using the mentioned method, to improve the results of early diagnosis of gastric cancer. Also, the following problems were discussed: reliability of the method in question for recognition of the early forms of gastric cancer, the rate of precision of the used technic, the possibility to employ the method as wide-scale search test.


[Classification of the cellular changes in the gastric mucosa]. Based on a comparative estimation of the cytological patterns with histological findings of the mucous membrane in patients having different gastric diseases as well as on the quantitation of the DNA in epithelial cell nuclei and karyometric findings, the author suggests a classification of gastric mucosa cells. Six classes are differentiated depending on the degree of cellular changes.


[Surgical diagnosis of malignant pancreatic cysts]. An analysis of the clinical course, diagnosis and surgical treatment of 8 cases (out of 102) of malignant degeneration of pancreatic gland cysts is reported. Males--6, females--2, their age ranging from 23 to 52 years. Radical intervention was performed in 6 patients, in one case an internal drainage with the jejunum was made due to an erroneous histological and cytological conclusion, and in one case an external drainage of the cyst was performed. In 6 patients the diagnosis was established during the operative procedure. Due to diagnostic difficulties arising in malignant regeneration of pancreatic cysts the primary importance is attached to the intraoperative methods of investigation: urgent biopsy from different sites of the cyst, cytological assay and pancreatocystography.


[Malignant tumors in a region of endemic nephropathy]. In villages with endemic nephropathy (EN) high incidence and mortality rates of some urinary system tumors are reported. Age-adjusted incidences of renal pelvic and ureteral neoplasms were 46/10(5) in females and 27/10(5) in males; for urinary bladder tumors these figures were 16/10(5) and 35/10(5). The frequency of parenchymal kidney tumors was similar to that reported for the country as a whole. An increased relative risk of developing urinary system tumors was observed in patients with EN and with advancing age (only in women). Smoking did not relate to the occurrence of these neoplasms. No tumors of the urinary system were found in the investigated farm and domestic animals from the endemic region.


[Clinical morphological characteristics of epithelial bladder tumors]. Under study were the clinico-morphological features of epithelial tumors of the urinary bladder in 1452 patients subjected to surgery. There were differentiated three main clinico-anatomical forms of the tumor and its variants: exophitic (87.4%), endophitic (5.5%) and mixed--exophitic-endophitic ones (7.1%). The frequency and terms of recurrence were dependent on the clinico-anatomical form and stage of the tumor and its morphology. The frequency of recurrence of high-differentiated forms of the tumor made 26.9 +/- 3.0%, in low-differentiated and metaplastic forms--45--46%, in anaplastic cancer--62.8% +/- 15.4%.


[Indications for the repeat operations in thyroid gland cancer]. In the clinic of head and neck tumors of the P. A. Herzen Research Institute of Oncology during the period from 1962 to 1977 1417 patients were operated upon for thyroid tumors. Reoperations were performed in 198 patients (13.9%). The causes, which condition the necessity to perform reoperations, are discussed. The former are mainly due to violating of oncological principles of examination and surgical treatment of thyroid cancer patients in general surgery departments. The authors give a detailed analysis of indications to reoperations, which are based on an inadequate primary operation, the presence of a residual tumor in the thyroid and regional lymph nodes, as well as on thyroid scanning findings. The method of choice in repeat surgery should be extrafascial subtotal or total thyroidectomy with the revision of regional metastases zones and performing lymphadenectomy, if indicated.


[Effect of florenal on reproduction of influenza virus]. The antiviral, viricidal, and interferon-inducing activities of florenal (bisulphite derivative of 2-flourenylglyoxal) and its influence on RNA and protein synthesis were studied. The drug inhibited replication of A/WSN and A/Englang/42/72 influenza viruses in chick embryos infected with low doses of the viruses (10--1000 EID50), induced interferon production in cell culture and in chick embryos (16 and 32 units/ml, respectively) and showed viricidal activity in vitro. Florenal in concentrations 50 microgram/ml or higher reduced the level of RNA and protein synthesis both in non-infected and infected cells within the first 4--5 hours after its administration. It was not effective against influenza infection of white mice caused by A/England/42/72 virus.


[Isolation and study of several properties of mycoplasma from Japanese quail embryos]. An agent isolated from Japanese quail embryos was found to be pathogenic for chick embryo and quail embryo fibroblast cultures, to cause hemadsorption and hemagglutination of guinea pig erythrocytes. Reproduction of the agent was inhibited by tetracycline and 5-bromodeoxyuridine. The agent incorporated both 3H-thymidine and 3H-uridine and had a buoyant density in sucrose gradient of 1.22 g/ml. Mature mycoplasma forms were determined electron microscopically in gradient fractions in cell sections.


[Isolation of hepatitis B (HBSAg) from donor blood plasma]. An original method for purification of HBsAg from the blood plasma of donors is described. Preparations have been obtained containing structures 22 nm in size the proteins of which form 9 bands in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and containing no detectable amounts of admixtures accompanying HBsAg. The purified HBsAg meets the requirements for test-antigens for radioimmuniassay and immune autoradiography. The reported method may be used for preparation of HBsAg under production conditions.


