Growth and genetic stability of the ts-1 mutant of respiratory syncytial virus at restrictive temperatures. An in vitro study was performed to define in greater detail those factors which favored the growth of the ts-1 mutant of respiratory syncytial virus under restrictive conditions and the emergence of genetically altered virus with decreased temperature sensitivity. Replication of ts-1 occurred at each of the restrictive temperatures of 37, 38, and 39 C, even through plaque formation was not observed. The level of virus growth under restrictive conditions was inversely related to the incubation temperature and directly related to the multiplicity of infection. These relationships appeared to reflect the effect of restrictive temperature in reducing the quantity of virus produced and released from an infected cell. Under restrictive conditions the production of genetically altered virus which exhibited reduced temperature sensitivity was directly related to the multiplicity of infection and inversely related to temperature. Production of genetically altered virus was not observed under permissive conditions.


Mason-Pfizer virus RNA genome: relationship to the RNA of morphologically similar isolates and other oncornaviruses. The 60-70S RNA of Mason-Pfizer virus (MPV) was iodinated in vitro and used in both direct and competitive molecular hybridization studies. MPV proviral sequences are present at a frequency of approximately one to two copies per haploid genome in the DNA of experimentally infected human cells. By nucleic acid competition hybridization, MPV RNA was found to be indistinguishable from the RNA of a virus (X381) isolated from a rhesus mammary gland and from RNA isolated from the cytoplasm of AO cells (Parks et al., 1973) and HeLa cells (Gelderblom et al., 1974), both previously reported to produce MPV-related particles. No homology was observed, however, between MPV RNA and the RNA, or the DNA, from two clones of HeLa cells obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Hybridization of MPV 60-70S RNA to the DNA of normal tissues of humans and to the DNA of 11 other species revealed that MPV is not an endogenous virus of any of these species. Competition hybridization revealed no detectable sequence homology between the RNA of MPV and the RNAs of simian sarcoma virus, murine mammary tumor virus, murine leukemia virus, BUdR-induced guinea pig virus, or avian myeloblastosis virus. These nucleic acid studies substantiate previous ultrastructural and immunological findings that MPV and morphologically similar isolates constitute a distinct group of oncornavirus.


Endogenous oncornaviral DNA sequences: evidence for two classes of viral DNA sequences in guinea pig cells. The nature of the endogenous viral DNA sequences in guinea pig cells was studied by hybridization. A segment of the viral RNA (r-VRNA) hybridizing to abundant (or reiterated) DNA sequences (R-VDNA) was isolated by recycling to a Cot of 300. The hybridization of the recycled VRNA, as well as the total VRNA, was followed by determining their kinetics and by Wetmur-Davidson analysis. The kinetics of hybridization of total VRNA were complex, did not follow a second-order kinetics, and revealed two slopes by Wetmur-Davidson analysis. The recycled RNA, on the other hand, had a second-order reaction rate expected of the hybridization between a single species of RNA and DNA sequences and yielded a single straight line in a Wetmur-Davidson plot. The Cot1/2 and slope of the recycled r-VRNA was almost identical to that of the abundant VDNA sequences obtained from the hybridization data of the total VRNA. Guinea pig 28S rRNA with or without recycling was used in monitoring hybridization rate. The kinetics of hybridization of 28S RNA followed a second-order reaction and produced a single straight line by Wetmur-Davidson plot, with a second-order reassociation rate constant of 9.6 x 10(-3) liters/mol-s, a Cot1/2 of 104 mol-s/liter, and reiteration frequency of 146. There was no difference in the kinetics of hybridization of 28S RNA before and after recycling. These experiments showed that guinea pig cells contain two classes of VDNA sequences. (i) R-VDNA sequences with a second-order reassociation rate constant of 8.2 x 10(-4) liters/mol-s, a Cot1/2 of 1,219 mol-s/liter, and a reiteration frequency of 12 represent 37.5% of the viral genome. (ii) Unique VDNA sequences with a second-order reassociation rate constant of 1.2 x 10(-4) liters/mol-s, a Cot1/2 of 7,692 mol-s/liter, and a reiteration frequency of 2 represent 62.5% of the viral genome.


Biochemistry of DNA-defective mutants of bacteriophage T4. VI. Biological functions of gene 42. Bacteriophage T4 gene 1 and 42 amber mutants (defective in deoxynucleoside monophosphate kinase and deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase, respectively) are able to synthesize DNA in cell-free lysates prepared as described by Barry and Alberts (1972), in contrast to their inabliity to do so in plasmolyzed and toluenized cell systems. Addition of extracts containing an active gene 1 or 42 product has no effect on synthesis in lysates defective in the respective gene. Thus, if these enzymes do play additional direct roles in replication, these roles are not manifest in the lysed-cell system. The gene 42 mutant am N122/m, a double mutant bearing an additional defect in DNA polymerase, is unable to synthesize DNA in these lysates. This inability is overcome by addition of extracts containing an active T4 DNA polymerase. m is a leaky amber mutation which reduces DNA polymerase activity to a very low level. However, this level is high enough to allow positive genetic complementation tests with gene 43 mutants. Two other gene 42 amber mutants contain additional defects: am 269 induces only half the normal level of DNA polymerase, and am C87 fails to induce a detectable level of thymidylate synthetase. These defects do not result from pleiotropic effects of the gene 42 mutations. In plasmolyzed cells, temperature-sensitive gene 42 mutants fail to synthesize DNA under conditions where replication forks and 5-hydroxymethyl-dCTP are present. This supports the idea that the gene 42 protein is directly involved in DNA synthesis.


Influenza virus RNA's in the cytoplasm of chicken embryo cells treated with 3'-deoxyadenosine. 3'-Deoxyadenosine (75 to 100 mug/ml) permitted analysis of the cytoplasmic influencza virus-specific RNAs synthesized early in the replicative cycle-a phase that has hitherto been obscurred by host cell RNA synthesis. In addition, late in the cycle (6 to 8) complementary virus-specific RNA's were the predominantly labeled species, suggesting that higher concentrations of 3'-deoxyadenosine selectively inhibit influenza viral genome replication.


Advanced renal cell carcinoma: treatment with xenogeneic immune ribonucleic acid and appropriate surgical resection. Herein we describe the first clinical treatment of renal cell carcinoma in humans with xenogeneic immune ribonucleic acid. Twelve patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma have been treated by appropriate operations to remove tumor bulk followed by specific passive immunotherapy. Xenogeneic specific immune ribonucleic acid was prepared from the spleen of normal sheep that had received 4 weekly injections of a homogenate of renal cell carcinoma. Results indicate that 1) xenogeneic specific immune ribonucleic acid can safely be given to humans without local or systemic toxicity, 2) there is a suggestion of clinical benefit, since only 2 patients have had progression of known metastases during treatment with immune ribonucleic acid and 3) xenogeneic immune ribonucleic acid can enhance the immune response to renal cell carcinoma, as demonstrated by in vitro lymphocytoxicity tests.


Serum immunoglobulins in genitourinary malignancies. Serum concentrations of immunoglobulins G, A and M (IgG, Ig A and IgM) were measured by immunodiffusion in a control population of 58 patients and in 165 patients with cancer of the prostate, bladder, kidney or testis. Tumor patients were ranked according to clinical staging. In a smaller group of patients serum levels of IgE were measured by radioimmunoassay. IgG, IgA and IgM concentrations did not correlate with staging or the presence of malignancy. However, a statistically significant correlation between increased IgE levels and advanced bladder cancer (staged D1 and D2) stimulated us to study more patients with bladder tumors. In a subsequent group of 22 bladder tumor patients this trend could not be reproduced. IgE levels did not correlate with a history of allergy in any of the patients tested. Concentrations of immunoglobulins G, A, M and E seem to be unchanged in genitourinary malignancies, although their functional role here has not been assessed qualitatively.


Prognosis for resolution of moderate, primary reflux in girls. Detailed cystoscopic grading of ureteral orifices has proved unnecessary in our experience for determining the prognosis of moderate, primary reflux in girls. Medially placed orifices strongly predict spontaneous resolution with preventive medication, while radiographic pyelonephritic scarring and/or grade III reflux strongly predict failure to resolve. While laterally placed ureteral orifices and low volume reflux suggest a need for operation, they are prognostically less useful, particularly when those with grade III reflux are excluded. Cystitis cystica and unrelated anomalies seem to be associated with the ultimate need for operation but are of uncertain significance.


Adiaspiromycosis in the Franklin's ground squirrel, Spermophilus franklini, and pika, Ochotona princeps, from Alberta, Canada. Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis due to Emmonsia crescens was diagnosed in three of six Franklin's ground squirrels (Spermophilus franklini) captured in Rochester, central Alberts, Canada in the summer of 1971, and in one of 240 pikas (Ochotona princeps) collected in southwestern Alberta in 1969. Granulomas measuring 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter were found in both lungs. These granulomas contained adiaspores measuring 60 to 400 mum in diameter. The disease was not found in six Franklin's ground squirrels collected in 1964, nor in 10 white-footed mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), one porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum), and 270 snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) from the Rochester area. Lungs from an additional 17 hares from Alaska and 25 from New Brunswick and 96 pikas from Colorado were also examined but no adiaspores were found.


[Biosocial causes of abnormal behavior in childhood and adolescence (author's transl)]. "Abnormal behavior" is no diagnosis. But this term has been accepted in modern industrial Society. For some time many which at present burden the family, the social environment and structure. The basic causes for decompensation of adaptability of children and adolescents are discussed. 4 factors are considered particularly powerful: a disposition towards behavioral instability, absence of close human links in early childhood, lack of socialisation in the sexual sphere and the inability to identify with the own sez-role. The pathologic symptoms nearly always result from a combination of these four. The decisive causes of behavioral disturbance can, therefore, not be found in actual frustration but in unfavorable conditions of development in early childhood.