[Study of the demand for hospital rheumocardiological service among the elderly population of Gabrovo District]. The author presents the results from the one-year follow-up on the realized hospitalization and the additionally necessary ones, according to the expert assessment in case of diseases of circulation and blood organs and movement, being within the scope of the rheumocardiological attendance. He established that on the occasion of those diseases, a total of 4,19 cases of hospitalizations were realized in the various health institutions with 144.9 bed-days per 1000 population at the rheumocardiological departments and that Cabrovo district needs 75 rheumocardiological beds for the citizens over 14 years of age. Two variants are propsed for the distribution of the necessary beds according to levels of medical attendance. Preference is given to the second variant, according to which the distribution of the necessary 0.42 rheumocardiological beds per 1000 population could be at two levels (district level--0.4 0/00 and national level--0,012 0/00). The indices established for the needs could serve as a base for the elaboration of standards for the hospital rheumocardiological attendance.


[Increase in the effectiveness of anti-influenza immunization by use of a combination of inactivated and live vaccine]. The authors applied a new principle of effective immunization against influenza using a moderately attenuated live vaccine which after 5 passages in developing chick embryos had retained a high reproduction activity in the human upper respiratory tract, while the vaccines were not contagious for their susceptible contacts. The safety of intranasal adminstration of the new vaccine is achieved by giving it to primed subjects previously given oral immunization with the same vaccine or intranasal administration of the standard hyperattenuated vaccine. Since the current inactivated influenza vaccine is the standard hyperattenuated vaccine. Since the current inactivated influenza vaccine is not sufficiently effective epidemiologically, the authors use additionally a single intranasal administration of a highly immunogenic live vaccine. The combined immunization with killed and live influenza vaccines proved to cause no reactions and to be highly immunogenic. Intensive humoral immunity was observed to develop in 86% of vaccines, this genic. Intensive humoral immunity was observed to develop in 86% of vaccines, this figure exceeding considerably the results of administration of the inactivated vaccine alone.


[Comparison of precordial electrocartography with pathologicoanatomic data on 20 patients with recent myocardial infarct]. In 20 patients with recent myocardial infarction, that died till the 40th day after the onset of the disease, a comparison is made of the data from the pathologoanatomical findings with the indices from the precordial electromapping. The changes in the ST segment of the precordial electromapping correlate, to a significant extent, to the weight of the infarction zone in patients with interior site of the myocardial infarction (sigmaST r = 0.89, p less than or equal to 0.01; nST r = 0.62, p less than or equal to 0.01). The indices from the precordial electromapping characterizing the changes in depolarization, are with a considerable less degree of correlation dependence to the weight of the enfarcted zone in the same patients (nQS r = 0.62, p less than or equal to 0.62, p less than or equal to 0.05; sigmaAR r/0.45, p less than or equal to 0.05). In patients with posterior and/or inferior site of the infarction the correlation dependence to the indices from the precordial electromapping is less manifested.


[Preparatory extraction and study of the structural proteins of rabies virus]. A technology for preparation of purified concentrates of rabies virus has been developed permitting to use simultaneously dozens of liters of tissue culture virus-containing fluid for the preparation of a concentrate. When concentrated 10(4)-fold or more, the degree of virus purification relative soluble proteins was at least 8 X 10(6). The virus yield in purified preparations was approximately 500 microgram of protein per 10 1 of the original culture fluid. Purification and preparation of a surface antigen of rabies virus, protein G, was also carried out. The yield of this protein in the resulting preparations was about 170 microgram per 10 1 of the culture fluid, the degree of purity being about 90%. A re-evaluation of the set, characteristics, and localization of rabies virus structural proteins was done. According to the experimental results, virus nucleocapsids contain 3 classes of proteins: L (a minor components with molecular weight of approximately 200,000), N (the dominating component, approximately 54,000) and NS (an intermediate component, approximately 47,000). The inner layer of virus lipoprotein membrane consists of protein M molecules (approximately 21,000) and apparently of protein A molecules (approximately 43,000) which are likely to be of cellular actin. The external spikes (peplomers) of virus particles contain molecules of glycoprotein G (approximately 65,000). Thus, the experimental results permit a conclusion that previously assumed significant differences in the protein composition of rabies viruses on the one hand and the other rhabdoviruses on the other are non-existent.


[Risk factors in ischemic heart disease patients]. Four hundred sixty patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) were examined: 226 of them--with myocardial infarction; 38--stenocardia, 196--myocardiosclerosis. With age advancing all forms of IHD increase. The incidence of the followed up risk factors progessively increases. Hypertension has the greatest share--56.30 per cent out of all the subjects examined. Second place as regards incidence is occupied by the emotional stress--46.52 per cent. Further they are as follows: heredity--38.91 per cent; tobacco smoking--34.57 per cent, sedentary life--32,83 per cent, obesity--31.52 per cent, overfeeding--30 per cent, hypercholesterinemia--30 per cent, diabetes--17.61 per cent. The significance of the indicated risk factors alarmingly grows, consideration given to their combined effect. An average of 3.18 risk factors fall on patient. In patients with myocardial infarction they are more frequent and appear at an earlier age. Such an accumulation of the noxae upon the contemporary man requires the complex effors of the whole society.