[Nephrotic syndrome in infancy - a heterogenous disease. A case of sporadic connatal nephrotic syndrome (author's transl)]. The course of illness in a patient with connatal nephrotic syndrome is reported. It started already during the first week, renal failure was absent. The picture differs, however, from the congenital Finnish nephrotic syndrome in the following points: No family history, infection during pregnancy, unremarkable birthweight (3075 g) and weight of placenta (690 g), early micro-hematuria, and rise of IgM, arterial hypertension and partial sensitivity to steroids with incomplete remissions and finally duration of life of 1 year and 8 months. The difference from the Finnish type is confirmed with light- and electron-microscopy and immuno-fluorescence investigations. Morphological changes make it appear that it belongs into group 3 of nephrotic syndrome after Habib (16), with its minimal and focal glomerular changes. An attempt is made to devise a classification of the nephrotic syndrome during the first year of Life according to its cause. The importance of an absolute indication for renal biopsy is stressed.


[Histochemical studies on innervation of the distal ureter in primary vesico-ureteral reflux in children (author's transl)]. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the distribution-pattern of the intramural vegetative nerve fibres in cases of vesico-ureteral reflux. Resected specimens of the vesico-ureteral junction of 14 children with primary vesico-ureteral reflux are investigated using histochemical technics for demonstrating acetylcholinesterase (El Badawi and Schenk, 1967). Additionally the catecholamines (Falck et al. 1962) were demonstrated in two of the cases. The results are compared with findings in normal ureters in literature. There was no evidence of a pathological  pattern of distribution of the nerve fibres.


[Psycho-diagnostic results in diabetic and obese children and adolescents (author's transl)]. 20 diabetic as well as 20 obese children and adolescents ware matched considering their age and IQ and the differences in regard to their intelligence subtest abilities, in their attention behavior and in their variables of personality such as neuroticism and extraversion. No differences were found in the subtest achievements of the Hamburg Wechsler Intelligenz Test für Kinder (Hawik). Diabetic patients were superior to obese patients in their concentration. The latter gained significantly higher scores in neuroticism and prefered answers of social desirability. Diabetic adolescents showed a lack of personal indepence and anxieties in regard to stress and frustration.


[Somatograms of german newborns (author's transl)]. Birth-weight, length and headcircumference of 4748 German newborns in relation to gestational age are presented. There was found a good agreement to weight and length of Austrian newborns (Hohenauer). The own standard curves lie higher than the most used standards of Lubchenko/U.S.A. from 38 weeks onward. The problem interpreting such a standard as a standard of fetal growth are discussed. It seems reasonable to look at weight, length, and headcircumference together. So it may be possible to perseive discordancy of fetal growth.


[Polarographic determination of glucose concentration in cerebrospinal fluid of children (author's transl)]. Uing the Beckman gluxose analyzer, glucose concentration was determined polarographically in cerebrospinal fluid of 160 boys and 115 girls (ages 1 month-14 years). On the basis of clinical criterions these children were considered to be "healthy". The total number of examined children was 1668. The distribution of the glucose concentration in cerebrospinal fluid was normal. The following values were obtained for the boys and girls: Boys (ages 1-12 months) = 57,0 +/- 13,7 mg/100 ml, girls (ages 1-12 months) = 57,0 +/- 10,4 mg/100 ml, boys (ages 1-14 years) + 63,0 +/- 12,5 mg/100 ml, girls (ages 1-14 years) = 61,5 +/- 12,2 mg/100 ml. No statistical sex-specific differences were observed, but the age-specific investigation revealed that the group of older boys had a statistical higher concentration of glucose in cerebrospinal fluid as compared to the group of younger boys.


[Isoenzymes of serum alkaline phosphatase in newborns and early infancy (authors transl)]. It was intendet to characterize the isoenzymes of serum alkaline phosphatase in healthy infants. Quantitative estimation of the activity of serum alkaline phosphatase resulted in relatively low values in the newborns and a distinct increase during the first three months of live. As a rule most of the newborns appeared to present one uniform isoenzyme fraction, which was comparable to the isoenzyme of bone origin of the adult. Some of the newborns already exhibited another less marked isoenzyme, the isoenzyme of liver origin. During babyhood this isoenzyme becomes more and more distinct. In most cases this development had become perfect at the end of the first year. Liver tissue of newborns apparently does not synthesize the same liver isoenzyme as liver tissue of adults.


[How reliable are assays with the ictometer? Comparative studies with direct measurement of billirubin and a diazo technique (author's transl)]. Comparison of measurements of a diazo technique with those of a direct assessment of bilirubin with the photo-ictometer type II (Hirtz & Co., Cologne). Comparative analysis of total bilirubin-concentration in 172 non-hemolytic sera of neonates and in dilution series with and without contamination by hemoglobin and/or lipid-suspension gave the following results and conclusions drawn from them: 1. In non-contaminated sera the relation between the two techniques is linear, well correlated, parallel and with little divergence. 2. In contrast to the ictometer the diazo technique used underrates the bilirubin content in hemolytic sera. 3. In contrast to the diazo technique the ictometer underrates the bilirubin content in strongly turbid sera. 4. The precision of the ictometer is superior in series and from day to day to the already good precision of the diazo technique. 5. The standard built- in after calibration has to be checked daily and adjusted during the first working hour of the ictometer on several occasions. 6. In order to aboid major systematic faults each apparatus should be compared with a safely calibrated technique. 7. The very simple and rapidly serviced apparatus is suitable for the assay of total bilirubin in sera of the newborn. For older neonates and after exchanges transfusions the results should not be trusted.


[Comparative x-ray and ultrasound examination in infantile sinusitis (author's transl)]. 59 children without symptoms of sinusitis or URI, aged 6 to 8 years had positive radiologica findings of sinus pathology in 32%. Correspond ultrasonographic findings were positive in 22%. A correlation was detected in 67,8%. In non correlating cases, x-ray had a tendency to more pathological findings in 63%. When correlating x-ray and ultrasound in a diagram of 118 maxillary sinuses only 6% had changes worth treatable. The classical radiological signs os sinusitis in children are therefore questionable.


[Transcutaneous measurements of pO2 in newborns with RDS (author's transl)]. pO2 was measured transcutaneously (commercially available Clark Electrode, Bioelectronics Roche) with two different electrode temperatures in new born infants. The correlation between paO2 (arteria radialis) and ptcO2 was bad (r= 0,74) with electrode temperature of 42 degrees C. When the electrode was heated to 44 degrees C there was a very good correlation (r= 0,969) in 80 simultaneous measurements of paO2 (umbilical arterial catheter) and ptcO2. The mean values and standard deviations of pO2 values in hypoxic, normoxic and hyperoxic states are very similar: hypoxic: paO2 34,3 "/- 7,9, ptcO2 35,2 +/- 14,0, normoxic: paO2 78,7 +/- 14,3 ptcO2 78,8 +/- 16,7, hyperoxic: paO2 141,8 +/- 37,1, ptcO2 134,4 +/- 40,8 mmHg). The specific advantage of transcutaneous measurements is the trend registration for hours. With electrodes temperatures of 44 degrees C however, there is a risk of superficial burns if the electrode is attached to the identical site for 6 hours or more.


[The milk-kitchen situation 1975 (author's transl)]. Results of the second enquiry organished by the milk-kitchen commission of the German paediatric Association. Questionnaires were sent to 500 German and foreign paediatric and obstetric departments. In paediatric departments not much has changed since the first enquiry five years ago. As then 85% of paediatric departments have a central milk-kitchen. Food is - in the main - prepared once in 24 hours. One half of them use milk powder, fluid food has risen only slightly. Bacteriologic controls of food and personel are unfortunately carried out only at too long intervals. In departments for premature infants the one-way bottle with uperised milk has been widely accepted. Almost all obstetric departments have abandoned their central milk-kitchens and provide fluid nourishment except where they are connected with the central milk-kitchen of a paediatric department. Since almost all directors of departments replied, the present result is representative and shows little change. The reasons for this are discussed and the need for careful control of feed-preparation and cooling chains emphasized. According to a recommendation of the German paediatric Association to the national Ministry of Health the handling of food for babies in paediatric departments should be brought into line with the regulations.


["Chronic ileo-colic intussusception without abdominal symptoms" (authors transl)]. A chronic ileo-colic intussusception of an 8 1/2 year old boy did not cause any abdominal complaints. There was a hypochromic anaemia with iron deficiency; occult blood was found in the stoll. Radiographically the lumen within the intussusceptum was extremely narrowed. Following surgery the anaemia disappeared.


[Histological examinations of late changes of bone marrow and bone following local fractionated gamma irradiation in patients with genital carcinoma (author's transl)]. In 25 patients iliac crest biopsies have been taken after radiation therapy of genital carcinoma. The radiation doses in the biopsied region ranged up to about 3,000 rads. The time interval from the end of radiation until the control biopsy was 2 months or longer, up to 25 years. The immediate consequences of the radiation, compared with the pretherapeutic picture, have been analyzed in an earlier study (Beil et al., 1974). By histomorphotometric analysis of the samples it can be shown that a more or less severe atrophy of the bone marrow is persisting in the irradiated area for years. The atrophy is accompanied either by normal or increased bony trabecularization, together with increased osteoblastic and -clastic activity. These disturbances are likely to depend of a chronic distortion of the marrow capillarization, which may be influenced by the individual RES activity; different types of the reticuloendothelial response can be demonstrated in our material. Whether this response has a bearing regarding the prognosis of the tumours condition itself remains a matter of speculation, to be proved by further investigations.


A therapeutic milieu for establishing and expanding communicative behaviors in psychotic children. This study describes a clinical intervention program that was used to facilitate development of receptive and expressive language skills in a group of four psychotic children. A group format utilizing an interactive language development teaching procedure combined with a therapeutic milieu was shown to be effective in establishing and expanding communicative behaviors in psychotic children. Nine diagnostic measures were utilized to assess children's performance prior to therapy and at the end of three-month and six-month intervals. Results indicated substantial reduction of delayed and immediate echolalia, jargon, inappropriate stress, pitch, and intonation. Substantial improvement was noted in expressive syntactic and morphological functioning and in the children's ability to generate novel utterances about day-to-day experiences, family, and toys. Increases in children's concept of body image and ego functioning paralleled their improvement in receptive and expressive language development.


Binding to specific receptors on oocyte plasma membranes by serum phosvitin-lipovitellin. Specific binding sites for the serum complex of phosvitin and lipovitellin have been shown to exist on the outer surface of rapidly growing chicken oocytes. The existence and specificity of these sites were demonstrated by competition for binding to unfixed oocyte membrane fragments and by displacement of already bound and labeled phosvitin-lipovitellin from formaldehyde-fixed membranes. Only unlabeled phosvitin-lipovitellin competed with the 125I-labeled complex for binding to the fragments of displacement of bound label; IgG isolated from egg yolks and bovine serum albumin were ineffective.