[Echocardiographic dimensions of the right cavities of the heart in systolic overload of the right ventricle]. The echocardiographic dimensions of the right ventricle and right auricle and the systolic pressure in the right ventricle were compared in 102 patients with different heart diseases. The data obtained are compared with the same echocardiographic parameters in 79 healthy subjects and 43 patients with volume loading of the right ventricle, a result of intraauricular defect, confirmed by cahteterization. The dchocardiographic dimensions of both right ventricle and auricle were proved not to be enlarged with the systolic loading of the right ventricle, when the right-ventricle function is compensated. Echocardiographic dimensions of the right heart cavities are enlarged with systolic loading of the right ventricle when the continuous diastolic pressure in the right ventricle raises and with the presence of clinical data for a right-ventricular cardiac insufficiency. The echocardiographic dimensions of the right ventricle and right auricle are considerably enlarged with the volume loading of the right ventricle, regardless the absence of right-ventricular cardiac insufficiency. The echocardiography provides a possibility of determining the type of right-ventricle loading by a non-invasive method and of determining the presence of right-ventricular insufficuency.


[Dermatoglyphic studies in primary and secondary hypogonadism]. A dermatoglyphic study was carried out on a group of patients with primary and secondary hypogonadism, the results being compared with a control group of healthy males and females. The analysis of the data reveals that the morphogenesis of the hand skin relie on those patients results from the interaction of the determinative effect of the sexual chromosome, the differentiating effect of the hormonal state and from the eventually suffered intralaterine infection. In this way certain aspects of the etiopathogenesis of the disease are revealed and the genetic value of the dermatoglyphic method is underlined.


[HL-A antigens and diabetes mellitus].

[HL-A antigens and diabetes mellitus]. Association of juvenile diabetes with antigen B8 and B15 was established with the comparison of the phenotype incidence of 28 HLA antigens from locus A and B among 1085 healthy control subjects and 200 patients with diabetes mellitus (74 with juvenile insulin-dependent type and 126 with insulin-independent diabetes in adults). Only the incidence of antigens B15 and Bw 21 was established to be increased in the cases of insulin-dependent type of diabetes in adults. That raises a new interest in the further study of the problem.


[Characteristics of diabetic osteoarthropathy]. On the base of three observations, derived from a series of systematically followed up diabetics, the authors describe certain rare findings and peculiarities of the diabetic osteoarthropathy, being of diagnostic interest. The parallel X-ray, scintigraphic, functional and thermography investigations are of special significance, wherefrom an enhanced fixation of radionucleids and local hyperthermia in zones, coinciding with the roentgenologically established bone lesions, were found. The importance of the complex dynamic follow up of the osteo-articular changes in the late degenerative syndrome of diabetes is stressed upon.


[Differential diagnostic value of the aVR lead]. The one-pole peripheral AVR lead reflects the changes in the electromotive power of the heart in a frontal plane in a reverse (mirror) image. In 620 subjects with healthy hearts, with the aid of an extended ECG method; the variants of the auricle-ventricle complex in AVR lead in norm and the separate heart positions, were studied. The pathologically changed P-wave was established to be presented by its typical forms (P-mitrale, P-pulmonale), but in a mirror image in AVR lead. The positive auricle wave in AVR is an important sign for the presence of right-auricular ectopic rhythm. In 80 patients with left-ventricular loading, pathologically enlarged S deflection was found. In 232 patients with fight-ventricular loading (mitral stenosis, chronic pulmonary heart), the increase of the amplitude of the deflection R AVR and the change in the ratio R/Q aVR over 1, is a valuable information about the degree of the right-ventricular loading. Those changes closely correlate with the changes in the ventricular complex with the right thoracic leads and with the spirographic and X-ray examinations. the role of AVR lend in the differential diagnostic determination of the additional deflection r'R'aVR1 V1 in certain forms of disturbed intraventricular conductivity is emphasized. AVR lead reacts dynamically with the separate sites of myocardial necrosis, with the appearance of unusual forms of the ventricular complex in AVR (increased first R deflection AVR in posterior-inferior myocardial infarction, occurence of rSr' forms in AvR in posterior-basal infarction and wide split ventricular complexes in anterior (anteriorseptal)infarction, complicated with a bundle blockade. Myocardial ischemia (subpericardial and subendocardial) is represented in A V R in an image reverse to the left thoracic leads. A general conclusion is drawn that the separate interpretation of the changes in AVR lead is not reasonable. Its differential diagnostic value grows only with its synchronic analysis with the rest peripheral and especially precordial leads.


[Precordial electrocartography (mapping) in cardiac infarct]. After a detailed literature survey the authors share the results from the precordial electromapping with the registration of 30 points upon the chest in 34 patients with ischemic heart disease (30 with transmural infarction and 4 with intermediary syndrome). The following indices were followed up: sigmaST (the sum of the elevation of ST segment measured at 60 msec of the S deflection recording) and the index nST (the sum of the points with an elevation greater than 0.1 mV/1 mm). Both indices well correlate to the level of blood creatine phosphokinase, determined 24 hours after the examination. Due to the close degree of correlation dependence, the two indices are interchangable for the practice. The precordial electromapping reflects the degree of extent of the "myocardial hypoxia" as well as the degree of the disturbed biological activity of the tissues, affected by the myocardial infarction.


[Clinical and laboratory aspects of multiple plasmacytoma]. Clinical-laboratory observations were carried out on 40 patients with multiple plasmocytoma. Morbidity maximum was established to be during the fifth and sixth decade of life and that males are more frequently affected and bone manifestations are dominating initial symptoms. The anemic syndrome, the renal syndrome, erythrocyte sedimentation reaction and the data of the differential leukocyte count are discussed in details. Special attention is paid to the pathognomonic examinations in making the diagnosis: myelogram, electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis and bone roentgenography. The absence of changes in one of those examinations is concluded not to exclude the diagnosis multiple plasmocytoma as it is found in 10--20 per cent of the cases.


Physical child abuse: a review of all cases seen at Sacramento Medical Center in 1975. This report presents physical, socioeconomic, demographic and follow-up information on all 18 cases of physical child abuse seen at the Sacramento Medical Center in 1975. Of the 18 abused children, 16 were initially discharged to Children's Protective Service; 13 were placed in foster homes. There were 17 alleged abusers; all were arrested; 12 came to trial; 8 were convicted. Preventive programs offer a less expensive approach and deserve the highest priority.


Herpes zoster.

Herpes zoster. Herpes zoster is a disorder frequently encountered in adults. The natural history is often poorly appreciated and management is frustrating. Recent studies have critically evaluated newer therapeutic modalities. The epidemiology, clinical manifestations, complications and therapeutic alternatives of herpes zoster deserve review.


Chest radiography in intensive care units. The role chest radiography plays in intensive care units (ICU) is unlike its role elsewhere because in the ICU a patient's underlying disease is usually known. Furthermore, additional diseases that develop in the ICU-such as pneumonia, hemorrhage, edema, lung collapse and effusion-often are radiographically indistinguishable. Nevertheless, an ICU radiograph of the chest is valuable, mainly in identifying such complications as malpositioned intravenous catheters, Swan-Ganz catheters, pacemakers, nasogastric tubes, endotracheal tubes, chest tubes, and mediastinal tubes, and ectopic gas related to mechanical ventilation. Understanding the limitations of the portable ICU chest film in the diagnosis of specific diseases and being alert to possible iatrogenic complications will increase the usefulness of ICU chest radiography.


Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: impact on hospital mortality--a ten-year study. The effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a vital aspect of health care delivery in hospital was the basis for a ten-year study. All instances of cardiac arrest occurring outside the operating room and nursery were included. Variations in degrees of success of cardiopulmonary resuscitation as related to the duration of the program, differences among varying subsets such as patients' type of illness and hospital location (emergency room, coronary care unit, intensive care unit or nursing floor) at the time of cardiopulmonary arrest, are presented. The relationship between cardiopulmonary resuscitation frequency and success with increasing instrumentation is reviewed. A simple technique for expressing effect of cardiopulmonary resuscitation on hospital mortality is presented. The study shows the ability of a community hospital to establish, maintain and document a high level cardiopulmonary resuscitation program.


Tempest from Tehachapi takes toll or Coccidioides conveyed aloft and afar. New cases of acute primary coccidioidomycosis in large numbers resulted from a windstorm that blew through Kern County, California, on December 20, 1977. In most of these cases clinically apparent infections developed in early and mid-January 1978 and occurred not only in persons exposed directly to the dust raised by the windstorm but also among those in many areas to the north and west of Kern County. The exposure to the dustborne Coccidioides immitis was brief because of the arrival of drenching rains, but the continued heavy rainfall increased the potential for large numbers of cases of coccidioidomycosis to occur in the summer-fall season.


Studies on compensatory adaptation of renal functions. Changes in the excretion of water and electrolyte in one kidney after exclusion of its partner have been studied in anesthetized dogs and rabbits. Complete clamping of the contralateral kidney pedicle or ureter results in a rapid increase in the excretion of water, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate and bicarbonate. This response is also observed in denervated kidneys. Pretreatment with the loop inhibitor, furosemide, does not preclude adaptation which, however, is blunted by acetazolamide, an inhibitor of proximal sodium and bicarbonate reabsorption. Free-water reabsorption during hypertonic saline diuresis is normal in the remaining kidney. Compensatory adaptation, thus, appears to be located in the proximal tubule. The regulatory response to contralateral kidney exclusion is already fully developed in one-month-old rabbits. Compensatory adaptation of electrolyte excretion is not accounted for by changes in extracellular fluid volume, plasma composition, glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, aldosterone or vasopressin.