An unusual case of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis. Echocardiography revealed idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis in a patient previously operated on for calcific aortic valve disease. The echocardiography in addition showed symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy and unusual localization of the septal hypertrophy to the apical half of the septum.


Massive bleeding from a ruptured metastatic hepatic melanoma treated by hepatic lobectomy. Case report and review of the literature. An unusual case is reported of an occult, spontaneously rupturing, hemorrhagic, metastatic melanoma of the liver treated by hepatic lobectomy, resulting in short-term survival. A long, symptom-free interval (13 years) after excision of the primary cutaneous lesion (stage I) preceded the appearance of the hepatic metastasis. This case illustrates the need for a careful and thorough history as well as the benefit of prompt hepatic resection for bleeding from ruptured hepatic malignancies.


Holter monitoring in the diagnosis and management of cardiac rhythm disturbances. Dynamic, long-term electrocardiography by the Holter technique has gained a definite and important role in cardiac diagnosis. Indications for its application include the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease, the assessment of antiarrhythmic therapy, the evaluation of function of artificial pacemakers, the investigation of physiologic correlates of known arrhythmias, the evaluation of the efficacy of antianginal therapy, and the assessment of the natural history of cardiac arrhythmias in various conditions. In our hands, the technique has proved most fruitful in the uncovering of arrhythmic correlates of transient neurologic disturbances or syncope, and in the precise characterization of patients suspected of having the sick sinus syndrome.


Laryngeal papillomatosis: immunologic and viral basis for therapy. The distressing nature of laryngeal papillomatosis and lack of clinical progress in its treatment are reviewed. Presently accepted and investigative methods of therapy are reviewed with special attention being given to immune therapy. Support for the concept of a viral etiology is discussed and other etiologic agents considered. Known and possibly significant roles of wart virus antibodies are discussed and the importance of complex interplay between maternal and fetal immune systems explored as a possible explanation for some puzzling aspects of laryngeal papillomatosis. Finally, a proposed experimental design is outlined, the purpose of which is to provide a useful animal model to investigate immune changes in laryngeal papillomatosis, as well as effects of surgical or medical therapy.


[Late diagnosis of malignant renal tumors. Review and case reports (author's transl)]. In this paper the problem of early diagnosis in hypernephroid carcinoma of the kidney is explained. Hematuria remains inspite of other possible causes suspect for tumor as long as a tumor is certainly excluded. The different methods for diagnostic and characteristic signs for tumor in the X-ray (EVP) are discussed. Three cases of late diagnosis of hypernephroid carcinoma of the kidney, due to long time not explained symptoms, are described.


Cell surface glycosyl transferase activities in liver cells of developing chicken embryos. The cell surface of embryonic chick liver cells contains transferases for mannose, fucose, galactose, N-acetyl-glucosamine and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. Liver cells obtained by trypsin-dissociation of the tissue use the corresponding exogenous sugar nucleotides as substrates. The activities of the enzymes tested do not depend neither no the dissociation procedure nor on de novo protein synthesis. They vary considerably during development of the embryos, reaching maximal values at the 8th+/-1 day and at the 12th+/-1 day. Glycoproteins are the final stable endogenous acceptors for all sugars. Mannose transfer proceeds via a two or multistep reaction sequence. In a first step labile lipophilic intermediates are formed. Mannose can be liberated by treating the intermediates with 0.1 N HCl at 100 degrees C. In a second reaction step mannose becomes attached to glycoproteins. From embryonic chick liver cells a glycopeptide fraction has been obtained by pronase digestion followed by several purification steps. The purified glycopeptides inhibit all transferase systems and act as exogenous acceptors for mannose transfered from exogenous GDP-mannose.


e antigen and anti-e in the serum of asymptomatic carrier mothers as indicators of positive and negative transmission of hepatitis B virus to their infants. Testing of serum samples of 23 pregnant women who were asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen for e antigen and antibody to e with an immunodiffusion technic identified 10 mothers with e antigen and seven with e antibody. Their babies were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen in serum at intervals for more than 12 months. In all 10 babies born to e-antigen-positive mothers hepatitis B surface antigen developed and persisted through the observation period, and all 10 elder siblings of these newborn babies were found to be asymptomatic carriers. In remarkable contrast, all seven babies born to mothers positive for antibody to e escaped antigenemia, and none of their three elder siblings carried surface antigen. On the basis of these results, e antigen may be used as an indicator of transmission, and antibody to e as that of absence of transmission of hepatitis B virus from carrier mothers to children.


Risk of congenital abnormality after inadvertent rubella vaccination of pregnant women. The risk to a fetus after rubella vaccination of its mother is unknown. The Center for Disease Control has compiled information from the pregnancies of 343 women inadvertently given rubella vaccine shortly before or after conception. The pregnancies of 145 women were terminated by therapeutic abortion, and rubella vaccine virus was recovered from the products of conception of nine women, including six of the 28 known to be seronegative to rubella at the time of vaccination. None of the 172 infants carried to term had either clinical or serologic evidence of rubella infection, including 38 infants of women known to be susceptible and 12 additional women estimated to be susceptible at the time of rubella vaccination. On the basis of the binomial distribution, the maximum risk of fetal infection after maternal rubella vaccination is between 5 and 10 per cent. The actual risk is probably less.


Injected nuclei in frog oocytes provide a living cell system for the study of transcriptional control. Human HeLa nuclei injected into Xenopus oocytes synthesise RNA continuously for up to 1 month, and some of this RNA is translated into HeLa proteins. Nuclear proteins extracted from other cells enter the injected nuclei. This living cell system can be used for the study of transcriptional controls.


[Primary arachnoid cyst in an adult (author's transl)]. Primary arachnoid cyst in adults seems to be relatively rare. Our case was a 42-year-old female, who complained of diplopia, dizziness, mild headache, and showed papilledema. Right carotid angiograms revealed the characteristic findings. Right fronto-parietal craniotomy was then performed. In the operation, a large, thin walled cyst was found on the surface of the right cerebral hemisphere. When the membrane was removed, essentially normal, but slightly atrophi gyri, could be seen. Aspiration of encapsulated fluid, and extirpation of the cyst wall resulted in an excellent improvement. Microscopically, the wall of the cyst was lined with normal arachnoid cells. The case was presumed to be a primary arachnoid cyst for the reasons that no definited etiological factor could be found in this case an no abnormal findings other than the cyst itself could be found in the operation and in the histological specimen. We discuss reported cases in our review, and about pathological findings, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of this disease.


[Communicating hydrocephalus following the rupture of intracranial aneurysm (author's transl)]. It is well recognized that the communicating hydrocephalus following the rupture of intracranial aneurysms is one of the factors which cause the disturbance of consciousness in acute stage and the impairment of mental functions in chronic stage. In this report we analyzed the surgical experience with this complication and discussed the mechanisms which cause the ventricular dilatation. 1. The communicating hydrocephalus following the rupture of intracranial aneurysms is devided into the acute form and the chronic form. 2. Acute communicating hydrocephalus may develop with 24 hours after the onset and the incidence is about 10% (6 out of 66 cases). 3. Intraventicular pressure is high in acute communicating hydrocephalus and becomes normal in chronic stage. 4. The incidence of the chronic communicating hydrocephalus is about 10% (6 out of 66 cases). 5. There are two types of chronic communicating hydrocephalus. One develops from acute form and another develops gradually after onset. Among 6 chronic communicating hydrocephalus, 3 developed from acute form, 2 showed slowly progressive ventricular dilatation and 1 admitted with hydrocephalus at chronic stage resepctively. 6. The intraventricular pressure of the acute form is high and the chronic form shows high pressure in acute stage, intermittent high pressure wave lasting 20-30 minutes in subacute stage and normal pressure in chronic stage when the ventricle is dilated. 7. The mechanisms of ventricular dilatation in normal pressure hydrocephalus are discussed on the basis of the continuous monitoring of intraventricular pressure in cases with rupture of intracranial aneurysm. 8. Indication of shunting procedures whould be determined by combination of clinical pictures, ventriculocranial index, findings of cisternography and EEG. Our operative criteria are presented.


[Adrenocortical function in myasthenia pseudoparalytica]. In a group of 31 women with myasthenia the urinary excretion of 17-ketosteroids and their fractions (11-deoxy-17-ketosteroids, dehydroisoandrosterone) and 17-hydroxycorticosterone were determined. A statistically significant decrease was observed in the excretion of these substances. Besides that, the plasma cortisol level was determined in these patients and the results obtained in the whole group were at the lower normal range of the laboratory and in 40% of cases they were significantly lower (p less than 0.01). The obtained results may suggest that adrenocortical hypofunction exists in many cases of myasthenia. The pertinent literature is reviewed.


[Degree of prematurity in some forms of infantile cerebral palsy]. The author discusses the problem of prematurity as a criterion of developmental degree in a group of children with diparetic and extrapyramidal forms of infantile cerebral palsy. In the group of diparetic form premature babies born in the 7th month of pregnancy with birth weight below 1700 g prevailed, while in the extrapyramidal form babies born in the 8th month of pregnancy with birth weight above 2000 g were most frequent. This suggests that the development of the diparetic form of infantile cerebral palsy is due to earlier action of the pathogenetic factor. Among the aetiological factors causing the extrapyramidal form in premature babies asphyxia was the most frequent one. This may indicate that changes observed in kernicterus are due primarily to hypoxaemia. In conclusion the author states that premature babies born in the 7th month of pregnancy face mainly the danger of diparesis, while in those born in the 8th month the extrapyramidal form of infantile cerebral palsy is more frequent.