Acute functional adaptation to nephron loss: micropuncture studies. The renal and proximal tubule response to contralateral kidney exclusion was studied in a variety of circumstances. Recollection micropuncture studies were performed to assess the response to contralateral kidney clamping in the normal or a remnant kidney of the dog. Acute clamping of the contralateral kidney for a normal and unilateral remnant kidney resulted in marked reduction in proximal TF/P inulin ratios in the experimental kidney reflecting a 15 percent reduction in fluid reabsorption. Mean fractional excretion of sodium, potassium and water increased significantly in remnant kidney dogs but no significant change was observed in normal dogs except for potassium excretion. The marked reduction in proximal reabsorption occurred as soon as 5-15 minutes after contralateral kidney clamping and was compensated by distal reabsorption. Acute obstruction of the contralateral ureter results in a similar markedly reduced proximal tubular reabsorption. The reduction in proximal reabsorption induced by contralateral clamping occurred in the presence of reduced perfusion pressure and volume expansion and to some extent with renal denervation. When prostaglandin E(2) or acetycholine were infused prior to contralateral kidney clamping, proximal reabsorption remained at control levels and the contralateral clamping response was blocked. Similar blockade occurred after treatment with indomethacin. Acute reduction in nephron mass causes a marked depression of proximal tubular sodium and fluid absorption not obviously accounted for by hemodynamicphysical factors and humoral factors may be involved. The level of distal reabsorption to increased proximal delivery following contralateral clamping, determines the net urinary excretion.


Studies on possible mechanisms of early functional compensatory adaptation in the remaining kidney. Two to 4 hours after unilateral renal exclusion in rats, urine flow rate from the remaining kidney had increased to twice the control level, whereas the filtration rate remained unchanged. After contralateral nephrectomy, NGFR was similar to that of controls, but fractional water reabsorption along proximal tubules decreased. Protein concentration in efferent arteriolar plasma, and hydrostatic pressure gradient between proximal tubules and peritubular capillaries were similar in experimental and control kidneys. Unilateral renal exclusion was followed by a rapid increase of blood pressure. Prevention of this rise depressed but did not abolish functional compensatory adaptation. The occurrence of compensatory adaptation was not affected by decreased renal perfusion pressure.


Chronic reduction in renal mass: micropuncture studies of response to volume expansion and furosemide. Chronic nephron loss is compensated by functional adaptations which preserve electrolyte homeostasis. The response to volume expansion and diuretics was tested in dogs. Three phase recollection micropuncture studies were performed to assess the response of the remnant kidney in various stages of renal failure to furosemide administration (10 mg/Kg) and graded volume expansion (3 percent and 10 percent body weight). After the diuretic maneuvers, mean fractional excretion of sodium, potassium and water rose progressively in normal dogs (Stage I), with a greater increase in the remnant kidneys in the presence (Stage II) and absence (Stage III) of the contralateral kidney. Proximal and distal TF/P (Inulin) ratios were depressed after 3 percent volume expansion. However, proximal TF/P (Inulin) was not further lowered after 10 percent volume expansion and furosemide administration, while distal TF/P (Inulin) ratios were progressively depressed. The distal TF/P (Inulin) ratios in Stage III were significantly lower than in Stage II under analogous conditions. Our results suggest that the adaptive increase in the response of sodium transport by the remnant kidney to the diuretic maneuvers occurs in the loop of Henle, both in the azotemic and the non-azotemic stage. Adaptation of potassium excretion, as revealed by distal micropuncture, took place in the azotemic Stage III. Chronic functional adaptation for electrolyte transport occurs even before azotemia in the distal nephron and includes the proximal tubule with azotemia.


Compensatory renal hypertrophy in dogs: single nephron glomerular filtration rate. Kidney weight, length of superficial and juxtamedullary proximal tubules, glomerular diameter, kidney filtration rate and PAH clearance, sodium excretion and intrarenal distribution of filtration (with (14)C-ferrocyanide) were measured in the remaining hypertrophic kidneys of dogs 10 days after unilateral nephrectomy. Whereas kidney weight increased to 75 percent of the original total renal mass, proximal tubule length and mean glomerular diameter remained unchanged. PAH and creatinine clearance, and absolute, but not fractional, sodium excretion, rose significantly. The ratio superficial/juxtamedullary filtration rate remained unchanged, indicating parallel increases of filtration in both cortical regions of hypertrophied kidneys.


Chronic reduction of renal mass: glomerular morphometry by electron microscopy. Changes of glomerular volume in rats were measured up to 21 weeks following subtotal nephrectomy, using morphometric methods. A linear increase of glomerular volume was observed between 2 and 21 weeks after subtotal nephrectomy. This progressive increase in glomerular volume may reflect compensatory hemodynamic changes leading to an increased single nephron glomerular filtration rate.


Evidence of induction of new nephrons in immature kidneys undergoing hypertrophy. Unilateral nephrectomy performed during the first days or weeks of life may or may not induce the development of new nephrons in the remaining kidney. Such an increase has been reported to occur, as discussed in this review, in newborn rats and mice, but not in guinea pigs. These observations are consistent with other data suggesting different patterns of compensatory adaptation in young and in old animals.