[The epidermoid tumor of the lateral cerebral ventricle; report of a case (author's transl)]. The authors report a case of epidermoid tumor of the lateral ventricle. Epidermoid tumors are relatively uncommon intracranial lesions and the one situated in the lateral ventricle has not been reported in this country. A 42 year old house wife was admitted to Asahi Central Hospital on February 14, 1973, complaining of progressive right hemiparesis for 2 years. The patient had no headache and no other symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. Neurological examination revealed disorientation, dyscalculia, amnestic aphasia, morter dysphasia, right facial paresis (central type) and right hemiparesis. The laboratory findings, which included complete blood count, serum electrolytes, urinalysis, electrocardiogram and blood Wassermann, were normal. Initial pressure of the spinal tap was 410 mmH2O and crystal clear CSF was obtained. tplain craniogram showed no calcification and was normal. The left CAG showed clearly the signs of the temporal lobe tumor (Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4.), but showed no early veins and no tumor stains. The brain scintigram was normal. A left temporo-parietooccipital craniotomy was performed. The epidural Echogram (horizontal section-Fig. 5, coronall section-Fig. 6) revealed the clear demarcated, multicystic round tumor in the inferior horn of the left lateral ventricle. After the whitesoap like tumor was totaly removed, the all interior surface of the left inferior horn of the lateral ventricle was seen (Fig. 8). Tumor was 5.5 cm in diameter and 50 g in weight. Histological findings of the tumor showed typical epidermoid (Fig. 9, 10). The origin of the intravetricular epidermoids and the usefulness of echo-encephalorgaphy were briefly discussed.


[Hydrocephalus in premature infants].

[Hydrocephalus in premature infants]. In the light of personal observations from the years 1948-1974 the author discusses the incidence of hydrocephalus in premature babies. The material observed confirms the generally accepted view that the incidence of hydrocephalus is higher in premature babies than in full-term babies. The author analyzes the causes which may be responsible for this finding and concludes that noxious factors during early or late pregnancy are the main cause although perinatal injuries play also a significant role.


[Early operation for the ruptured intracranial aneurysms--especially the cases operated within 48 hours after the last subarachnoid hemorrhage (author's transl)]. During the past three years from 1971 to 1973, 413 cases of cerebral aneurysms have been experienced in our clinic, in which direct intracranial operation was carried out mainly by the ligation and/or clipping of the aneurysm neck in 393 cases. Post-operative statistics showed that the cases, which were operated on within the first week after the last subarachnoid hemorrhage, had the highest mortality and morbidity rate. A closer analysis of the 64 cases with surgery within the first week revealed that the highest and second highest mortality and morbidity rates were in cases with operations on the 3rd and 4th days following the last hemorrhage, respectively. However, only one of 17 cases operated on within 48 hours died. And furthermore follow-up studies, taken 6 months to 3 years after discharge, showed that the remaining 16 cases were working and leading a useful life. In the study of 31 cases operated on within the first 4 days after the aneurysmal rupture, the most remarkeble fact is that the postoperative results were good in cases with surgery on the 1st or 2nd day, even if the pre-operative conditions were severe, such as Grade III or IV by Hunt and Hess' classification. On the contrary, in cases operated on in the 3rd or 4th-some of them Grade I or II, so-called "good risk patients"-deteriorated and cases graded III and IV all worsen or died. The important factors affecting the patient's condition after an aneurysmal rupture seem to be the degree of the increased intracranial pressure caused by the hematoma and circulatory distrubance of the cerebrospinal fluid and the degree of brain destruction caused by the intensity of the arterial blood from the rupture. Therefore it is reasonable that an early aneurysm surgery, within 48 hours, including the removal of the hematoma and the reduction of the high intracranial pressure by ventricle drainage is effective not only to prevent a possible fatal re-rupture, but also to improve the patient's poor pre-operative condition. In addition an operation within 24 hours greatly lessens the possibility of the occurrence of post-operative vasospasms by the removal of the subarchnoid clot existing around the brain artery, which may play a major role in producing vasospasms. The surgical results closely correlated with the incidence of vasospasms which were: 14.3%, 60%, 83.3% and 75% for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th days respectively. Although in cases operated on, in 3rd and 4th days continuous high intracranial pressure aggravates the conditions, the most detrimental factor affecting the poor surgical results may be attributable to cerebral infarctions due to vasospasm, especially those which appear in the post-operative stage.


[Endocrinological evaluation of seller and suprasellar tumor cases (the third report)-on secreting chromophobe adenoma (author's transl)]. 1) Nine of 25 cases of chromophobe adenoma revealed abnormally high plasma prolactin level. The plasma prolactin level of these 9 cases ranged from 5300 to 15000 ng/ml, and those of other 16 cases ranged from negligible to 53 ng/ml. 2) Five cases with abnormally high plasma prolactin level had a poor clinical course. 3) Quantitative determination on PEG according to our own method showed that tumor size of these patients with abnormally high plasma prolactin level was larger than that of relatively lower plasma prolactin level. 4) Three of all 25 cases of chromophobe adenoma were histologically diagnosed as pleomorphic. Each of those three cases showed abnormally high plasma prolactin level.


[Evaluation of shunt therapy in normal pressure hydrocephalus-surgical results in neurological conditions (author's transl)]. This presentation is a study of 18 patients diagnosed as having normal pressure hydrocephalus and treated by CSF diversion procedures. Pre- and postoperative neurological conditions of these patients were evaluated, compared, and analysed. There were 56% of males and 44% of females and the number of patients under 60 and over 61 were equal. The histories and clinical findings in all suggested a diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus. In 12, the two thirds of patients, showed progressive intellectual deterioration, ataxic gait and/or incontinence following subarachnoid hemorrhage. Similar neurological features were preceded by craniocerebral trauma in one, megadolichobasilar artery in one and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis in one. Three cases were idiopathic. 169Yb cisternography, transfer test of radioisotope to blood, angiography and in some cases pneumoencephalography were performed in the usual manner to confirm the diagnosis. Attempts have been made to correlate the surgical results with the ages of patients, the duration of symtoms, and the causes of hydrocephalus. Neurological symptoms were divided into three groups. Group "A" is composed of mental deterioration, lack of spontaneity and willingness, mutism and disorientation, groups "B" includes gait disturbance and group "C" incontinence. The results of surgical treatment were analyzed according to the three groups of symptoms not only in the percentage of cases who improved but also in the time interval from the time of shunting to the appearance of operative results. The results are as follows. The good surgical improvements were achieved in the cases of under 70 years old, in the case of NPH of known causes, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, craniocerebral trauma, and in the cases operated on within three months after the onset of symptoms. Recovery of "A" symtoms was achieved not only sooner after the operation but also in more cases than those of "B" and "C" symptoms. The correlation was analyzed between the duration or symptoms and time interval after the shunting and the appearance of operative results. Although no correlation was obtained in "A" symptoms, the sooner was shunting performed, the earlier appeared the operative results in "B" and "C" symptoms. In conclusion, it appeared from the results of the present study, that in addition to the integration of the results of different examinations such as isotope cisternography, air study and angiography, the combination of the patient data such as ages, duration of symptoms and the cause of hydrocephalus are essential in selecting the patients for shunting operation. If the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus is confirmed and surgical improvement is predicted, the patient should be shunted as soon as possible to obtain a good surgical results especially in mental symptoms, which is the important factor in performing rehabilitation therapy.


[Some characteristic features of RI-cisternography in infancy and childhood (author's transl)]. There are few reports which discussed normal RI-cisternography in infancy and childhood. The cisternograms of the children between 2 months and 13 year-old were classified under a criteria into three groups; 17 normal cases, 135 borderline cases and 77 abnormal cases. The former two groups were compared with each other and characteristic findings of RI-cisternography in infants and children were appreciated clinically. And we attempted to establish normal RI-cisternography. The characteristic findings are: 1) When the images of cisterna magna is dilated, it can not be concluded directly that the abnormality of posterior fossa are suspected. 2) The bulk flow of CSF in infancy and childhood flows faster in intracranial subarachnoid space as well as intraspinal than the flow of adults. 3) Early ventricular reflux seems to be not valuable clinically. But we would like to emphasize that the incidence of these findings are variable as children grow older. The mechanism of this phenomenon needs further investigation.


[Effects of solcoseryl on the cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, systemic blood pressure and EEG in acute intracranial hypertensive cats (author's transl)]. The experiment was performed on 86 cases under intraperitoneal pentobarbital anesthesia. One balloon was placed in the extradural space of right frontal region, and the other balloon was placed in the left extradural space and the intracranial pressure was measured. A needle was stereotaxically inserted into the subcortical area in order to measure the cerebral blood flow. Systemic blood pressure was recorded by inserting a catheter into the femoral artery, and electrocorticogram was also recorded. An expanding intracranial lesion was made by inflating the extradural balloon with physiological saline. The animals were arbitrarily divided into two groups.: 1) light or moderate groups which intracranial pressure before the injection of drug was below 400 mmH2O. 2) severe groups above 400 mmH2O. After the maintenance of the pressure, Solcoseryl was infused intravenously. The investigation was focused to observe whether Solcoseryl reveales any potent effect on cerebral blood flow, intracranial pressure, systemic blood pressure and on electroencephalogram in acute intracranial hypertension. Results 1) Intravenous injection of Solcoseryl had the effect of lowering intracranial pressure in the light or moderate and severe groups. Particularly, dose of 80 mg/kg showed the marked effect, though with a rebound phenomenon in the light or moderate groups. Furthermore, the effect was more marked and lasting by drip infusion of Solcoseryl and also by intravenous injection of Solcoseryl after pretreatment with hydrocortisone, and at this time no rebound phenomenon was recognized. 2) Solcoseryl had the effect of increasing the cerebral blood flow accompained with the lowering of intracranial pressure. 3) Systemic blood pressure was transiently lowered by the injection of Solcoseryl 20 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg and recovered immediately. 4) Solcoseryl had no effect on electroencephalogram in the severe groups. Conclusion On the basis of these results, it is rational to conclude that Solcoseryl could be superior agent render to lower intracranial pressure and to improve cerebral blood flow in acute intracranial hypertension.


[Almost complete regression of cerebral arteriovenous malformation--report of a case (author's transl)]. Spontaneous regression or disappearance of cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) had been rarely reported in the literatures. Regression after carotid ligation or radiation therapy are not spontaneous one, because these treatments may have some influences on morphological changes of AVM by CBF dynamic change or by some radiobiological effects on AVM. The reported case is 57 aged male. He had an episode of sudden onset of left hemiparesis 7 years ago and was treated conservatively at a private doctor. Afterward he enjoyed his life, for 4 years, he consulted our clinic on account of left hemiconvulsion. Right CAG revealed right parietal AVM (3.5 X 4.0 X 5.O) with dilated feeding and draining vessels. Patient denyed operation at that time, but again consulted our clinic on account of severe left hemiconvulsion. Right CAG was performed again, but right parietal AVM was almost not visualized and feeding and draining vessels were diminished in diameter. Inspite of repeated 4 vessel angiographies AVM was remarkably regressed, and also no angiospastic vessels and intracerebral hematoma were absent in these angiographies. Though spontaneous regression of cerebral AVM is rare course, we report the importance of morphological follow up, when cerebral AVM is nondefinitively treated.


[A midline vertebral artery aneurysm operated via transoral transclival approach (author's transl)]. A detail of an unsuccessful trial of transoral transclival operation for an aneurysm arising from the left vertebral artery was reported. The patient was 66 years old male who had bronchial asthma and difficulty in phonation and swallowing. The angiograms showed that the aneurysm, 1.5X1.5X2.0 cm in size, was situated in the midline at the level of caudal one-third of the clivus. A transoral transclival operation was performed following preoperative tracheostomy and gastrostomy to improve his pulmonary and nutritional condition. A midline incision on the palate was followed by the removal of the posterior half of palatal bone. The upper part of incision on the retropharyngeal mucosa was placed approximately 1 cm off the midline to facilitate closure afterwords. A caudal 1/3 of the clivus, anterior arch of the atlas and a part of the odontoid process were removed. The aneurysm, fusiform in shape, was then collapsed by needle puncture after the left vertebral artery was trapped between the posterior inferior cerebellar artery and the vertebro-basilar junction. Closure of the dura with a fascial patch was incomplete due to an extensive incision and coagulation of the dura. Closure of the retropharyngeal mucosa around the orifice of the Eustachian tube was also incomplete in spite of the paramedian incision described above. Postoperative course was complicated by an frequent occurrence of the attack of bronchial asthma causing loss of gastic juice from the gastrostomy and resultant hypoproteinemia, although the recovery of lower cranial nerve palsy was good. There was no signs of infection until the 21st postoperative day when meningitis developed. The patient died in the 28th postoperative day. The importance of complete closure of the dura and retropharyngeal mucosa to prevent meningial infection was discussed. Since the mucosa around the orifice of Eustachian tube was extremely friable and the closure was almost impossible, the risk of meningial infection was considered to be high, especially when the intradural procedure was necessary through transoral high clivotomy.


[A case of spontaneous CSF otorrhea associated with recurrent meningitis (author's transl)]. A 5-year-old girl was admitted to our hopsital on June, 1972, because of meningitis and CSF otorrhea. She had not suffered from head trauma or otological infective disease. Right temporal craniotomy was carried out on October, 1972, but no pathological findings on the anterior surface of the petrous bone was detected, so, the right middle ear bottom was packed with fascia graft by otologist, which stopped the CSF otorrhea for seven months. But the otorrhea recurred on June, 1973, when she caught cold. She was readmitted to our hospital because of recurrent meningitis. On November 7, 1973, when the meningitis abated, posterior fossa exploration was performed microsurgically. Strong arachnoid adhesion due to recurrent meningitis and enlargement of the right internal auditory meatus was observed. Probe could be inserted into the internal auditory meatus easily at a depth of 1.5 cm. Saline which was injected into the meatus from the probe flowed into the right middle ear. So the internal auditory meatus was packed with Gelfoam and muscle piece. By means of this procedure, CSF otorrhea was healed completely. Spontaneous CSF otorrhea, which was initially reported in 1897 by Escat, is a very rare disease. Only 15 cases have been reported in the literature. Two main possible routes of CSF leakage were reported, the one is via the internal auditory meatus, the other is via the cochlear aqueduct (Fig. 3). The former cases were more frequent than the latter. Our case belongs to the former type. (Fig. 4)


[Leiomyosarcoma of the stomach].

[Leiomyosarcoma of the stomach]. A case of gastric leiomyosarcoma (primary maliganant mesenchymal neoplasia of non-lymphoblastic origin) personally observed, is presented. The pathological anatomy, aetiopathogensis, symptomatology and diagnosis of this disease are described as well as the surgical treatment of the case.


[Problems of anesthesia and recovery in neonatal surgery. Personal experience during ther period 1970-1975]. On the basis of personal experience during the past five years, the anaesthesiological and resuscitatory problems of neonatal surgery are considered, with special regard to the following pathological conditions: oesophageal atresia, diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele and gastroschisis, neonatal peritonitis, anal atresia, intestinal atresia and stenosis. It is stated that the new post-operative care tecniques have not only improved survival percentages, but, in the case of oesophageal atresia, have made it possible to operate (radically) even in seriously immature babies with ongoing complications.


[Pseudomembranous colitis caused by antibiotics]. Six cases of pseudomembranous colitis caused by antibiotics are presented. The endoscopic, radiological and clinical picture and the aetiopathogenesis of this unusual disease are discussed. Lincomycin was incriminated in one case only. In the remainder, various antibiotics of different chemical structure were responsible. Carcinoma of the colon was a common feature and it is suggested that a full examination of the large intestine should be made whenever this syndrome appears. While radiological suspicion may be forthcoming, pseudomembranous colitis is diagnosed only by endoscopy and biopsy.


[Friedreich's disease, diabetes and pregnancy. Description of a case]. Birth of an infant at term to a diabetic woman with a severe form of Friedreich's disease is reported. The aetiopathogenesis of the cardiac deformities that led to the death of the child on day seven of life is discussed.


[Metabolic endoradiotherapy with P32 in skeletal metastases from breast neoplasms. Note I]. 22 patients suffering from breast neoplasia with particularly painful bone metastasis were treated with radiophosphorus. Only occasionally was an evident recalcification condition encountered and survival, although exceptional in some cases, did not deviate from normal. On the basis, also, of clinical and experimental observations reported in the literature, it is held that the use of 32P in metabolic radiotherapy of bone metastases is worthwhile and is justified because of the encouraging successes obtained, especially in pain remission.


[Clinical trial of coenzyme A in hepatopathies]. Coenzyme A (900 L.U. i.v.) was administered for 20 days in 18 cases of viral hepatitis, 2 of chronic ethylic hepatosis, and 5 of ascitic portal cirrhosis. Blood lactic acid, pyruvic acid, serum transaminase and beta/alpha lipoprotein ratio were determined. BSF and colloidal serolability tests were also carried out. The benefits of coenzyme A treatment were particularly indicated by the significant changes noted in lactic and pyruvic acid values.


Thermal injury during pregnancy.

Thermal injury during pregnancy. Nineteen pregnant women with burn areas ranging from 6 to 92% of the total body surface area were treated at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research between 1951 and 1974. A review of these cases led to the following observations and conclusions: 1) Pregnancy does not alter the maternal outcome after thermal injury. 2) Maternal survival is usually accompanied by fetal survival. 3) If the gravida's injury is lethal, the pregnancy will usually terminate spontaneously prior to her death. 4) Obstetric intervention is indicated only in the gravely ill woman whose complications (hypotension, hypoxia, or sepsis) jeopardize the life of the fetus. 5) A better understanding of the complications of major burns and the care available in modern burn units should improve the prognosis for burned pregnant patients.


Growth hormone secretion in insulin-independent pregnant diabetics. A study was initiated to determine whether hypersecretion of growth hormone (HGH) was involved in the inhibition of normal glucose metabolism in pregnant insulin-independent diabetic (IID). A total of 25 patients was studied, of whom 13 had normal glucose tolerance and 12 were recently diagnosed IIDs. Hgh secretion was stimulated by insulin-induced hypoglycemia. The mean basal HGH levels and the plasma HGH pattern following the insulin stimulus were similar in the study group and the normal controls. Although it is unlikely that HGH participates to any significant degree in the diabetogenicity of normal and diabetic pregnancy, final proof depends on the assessment of the biologically active inhibitory polypeptide fraction of HGH and the growth-promoting protein, somatomedin.


Malignant melanoma of the cervix uteri.

Malignant melanoma of the cervix uteri. Primary malignant melanoma of the uterine cervix in a 70-year-old Negro female is reported. Only 9 other cases have been reported in the literature. The diagnosis, prognosis, and modern trends in therapy for this lesion are discussed.


Chromosome studies in couples with repeated spontaneous abortions. Karyotypes were prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes in 77 couples in whom there was no apparent cause for recurrent spontaneous abortion. In addition to conventional staining, chromosomes were stained by the new technics for Q-, G-, or C-banding. Translocations were found in 5 of 154 persons (3.25% or 1:31 individuals). The frequency of translocations in the general adult population is 0.4% (1:255). Two translocations were apparent only with the new technics for banding. The incidence of chromosomal microanomalies was 7.79% (2.6% in the general population). Karyotyping of couples with recurrent abortion is recommended, with use of the new staining technics.


Management of failed prostaglandin abortions. Midtrimester abortion was induced in 529 patients by administration of the naturally occurring prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha as well as the 15-methyl analogs, 15-ME-PGE2 and 15-ME-PGF2alpha. Ten patients failed to abort with prostaglandin therapy, even in association with intravenous oxytocin, a failure rate of 1.9%. Two failures were related to uterine malformation; 1 patient had the pregnancy in a blind uterine horn, and the second patient was pregnant in one horn of a uterus didelphys. Five of the 10 patients who failed to abort during prostaglandin administration were subsequently found to have uterine distortion due to myomata uteri. When abortion induced by prostaglandin fails to occur within the expected time for the agent and technic employed, the presence of uterine malformation or abnormality should be considered. Evaluation with ultrasonography is indicated along with a repeat test to confirm the pregnancy. If the sonogram is suggestive of uterin malformation, a hysterosalpinogram should be obtained to determine if there is communication between the cervix and the gestational sac. If no communication is present, an intravenous pyelogram should be performed in view of the 90% correlation of urogenital abnormalities, and an exploratory laparotomy should be performed. When a communication exists between the cervix and the gestational sac, the 24 hours of uterine activity induced by the prostaglandin will have resulted in cervical changes so that the cervix can easily be dilated to either a 14 or 16 Hegar dilator and the conceptus can be removed in parts with minimal bleeding.


Lymphaticoperitoneal fistula.

Lymphaticoperitoneal fistula. Two cases of lymphaticoperitoneal fistula are reported. One patient had a recurrent carcinoma of the cervix and the other had a recurrent vaginal carcinoma. A brief discussion of the pathophysiology is presented.