A micropuncture study of HCO3 reabsorption by the hypertrophied proximal tubule. In rats with renal failure produced by excision of one kidney and infarction of large portions of the other kidney, given a low calcium, high phosphorus diet for 2-3 weeks, GFR was reduced by 80 percent, the fractional excretion of sodium increased from 7 to 23 percent, that of bicarbonate from 16 to 23 percent and that of water from 4 to 13 percent. Single nephron GFR in the remaining nephrons was nearly doubled and end-proximal TF/P(In) was depressed from 2.3 to 1.8, and proximal TF/P(HCO3) from 0.52 to 0.35, the latter figure corresponding to an increase of absolute proximal HCO(3) reabsorption from 1.7 to 3.5 nEq/min or from 2.8 to 3.2 Eq/L of single nephron glomerular filtrate. Acute parathyroidectomy had no influence on the fall of GFR or the rise of SNGFR in the remaining nephrons and failed to cause any significant changes in proximal tubular bicarbonate reabsorption. Parathyroidectomy, on the other hand, practically prevented the rise of the fractional excretion of sodium and of water and inverted the rise of the fractional excretion of bicarbonate to a fall. The data are interpreted to indicate that secondary hyperparathyroidism in renal failure impairs distal nephron bicarbonate and sodium reabsorption and, thus, contributes to the maintenance of sodium balance, but could possibly aggravate acidosis.


Glomerulotubular dimensional readjustments during compensatory renal hypertrophy in the hypothyroid rat. Although growth of tubules is arrested and that of glomeruli retarded by hypothyroidism in rats, unilateral nephrectomy has been found to elicit a vigorous compensatory hypertrophy of the hypothyroid kidney. Microdissection and measurement of the dimensions of glomeruli and proximal convoluted tubules taken from the kidney removed first and from the hypertrophic contralateral organ removed two to three weeks later, disclosed a "normalization" of the typical glomerulotubular dimensional imbalance as a result of greater tubular than glomerular growth. A somewhat more striking but qualitatively identical response was observed in 9 euthyroid animals. Glomerular filtration rate and maximal glucose reabsorptive capacity (Tm(G)) increased in both euthyroid and hypothyroid animals in accord with the structural shifts.


[Kinetics of citric acid production in Candida lipolytica]. The kinetics of citrate and isocitrate accumulation by Candida lipolytica has been studied, with special emphasis of the carbon sources glucose and n-alkanes and the shifts from one carbon source to the other. The accumulation of the citric acids starts with the beginning of ideophase. Trophophase and ideophase behaviour is in parts different. Ideophase behaviour may be influenced by exogenic factors during growth. From the course of the curves for the citric acids two phases can be distinguished: The specific production rate of the first phase is higher than in the second phase (pi1 approximately 0.19 h-1; pi2 approximately 0.14 h-1). The influence of the carbon source on the course of the curves and the numeric value for the specific production rate is negligible. Alcane grown cells accumulate citric acids from added glucose and left-over n-alcanes simultaneously. When both substrates are added from the beginning only glucose is taken up for growth, for citric acid production both substances are utilized simultaneously. Glucose grown cells do not utilize alcanes for production of citric acids. Citric acids are accumulated only as long as glucose is available. Alcane uptake starts after addition of a nitrogen source.


Characterization of the virulent actinophage S2. The virulent actinophage S2 isolated from soil infects Streptomyces hygroscopicus 6599, S. lividans 66, and S. levoris 1331. Morphology of S2 was studied by electron microscopy. Influence of growth medium and temperature on multiplication of S2 has been studied qualitatively. S2 is more sensitive to UV irradiation on strain 66 than on 1331. In contrast to UV, hydroxylamine mutagenesis delivered 9 stable ts mutants which belong to 3 complementation groups. Most of the ts mutations isolated on 1331 were found to be host dependent, 8 of 9 mutants were found to be able to grow at 40 degrees C on strain 66 but none of them on 1331. Moreover 2 of the mutants were found to be much more heat sensitive in 6599 than in 1331, as indicated by the changes in half-life temperatures. The latent period of S2+ depends on temperature and germination state of the spores. Under optimal conditions we found 140 min. Ts2 and ts7 have been classified as a late and ts17 as an early mutant.


Oxygen and "strictly anaerobic" intestinal bacteria. II. Oxygen metabolism in strictly anaerobic bacteria. Oxygen metabolism of "strictly anaerobic" intestinal bacteria was investigated and compared in 25 strains. Washed cell suspensions of all the bacterial strains, in which growth in a medium initially equilibrated with a gas mixture consisting of 5% O2, 5% CO2, and 90% N2 was almost the same as under anaerobic conditions, absorbed O2 at high rate. Such O2 uptake was inhibited by NaN3. Most strains in which growth was inhibited either partially or completely in the same oxygenic condition absorbed O2 at a comparably low rate, and in many cases, such O2 uptake was not inhibited by NaN3. However, in a certain strain incapable of growth in the initial presence of dissolved O2, absorption of O2 was as high as that in some aerobic bacteria, and it was inhibited by NaN3. Little interrelationship was found between the degree of oxygen tolerance and the activities of NADH-peroxidase, H2O2-splitting reaction or superoxide dismutase. A slight interrelationship seems to be present in the case of NADH oxidase even though many exceptions were recognized. All the strains studied had the activities of superoxide dismutase, the absence of which has been regarded as the enzymatic basis of strict anaerobiosis of "strictly anaerobic" bacteria. Some strict anaerobes had high an activity of this enzyme as some aerobic bacteria. The differences in the levels of this activity seem to have some interrelationship not with differences in the degree of oxygen tolerance but with those in the genus to which every strain belongs taxonomically.


The influence of age on the response to renal parenchymal loss. The effect of age on compensatory hypertrophy and functional adaptation to loss of 75 percent of renal mass was studied in canine puppies. In one group of animals the surgery was done between 1-5 days after birth and in another group, at two months of age. All animals were studied six weeks later. Shamoperated littermates served as controls. The newborn puppies in the experimental group were able to grow and maintain homeostasis as well as their controls, whereas the older experimental animals grew poorly and had significantly higher levels of plasma creatinine than their sham-operated counterparts (p < .05). The increase in mass of the remaining kidney was twice as much in the newborn as in the older dogs. Functional adaptation, as expressed by GFR, was nearly complete in the young, but reached only about 45 percent of controls in the older age group (p<.005). The intrarenal blood flow distribution was similar for experimental and control animals in both groups studied. There were, however, marked differences in the pattern of single glomerular perfusion rates: whereas in the older dogs the increase was confined to the deeper nephrons, in the newborn an increase occurred in all zones of the kidney. These studies demonstrate that compensation for massive loss of renal tissue is complete when the injury is sustained in the immediate postnatal period but only partial when it occurs later on in life. A loss in the adaptive capacity of the superficial nephrons appears to account for this age-related difference.


The effects of functional adaptation of residual nephrons on the urinary excretion of drugs. In patients with chronic renal failure due to glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis or polycystic kidneys the urinary clearance of free chloramphenicol (C(CHL)) was depressed proportionally to GFR (C(In)). The ordinate intercept of the regression line of C(CHL) on C(In), however, consistently was positive (+3 to +5 ml/min). The fractional excretion of chloramphenicol in renal failure increased from its normal value of 50 percent as an exponential function of the decrease of GFR, and as a linear function of the fractional excretion of water or of sodium. Dietary sodium restriction had no influence on C(CHL) in the patients, while water diuresis, in normal subjects, enhanced the urinary excretion of chloramphenicol. The data suggest that chloramphenicol is reabsorbed by back-diffusion and that increases of the rate of flow of urine and tubular fluid prevent back-diffusion.


Metabolic response to renal compensatory growth. Forty-eight hours after unilateral nephrectomy in young male Sprague-Dawley rats the concentrations of free methionine, alanine and tyrosine in renal cortical tissue were increased by 15-65 percent while the corresponding plasma concentrations decreased by 23-35 percent. The renal cortical concentrations of valine and leucine increased by 41 percent and 26 percent while plasma concentrations remained unchanged. The cortical concentrations of ornithine, serine and threonine remained unchanged while the plasma concentration decreased by approximately one-third. The total free amino acid contained in the cortex was not changed, while total free amino acids in plasma decreased by 7 percent. These data are thought to reflect an increased uptake of methionine and tyrosine into renal cells during compensatory hypertrophy, and an increased incorporation into renal protein of serine, threonine and ornithine. All these changes as well as all other biochemical changes accompanying compensatory hypertrophy with the exception of an increase of the RNA/DNA ratio were prevented by starvation for 48 hours after unilateral nephrectomy.In young male Sprague-Dawley rats and adult male Charles River mice, the incorporation of (14)C-choline into acid-insoluble phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin) was already accelerated 5 minutes after contralateral nephrectomy and further rose to +68 ± 7 percent within 20 minutes to 3 hours. Incorporation of (14)C-choline into phospholipids remained accelerated for two to three days and reflected increased rates of phospholipid synthesis rather than increased choline uptake. Three hours after unilateral nephrectomy in mice, incorporation of i.p. injected (14)C-choline into phospholipids was accelerated 25 percent. The rate of turnover of free labelled renal phospholipids was not accelerated during compensatory renal growth. The very early increase of choline incorporation into phospholipids after contralateral nephrectomy, therefore, appears to reflect an increased rate of synthesis of membrane material.


[Differences in proline metabolism of a peptide alkaloid producing and a nonproducing strain of Claviceps purpurea]. Two strains (pepty 695 and pur 221) of Claviceps purpurea have been used to study the dependence of proline turnover on incubation time (1, 3, 6, and 12 hours) under different culture conditions (synthetic saccharose-citrate medium NL 720 and complex wort medium M 107) by means of tracer technique. In the saprophytically ergotoxine producing strain pepty 695 the proline is utilized in the protein and alkaloid biosyntheses. On the other hand, under non-producing conditions (M 10) the radioactivity of proline-14C is incorporated into many fractions and finally into CO2. In submerged culture (NL 720) the Claviceps strain pur 221 which does not produce ergolines uses proline only to a small extent in the protein biosynthesis, while most of this amino acid is not metabolized. The extent of uptake of proline is not correlated with the alkaloid synthesis. For comparison the turnover of L-glutamate-14C and D,L-ornithine-1-14C by strain pepty 695 cultivated in the NL 720 medium has been studied.