Prolactin hypersecretion and short luteal phase defects. The short luteal phase is commonly found in ovulating women presenting with infertility, or in amenorrheic women induced to ovulate with clomiphene. When the short luteal phase defect is accompanied by the discovery of galactorrhea, the two abnormalities may share a common underlying cause. Two cases are presented to demonstrate the short luteal phase defect as one early manifestation that may occur during the development of the amenorrhea-galactorrhea syndrome. Antiprolactin therapy may cause this menstrual disorder to revert to normal, allowing normal fertility and terminating the galactorrhea.


Congenital syphilis after maternal treatment with erythromycin. A case is reported in which erythromycin was used successfully to treat maternal syphilis but failed to adequately treat the fetus. This report and similar studies suggest that oral erythromycin is not a reasonable alternative drug for the treatment of lues in the penicillin-allergic gravid female.


The occupational health nurse's role in the corporate alcoholism program. The problem of alcohol abuse among the nation's employees takes its toll in countless ways -- in absenteeism, lost productivity, increased utilization of health benefits and eventual loss of the employee's services. In all cases both the employee and the employer lose. Like most other health professionals, nurses have received little education in the care and treatment of persons suffering with alcoholism or alcohol-related problems. But with the appropriate training and the total commitment of her company, she can be in a unique position to offer assistance to the alcoholic employee. The seriousness of this problem today demands that all effective means be utilized. We can no longer afford to mitigate or ignore the occupational health nurse's valuable role in contributing to the success of the corporate alcoholism program.


Schirmer's test: its normal values and clinical significance. The lacrimal secretion in 99 healthy individuals has been measured by Schirmer's method. The established statistical limits of normal lacrimal secretion were tested in 18 patients submitted to geniculate ganglionectomy because of petrosal neuralgia, in 15 patients with traumatic, in 17 patients with idiopathic, and in 10 patients with herpetic facial palsy. A significant bilateral reduction of lacrimation was found to be as indicative for a unilateral interruption of the parasympathetic iaring. Abnormal unilateral and bilateral values of lacrimation were present in 93% of the traumatic, in 53% of the idiopathic, and in 60% of the herpetic facial palsies respectively. There is evidence that a significantly disturbed lacrimal flow has not only topographic, but also prognostic value in facial nerve palsy.


Attachment of the inner sensory cell hairs to the tectorial membrane. A scanning electron microscopic study. The residue of tectorial membrane insertion of cochlear inner sensory cell hairs was studied under a scanning electron microscope. In addition to the clear imprints resulting from outer sensory cell hair insertions, an adjacent medial row of bow-shaped imprints was noted on the base of the tectorial membrane. The relative position of these imprints corresponded to the location and the size of the inner cell hairs. These imprints were thus thought to arise from the insertion of the inner sensory hair cells. Such imprints were found only in the lower turns of the cat's cochlea, but not on the guinea pig tectorial membrane. Thus an actual physical contact between the tectorial membrane and the inner sensory cell hiars may exist in some species but not in others, and when there is physical contact, it is thought to be less firm than that of the outer sensory hair cells.


Personal experience with tympanoplasty in children. An analysis is presented of a series of 434 operations in chronic otitis media in children taking into account the extent of the lesion, the type of operation, the early and late functional and morphological results. In 18% of cases a radical operation was performed, in 21% atticotomy or other conservative operations, and in 61% open or closed tympanoplasty. Because of dynamic character of the cholesteatomatous process in childhood, the creation of a "safe ear", i.e. free of recurrences of cholesteatoma, is difficult by means of closed tympanoplasty operations.


Effect of autonomic nerve transection on the patency of the nasal cavity. The present study deals with the behaviour of the erectile tissue of the nasal mucosa in the normal rat and after selective transection of the autonomic nerve supply, measured with physiological and histometrical techniques. In the normal animal cyclic changes in the patency of the nasal lumen occurs with a cyclus time of 61 min, disturbances being observed in this rhythm a few weeks after transection of the various autonomic nerves. Selective transection of the main route of the sympathetic or the parasympathetic systems results in a dominance of the antagonist (congestion or decongestion). Transection of both systems does not result in a significant change in the dilated state of the nasal cavity from normal, although the cyclic activity disappears. A tendency towards a normal nasal cycle was observed several months after transection.


Human nasal blood vessels after permanent tracheostomy. Electron-microscopic study. Biopsy specimens from the inferior turbimate of 13 permanently tracheostomized patients were examined by the electron microscope. Variations from the normal were recorded, as proliferation of capillaries, venous congestion and arteriolar contraction. The relation of shunting air away to these changes is discussed.


Pharyngeal symptoms caused by cervical osteophytes. A case of cervical osteophytes producing the sensation of a 'lump in the throat' is described. This symptom was relieved by excision of the offending osteophytes. Emphasis is placed on the need for surgical correction before progression of degenerative disease makes the procedure technically impossible. Several points concerning the operative and postoperative management are made.


Effect of cytostatic agents on salivary gland tissue of the rat. The influence of 5-fluorouracil. Application of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) for 3 weeks considerably decreased submaxillary gland weight but had no apparent influence on amylase and protein concentrations in gland extracts and isoamylase distribution patterns as revealed by electrophoresis. After another 3 weeks during which no 5FU was administered, an overproduction of protein synthesis (especially amylase) was observed.


Anatomical, histological, and physiological factors in experienced downhill skiers. The present investigation was performed in experienced downhill skiers to study anthropometrical and physiological changes. We also studied the muscles that are most active during downhill skiing and the histological properties of these muscles.


Localized muscle fatigue and dynamic balance. This investigation was designed for the purpose of ascertaining if one muscle group (dorsi flexors, abdominals, plantar flexors, or knee and hip flexors and extensors) could be identified which most significantly affects dynamic balance. The dependent variable was the dynabalometer. Subjects were 100 male volunteers, between the ages of 19 and 25 yr. Subjects were randomly  assigned to a control or 1 of 4 treatment groups. Testing was counterbalanced over time and day. Controls had a practice period and 3 performance trials; other Ss had a practice period, localized fatigue of a muscle group followed by 3 performance trials. Analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between treatment groups (F = 312.09, p less than .01). Multiple comparisons of treatment means showed that only one muscle group, the knee and hip flexors and extensors, differed significantly from all other groups (q = 4.75, p less than .01). Results indicate strongly that the knee and hip flexors and extensors can be considered a most important muscle group for performance by ordinary male college students on the dynabalometer.


Intra-oral shape recognition by 138 mentally retarded subjects. Among Ss with normal intelligence, oral shape-recognition tests have shown a relationship between articulatory ability and oral sensory integrity. This investigation explored oral sensory impairment as a possible contributory cause of the articulatory difficulties exhibited by the mentally retarded. The Florida Oral-form Recognition Measure (FORM), a task requiring the intra-oral identification of 10 geometric shapes, was administered to 138 mentally retarded Ss. Twenty Ss were retested to establish reliability. Ss were placed in groups according to etiological categories (AAMD classification) and were assigned speech ratings by a speech pathologist. Of the total sample, 86% had varying degrees of defective speech or language. Mean FORM score was 3.5, and preliminary analysis yielded significant correlations between FORM score and IQ and between speech and language rating. Further multivariate analysis with IQ held as a co-variant indicated no significant relationship between FORM score and communicative ability. This suggests caution in inferring that intra-oral shape-recognition scores reflect degree of oral sensory integrity. Perhaps a battery of oral perceptual tasks might more validly assess oral sensation-perception and aid in clarifying its relationship to speech.


Relationship between cognitive tempo and selective attention in learning disabled children. The relationship between cognitive tempo and selective attention in 29 learning disabled children was investigated. The performance of the 9 reflective and the 9 impulsive children on selective-attention tasks was compared. An examination of t tests and correlations between variables for each task showed a relationship between cognitive tempo and selective attention. This relationship was stronger for central than for incidental recall.


Oral stereognostic ability among tongue thrusters with interdental lisp, tongue thrusters without interdental lisp and normal children. 30 children, i.e., 10 children per group, 8 yr. of age, were given an oral stereognostic test. This test of 10 geometric forms varying in shape were developed by NIDR. 47 stimuli pairs were used and 10 pairs were repeated to measure test reliability. Subjects were blindfolded and asked to respond whether Items 1 and 2, presented consecutively, were the same or different. Results indicated that both groups of tongue thrusters with and without interdental lisp scored significantly more poorly than did normal children (t = 4.68, P less than .001; t = 5.00, P less than .001), respectively. There were no significant differences, however, between tongue thrusters with and without interdental lisp (t = .33, P greater than .05). Observations indicated that normal children used the tongue tip more frequently and accurately when discriminating the geometric forms than did the other groups.


Pheromonal control of aggressive display in siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens). Male Siamese fighting fish displayed and respirated from the surface more frequently in water containing secretions collected from non-displaying male conspecifics than they did in clean water. Secretions collected from males given the opportunity to display to a mirror for 16, 30, or 45 min. did not affect display activity. However, secretions collected from males allowed to display to a mirror for 16 min. produced an increase in respiration rates. Secretions collected from males which had been stressed by electric shock resulted in decrements in aggressive display. Taken together, results of these experiments suggest that male Siamese fighting fish secrete substances which affect mirror-induced aggression and respiration rates.


On the mechanism of the negative inotropic effect of acetylcholine. The negative inotropic action of ACh was investigated by voltage clamping mammalian atrial myocardium with the single sucrose gap method. Acetylcholine (ACh) affected the outward current, slow inward current and clamp tension in a concentration dependent way. 1. Concentrations of ACh which reduced action potential twitch tensions by up to 30 or 40% (ED-30-ED-40) increased steady state outward currents but had no effect on the time dependent outward current, the slow inward current or voltage clamp tension. This indicates that in this dose range the negative inotropy during normal activity can be completely explained by an "indirect" effect on the slow inward current, i.e. increased outward current shortens the action potential and prevents the slow inward current from running its normal time course. 2. Higher concentration of ACh (ED-70-ED-90) greatly increased the steady state outward currents and abolished anomalous rectification without affecting delayed rectification. The slow inward current and voltage clamp tension were reduced indicating that in this concentration range a 'direct' effect of ACh on the slow inward current and tension may be expected to add to the 'indirect' effect mentioned above.