Messenger RNA in compensatory renal hypertrophy. Experiments that deal with the stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) in normal mouse kidney, and, to some extent, the stability of mRNA during renal growth will be described. We have found a population of mRNA in the cytoplasm of mouse kidney that is short-lived. Such a class of rapidly metabolized mRNA could play an adaptive role at the translational or cytoplasmic level in determining gene expression and may be important during the early phases of compensatory hypertrophy.


Further studies on a renotropic system in rats. Based upon many investigations, the existence of short-lived, specific, circulating substances which incite and/or regulate compensatory renal growth has been proposed. In our studies, we find that sera and plasma from unilaterally nephrectomized rats compared to sera and plasma from sham-operated rats stimulate the incorporation of (3)H-thymidine monophosphate, (3)H-thymidine and (14)C-uridine into the DNA of incubating rat kidney fragments. While extracts from growing rat kidneys are not excitatory, they produce a relative enhancement to incorporation of isotope into DNA when combined with sera from uninephrectomized rats-more than the sera do alone. The above is found also for the incorporation of (14)C-uridine into RNA of incubating rat kidney fragments. Sera from uninephrectomized rats fail to stimulate DNA synthesis in liver slices from rats but do so in the presence of extracts from growing kidneys. Renotropic factors in sera and extracts do not appear to work by diluting the isotopes, by enhancing transport, or by effecting overall metabolism of the renal cells. The above described serum and liver factors may play a role in compensatory renal growth.


[The current position in the preparations for active retirement in the socialist society of Schwerin county (author's transl)]. The authors present a survey of the preparations for active retirement in the socialist society. They report on a model experiment carried out in Schwerin county and its results on the health, mental and social conditions of the participating persons approaching pensionable age.


Role of solute excretion in prevention of norepinephrine-induced acute renal failure. Infusion of 0.75 μ g/kgbw/min norepinephrine (NE), for 40 minutes, into one renal artery in anesthetized dogs, induced acute renal failure (ARF). Subsequently there was nearly complete reversal of function within 8 weeks. Isotonic saline volume expansion, or renal vasodilation plus diuresis by acetylcholine (into renal artery: 20 μg/min) did not protect against this type of ARF. Volume expansion with either 5 or 20 percent mannitol partly prevented the fall of GFR 3 hours after NE, this protection being correlated with the magnitude of the osmolar clearance at the time of the insult. IV furosemide (10 mg/kg + 10 mg/kg/h; fluid losses replaced) afforded an even better protection. Proximal tubular necrosis in the "protected" kidneys was as severe as in non-protected kidneys. Glomerular cell morphology (scanning electron microscopy) was not altered by the 40-minute NE infusions. Functional "protection" appeared to depend on solute diuresis at the time of insult.


[The indication to neuro-surgical intervention in higher age (author's transl)]. Higher life expectancy has entailed the necessity of treating syndromes in the age group over 60 more frequently. Therapy also includes surgical intervention in general and neurosurgery in particular. References in literature and cases from our own hospital showed that the necessity of performing surgery was extended to include persons of advanced age. Growing life expectancy during the last few decades was accompanied by an improvement in surgical techniques, in the substitution therapy of age-dependent dysfunctions, and the development of careful up-to-date anaesthesia. Good interdisciplinary cooperation resulted in a decisive reduction of the intra- and post-operative mortality rate, even if patients of higher age groups who underwent the selected major neuro-surgical interventions yet have twice the mortality rate (24 per cent) of patients under 60 (11.4 per cent). Early diagnosis is the weakest link in this chain. Cerebral and spinal symptoms in older people are often attributed to age-dependent factors of the vascular system. The space--occupying process is often recognized too late. Once the function of the CNS has failed, even risky interventions cannot bring about a favourable change in the disease.


[Problems of anaesthesia in old age (author's transl)]. In old age elective surgical procedures may be planned and the patient may be prepared for surgery. Emergency procedures however have a much higher risk. Beyond the 7th decade the mortality rate shows a steep rise and in the 9th decade mortality amounts to about 50%. In cases of intestinal obstruction and peritonitis with preoperative shock the mortality rate even reaches the 90% mark. The duration of surgery is of decisive importance and it should be as short as possible. Having an experienced anaesthetist at the disposal the anaesthetic procedure is of secondary importance only.


Effect of excess iodine supplement on serum total proteins, electrophoretic patterns and body weight of Fayoumi chickens. Total proteins and their major fractions were determined in the serum of 135 males and females of Fayoumi chickens, 65 were used as controls and 70 were treated with excess iodine in the form of KI. Serum proteins increased significantly with the increase in age till the 90th day in normals, then decreased gradually. Excess iodine supplement decreased body weight, serum total proteins, alpha2- and beta-globulins in most of males, while in females the decrease was pronounced till the 90 days old. Albumin increased in females than in males in normals, while in the treated groups it decreased in all females and in some of males. A/G ratio decreased with maturation in normals, but in the treated groups it increased in males and decreased in most of females than those of controls.