Vasoconstrictor and pilomotor fibres in skin nerves to the cat's tail. Postganglionic neurones to the tail's skin of the cat were investigated with regard to their spontaneous activity, response characteristics to somatic stimuli and asphyxia, the conduction velocity of their axons, and the conduction velocity of the preganglionic axons converging on them. The cats were anaesthetized with chloralose, immobilized, and arteficially ventilated. With this regimen the postganglionic neurones were divided into two types: 1. Type 1 neurones are spontaneously active and exhibit reflexes upon somatic stimulation. During asphyxia they are mostly first depressed and then excited for about 2-3 min. Their axons conduct with 0.57 +/- 0.13 m/s (mean +/- SD). The pregaglionic axons converging on them conduct with 5.4 +/- 1.6 m/s. 2. Type 2 neurones are not spontaneously active and exhibit with few exceptions no reflexes on somatic stimuli. During asphyxia they are activated after 3-4 min, concomitantly with piloerection, when the activity in type 1 neurones is already decreasing. Their axons conduct with 0.84 +/- 0.14 m/s, the preganglionic axons converging on them conduct with 9.9 +/- 2.9 m/s. 3. From these characteristics it is concluded that type 1 neurones have vasomotor function and most type 2 neurones pilomotor function.


Activation and inhibition of muscle and cutaneous postganglionic neurones to hindlimb during hypothalamically induced vasoconstriction and atropine-sensitive vasodilation. 1. Discharge patterns in postganglionic neurones to muscle and to hairy skin of the hindlimb of chloralose anaesthetized cats were investigated during electrical hypothalamic stimulation which induced either vasoconstriction or atropine sensitive vasodilation in the skeletal muscle. 2. Spontaneously active postganglionic neurones to muscle were activated both during hypothalamically induced vasoconstriction and active vasodilation. Stimulation of the hypothalamic vasodilator area induced mostly a sequence of activation-depression-activation in these neurones. Stimulation of cutaneous Group IV afferents elicited reflexes in these neurones; repetitive high frequency stimulation of large diameter afferents in the vago-depressor nerve produced depression of spontaneous activity followed by a post-inhibitory excitation. The characteristics of these neurones fit those that would be expected of vasoconstrictors. 3. Normally inactive postganglionic neurones to skeletal muscle could only be activated during hypothalamically induced atropine sensitive vasodilation. These neurones exhibit no reflexes on somatic stimulation. The axons of these neurones conduct faster than those of the spontaneously active postganglionic neurones. It is likely that they are cholinergic vasodilator neurones. 4. Most of the cutaneous postganglionic neurones to hairy skin were activated during stimulation of both the hypothalamic vasoconstrictor and the vasodilator areas. These neurones have the characteristics of cutaneous vasoconstrictor neurones. Part of the cutaneous not spontaneously active postganglionic neurones could neither be activated from the hypothalamus nor by somatic stimuli.


The effects of different patterns of muscle activity on capillary density, mechanical properties and structure of slow and fast rabbit muscles. When rabbit fast muscles were chronically stimulated at a frequency naturally occurring in nerves to slow muscles (10 Hz), there was a transformation towards a slow muscle type such as an increase of capillary density, increased activity of the oxidative enzyme, succinic dehydrogenase, and a decrease of muscle fibre diameters. After 28 days the intensity and distribution of SDH and the capillary density were similar to those of soleus. The increases in capillary density preceded the changes in activity of SDH; there was a significantly greater capillary/muscle fibre ratio and number of capillaries/mm2 in muscles stimulated for only 4 days at which time no change could be detected in SDH. These changes were induced by slow frequency stimulation only, and not by an overall increase of activity. Stimulation of fast muscles for 4 days at a higher frequency naturally occurring in the nerves to fast muscles (short bursts of tetani), with the same total number of stimuli as that used in slow frequency stimulation did not produce any changes in capillary density, activity of SDH or contraction times. No changes were observed in either fast or slow muscles stimulated with short bursts of tetani (and lower total number of impulses) up to 28 days. Activation of fast muscles at 5 Hz continuously or 10 Hz intermittently also caused an increase in capillary density. It is therefore concluded that only low frequency activation of fast muscles brings about a transformation of the muscle fibres towards a slow type and that the first noticeable change is an increase in the capillary density.


The effect of amiloride on the transepithelial potential difference of the distal tubule of the rat kidney. Microelectrodes with relatively large tips (3-5 mu O.D.) were used to measure the transepithelial potential difference (PD) of the distal tubule of the rat kidney in the control state and following i.v. administration of amiloride. This drug produced an increase in the magnitude of the positive PD in early distal segments (from +8.0 to +10.5 mV) and a change in polarity of the PD in late distal segments (from -18.0 to +2.5 mV). These data suggest that the potassium-conserving properties of the drug are due to its ability to induce an unfavorable electrochemical gradient opposing passive potassium secretion along the distal tubule.


Induction of acetylcholine receptors in muscle cultures. Acetylcholine receptors in muscle cells differentiated in vitro were monitored by using 125 I-alpha-bungarotoxin. The number of cholinergic receptors was increased 4-8 fold in 2 days due to inhibition of spontaneous contraction of the muscle fibers. The inhibition of this activity, whether mediated through tetrodotoxin, lidocaine or D-600, did not affect the biochemical differentiation of muscle, as represented by creatine-phosphokinase and acetylcholinesterase activity. "Induction" of receptors by tetrodotoxin was inhibited by cycloheximide, actinomycin-D, or 5-bromotubericidine. Dystrophic muscle responded in vitro to inhibition of contraction similar to normal tissue.


Transport of p-aminohippuric acid by plasma membrane vesicles isolated from rat kidney cortex. Basal-lateral plasma membrane vesicles and brush border membrane vesicles were isolated from rat kidney cortex and the uptake of p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) into these vesicles was studied by Millipore filtration techniques. Both membrane preparations take up PAH into an osmotically reactive intravesicular space. The transport across the brush border membrane seems to involve only simple diffusion whereas in the basal-lateral plasma membrane in addition a specific transport system exists which is inhibited competitively by probenecid. The apparent affinity of this transport system for PAH is 5.4 X 10(-4) M and for probenecid 5.4 X 10(-5) M. PAH uptake into basal-lateral plasma membrane vesicles is influenced by alteration of the membrane potential. Maneuvers which render the intravesicular space more positive--as for example replacement of chloride by sulfate in the presence of a sodium gradient directed into the vesicles and addition of valinomycin in the presence of a potassium gradient directed into the vesicles--stimulate the uptake of PAH. Replacement of a sodium chloride gradient by a sodium thiocyanate gradient reduces the uptake probably by reducing the inside positive membrane potential. In the absence of salt gradients anion replacement and replacement of sodium by potassium does not affect PAH transport by basal-lateral plasma membranes. These results suggest that in isolated basal-lateral membranes transfer of PAH across the membrane is accompanied by a transfer of negative charge. They furthermore provide no evidence for the existence of a sodium-PAH cotransport system in this membrane preparation.


K and Na ion content in the Pacinian corpuscle fluid and its role in the activity of receptors. 1. Potassium and sodium concentrations within the Pacinian corpuscle fluid have been investigated in adult cats. The sodium and potassium contents of samples were estimated by means of integrative ultramicroflame photometry. 2. The analytical results showed the values of the potassium concentration in the Pacinian corpuscle fluid and in the blood plasma to be 6.19 +/- 0.72 and 2.78 +/- 0.38 mequiv/1, respectively. 3. The increasing excitability of the Pacinian corpuscle in potassium-rich solution was shown by electrophysiologic methods. In potassium-free solution two phases of changing receptor excitability were observed. 4. Removal of sodium from external solution reduced the receptor potential to 10% of its original value. 5. Some mechanisms of the increase in excitability of primary tissue mechanoreceptors and secondary mechanoreceptors of the sense organs are discussed.


Enzyme activities in hepatic venous blood under strenuous physical exercise. In order to study the influence of physical exercise on liver function, experiments were performed in healthy volunteers subjected to controlled major physical effort. Blood samples obtained by catheterization of hepatic vein during exercise were analyzed for activities of LD (thermostabile and thermolabile isoenzymes), AlAT, SDH, ICD, AP and CPK, and these activities were compared with corresponding values in arterial blood samples taken simultaneously. Hepatic blood flow and oxygen saturation of hepatic venous blood were measured. Physical exercise resulted both in diminished hepatic blood flow and a fall in hepatic venous oxygen saturation. These changes were accompanied by release of liver specific enzymes, indicating that exhausting exercise may induce an "increased hepatocyte membrane permeability" in man.


Effects of altering spinal cord temperature on temperature regulation in the Adelie Penguin, Pygoscelis Adeliae. In 6 Adelie penguins, thermodes were implanted in the cervical and upper thoracic spinal canal. At thermoneutral (+8 to +16 degrees C) and cold (-18 to -22 degrees C) ambient conditions, the effects of spinal canal heating and cooling on the surface temperature of one flipper (skin blood flow), oxygen consumption (metabolic heat production) and esophageal (core) temperature were observed in the conscious animals.- At thermoneutral ambient conditions, spinal cord cooling reduced and spinal heating increased skin blood flow. Only very strong spinal cooling induced small increases of oxygen consumption, while spinal heating had no effect at all. The relation between spinal canal temperature and metabolic heat production at thermoneutral ambient conditions could be described by a linear regression with a slope of -0.05 W. KG-1 . DEGREES C-1. -At cold ambient conditions, the skin vessels of the flippers were permanently constricted and an increase of metabolic heat production by 5-50% of the resting rate developed within 1-3 h of cold exposure. Spinal cord cooling augmented metabolic heat production. Spinal heating reduced heat production but did not release skin vasoconstriction even at high stimulus intensities. The relation between spinal canal temperature and metabolic heat production in the cold could be described by a linear regression with a slope of -0,52 W. kg-1 . degrees C-1. -It is concluded that temperature sensors with specific functions in temperature regulation are located in the spinal cord of the Adelie penguin. These sensors contribute to the central temperature signal input in the hypothermic and hyperthermic ranges of core temperature. The peripheral thermal conditions strongly influence the responsiveness of the various thermoregulatory effectors to the spinal thermal stimulus.


Intracellular ion concentration and electrical activity in potassium-depleted mammalian soleus muscle fibers. The relationship between the intracellular cation concentration and the membrane potential has been studied in "Na-rich" soleus muscle fibers of rats which had been fed a K-free diet for 10-50 days. The resting potentials of "Na-rich" muscle fibers closely agreed with the theoretical potential expected from ionic theory when a quantitative dissociation of active cation transport with Na ions extrusion exceeding K ions uptake was eliminated due to the recovery of "Na-rich" fibers in Krebs solution with 10 mM K for 2 h at 37 degrees C. The hyperpolarized membrane potentials during cellular Na ions extrusion were accounted for by the sum of the potentials produced by the electrogenic Na-pump and by the ionic diffusion potential. On the other hand, the amplitude of overshoot of action potentials decreased linearly with the logarithmic increase of the intracellular Na concentration ([Na]i). The maximum rate of rise of action potentials also changed as a fraction of [Na]i, though, at the early period of K-deficiency the inhibitory effect of the increased [Na]i on the maximum rate of rise was transiently masked by the hyperpolarization produced by the electrogenic Na-pump which secondarily led to a progressive reduction of Na inactivation, while the maximum rate of fall was a linear function of [K]i.


The influence of the position of the oxygen dissociation curve on oxygen-dependent functions of the isolated perfused rat liver. I. Studies at different levels of hypoxic hypoxia. Isolated rat livers were perfused with fresh and 2,3-DPG (2,3-diphosphoglycerate)-depleted human erythrocytes at different levels of hypoxia. The mean P50 values of the measured actual oxygen dissociation curves (O.D.C.) were 24.5 and 18 mm Hg. No changes in flow rate and perfusion pressure occurred under the different experimental conditons. It was shown that an advantage or disadvantage of a shift of the O.D.C. depends on the degree of hypoxia, as reflected in the venous PO2. Perfusions with fresh erythrocytes showed higher venous PO2 values during normoxia or moderate hypoxia and lower venous PO2 values at severe hypoxia. A cross-over point was found at a PO2 in the portal vein of 36 mm Hg. The disadvantage of perfusions with fresh erythrocytes at severre hypoxia was also reflected in higher cytoplasmatic and mitochondrial redox levels. Using bile flow rate as an indirect measure for the rate of hydroxylation-dependent O2 consumption a favourable effect of perfusion with fresh erythrocytes was found at a PO2 in the portal vein of 100 and 40 mm Hg.


Current-voltage relation and reversal potential at junctional and extrajunctional ACh-receptors of the frog neuromuscular junction. The relationship between synaptic current and membrane potential has been examined at junctional and extrajunctional end-plate receptors of the frog. At junctional receptors, the synaptic current-membrane potential relationship is linear for close range iontophoretic ACh application and non-linear when it is delivered from some distance. At extra-junctional receptors the current-voltage relationship is always non-linear. These non-linearities can be related to the fact that in both cases [ACh] on membrane outlasts the mean life-time of the synaptic channels. When their mean life-time is varied, the current-voltage relationship obtained at junctional receptors is no longer linear and the peak synaptic conductance increases or decreases with hyperpolarization as the channel life time is shortened or lengthened, respectively.


The dilatatory action of adenosine on pial arteries of cats and its inhibition by theophylline. The effect of adenosine upon pial resistance vessels was studied using local microapplication from the perivascular side and measurement of vascular diameter. Concentration-response curves revealed a concentration-dependent dilatatory effect of adenosine between 10(-7) and 10(-3) M. The degree of dilatation was independent of initial vessel size (47-260 mu). The dilatations due to adenosine could be reduced by theophylline in a reversible competitive antagonism. Concentration-response curves for theophylline yielded no vascular reaction at concentrations of up to 10(-5) M theophylline. From these data is is concluded that the pial arterial resting tone is not influenced under our experimental conditions by adenosine formed and released by brain tissue. The dilatations measured at high theophylline concentrations are apparently due to a mechanism different from the adenosine antagonism.


Potassium induced potential changes in rat diaphragm muscle. The effect of different potassium concentrations on the membrane potential and membrane resistance of rat diaphragm muscle fibres was measured by means of a double sucrose gap method and a microelectrode technique. Concentration measurements showed that the muscle fibres gained sodium and lost potassium in the equilibration period. In the absence of external chloride changing the external potassium concentration from 2.8 mM to  potassium-free caused a depolarization of the membrane of about 30 mV and a small increase in membrane resistance. This K-dependent potential change (K-response) was induced by ouabain, K-strophanthin, 2,4-dinitrophenol and cyanide, indicating that an energy requiring process is involved. The temperature dependence of the K-response found is consistent with this assumption. Variation in potassium permeability in the absence and presence of external potassium could account for only 13% of the K-response. The K-response amplitude appeared to depend on the external potassium and the internal sodium concentration. Hyperpolarization of the membrane could not only be produced after readmission of potassium but also after addition of thallium, the latter being more potent. Raising the external chloride concentration resulted in a decrease of the K-response and membrane resistance. The current, generating the K-response was shown to be hardly influenced by conditional polarization of the membrane. It is concluded from these results that the K-response is mainly due to the operation of an electrogenic sodium pump.


Effects of altering rostral brain stem temperature on temperature regulation in the Adelie penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae. In 4 Adelie penguins, thermodes were implanted in the rostral brain stem. Two animals were additionally equipped with spinal canal thermodes. At thermoneutral (+8 to +16 degrees C) and cold (-18 to -22 degrees C) ambient conditions, the effects of hypothalamic heating and cooling on the surface temperature of one flipper (skin blood flow), oxygen consumption (metabolic heat production) and esophageal (core) temperature were observed in the conscious animals.- Heating the rostral brain stem induced heat defence responses: Heat production was reduced in the cold and skin vasodilatation was evoked at thermoneutral ambient conditions. As a rule, core temperature fell during rostral brain stem heating.- Cooling the rostral brain stem did not induce clear-cut cold defence responses. On the contrary, strong cooling at thermo-neutral ambient conditions induced vasodilation in the skin. In the cold, even slight degrees of rostral brain stem cooling decreased metabolic heat production. As a rule, core temperature fell when the rostral brain stem was cooled.- It is concluded from the results that thermosensitive structures in the stimulated section of the rostral brain stem of the Adelie penguin contribute to the central temperature signal input in the range of normal to elevated core temperatures. These hypothalamic warm signals appear to be at least as effective as spinal warm signals in controlling skin blood flow and metabolic heat production. The inhibition of ongoing thermoregulatory effector activity by rostral brain stem cooling suggests positive temperature coefficients of the integrative and/or efferent neurons in the hypothalamic temperature regulation center of the Adelie penguin.


A response duration limiting effect in the frog's visual system. Optic nerve axons were recorded in dark adapted frogs. The responses to light stimuli are dependent on 2 systems: a rate saturation- and a delayed quenching mechanism. In the rate saturation mechanism, an increase of stimulus intensity or diameter increases the firing rate of a unit, until a plateau is reached. In the delayed quenching mechanism the response duration decreases with increasing stimulus intensity or diameter. Interaction of these mechanisms causes the increase and decrease in the number of impulses with increasing stimulus intensity or stimulus diameter.


Work-induced potassium changes in skeletal muscle and effluent venous blood assessed by liquid ion-exchanger microelectrodes. Using liquid ion-exchanger semimicroelectrodes with a side pore, we measured changes of extracellular potassium concentration (Ke+) in adult rabbit and cat gastrocnemius muscles and in venous effluent blood flowing from the cat gastrocnemius muscle during various bouts of activity induced by sciatic nerve stimulation. 1. Isometric tetanic contractions (at 50 Hz) of various durations caused transient accumulation of Ke+ which was non-linearly related to the duration of muscle activity. The peak values of Ke+ in response to muscle stimulation were analogous in rabbits and cats, attaining values, e.g. after a 20-sisometric tetanus, between 8-9 mEq/1K+ in both species. 2. Potassium concentration in venous effleunt blood (K+ven) was transiently increased after isometric tetani. Since blood flow was measured at the same time, it was possible to calculate the amount of K+ lost by the muscle after tetani of various durations. A 32 g gastrocnemius muscle of the cat, for example, loses 9.36 +/- 1.52 muEqK+ after a 20-s isometric tetanus, which corresponds roughly to 0.5% of the total muscle potassium content. The loss of K+ in this muscle was 29.3 pEq K+ /impulse/100 g fresh muscle tissue. 3. There was no evident difference between the amount of K+ released during isometric tetani, or tetanic contractions performed under isotonic conditions. Single twitches evoked by indirect stimulation at 1 HZ for several minutes also induced a small rise in K+ven. 4. If the loss of K+ from the muscle into the blood stream is transiently prevented by arterio-venous occlusion installed immediately before a 10-s isometric tetanus, most K+ is released subsequently when blood flow is renewed, if the occlusion lasts for 20-25 s. It is not until blood flow is occuded for 40-60 s that most K+ is apparently resorbed and only a minor portion is released and is to be found in the venous blood. 5. The transient accumulation of muscle extra-cellular potassium may locally affect nerve endings, skeletal and smooth muscle cells.


[The effect of hydrocortisone on lipid mobilization]. Acetate-1-C14 was administered to rats 18 hours before the administration of hydrocortisone for the purpose of studying the action of this hormone on lipid mobilization. Blood plasma and adipose tissue lipid content failed to change, but it decreased in the liver. Hydrocortisone accelerated the elimination of the label from lipids of the liver, did not alter the radioactivity of blood plasma lipids and stimulated accumulation of endogenous label in the lipids of adipose tissue. An acceleration of lipid catabolism in the liver and of lipid anabolism in the adipose tissue was accompanied by stimulation of gluconeogenesis in the liver from the endogenous precursors. In discussing the materials the primary role of intensification of gluconeogenesis in the liver in the mechanism of the regulating action of glucocorticoids on lipid metabolism was postulated.


[The role of catecholamines in the mechanisms of thyroid gland influence on the development of "stress" and "steroid" stomach ulcers]. It was demonstrated in experiments on rats that induction of "stress" and "steroid" ulcers of the stomach was accompanied by reduction in adrenaline and noradrenaline content in the wall of the stomach. Induction of such ulcers in the animals with experimental disturbances of the thyroid gland function was also accompanied by a reduction in catecholamine content in the wall of the stomach; this phenomenon was much more pronounced in hyperthyroidism than in hypothyroidism, however.