Collagen diseases and the biosynthesis of collagen. Increasing knowledge concerning the molecular structure of collagen and the steps involved in its biosynthesis provides the basis for a new look at the collagen diseases. Some, like the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, are now known to be the expression of primary molecular defects; others, such as scurvy and scleroderma, appear to be secondary to some process that disrupts normal controls over collagen synthesis or deposition.


Articular cartilage transplantation.

Articular cartilage transplantation. This report describes the biopsy findings in four of 30 patients treated with cadaver osteochondral shell allografts for osteoarthritis in the knee. This study demonstrates that graft cartilage cells can survive in excess of 25 months, and that host bone can completely replace graft bone by creeping substitution. An inflammatory reaction in synovium and bone marrow was found in only one of four cases. Graft failure was related to prolonged down time of donor cartilage in one case and mechanical factors related to osteoarthritis in the apposing femoral surface in other cases. The clinical success of these grafts is attributed to the prolonged viability of cartilage cells, the capacity of host bone to join graft cartilage without histologic reaction, and the host's immunologic tolerance, which obviates the need for immunosuppressive therapy.


Tubulolobular invasive breast cancer: a variant of lobular invasive cancer. Attention is directed to an apparently unique form of invasive breast cancer designated as tubulolobular invasive cancer. These neoplasms exhibit small tubules as well as cords of neoplastic cells in a lobular configuration reminiscent of lobular invasive carcinoma. The clinical and pathologic characteristics encountered in 24 examples were statistically compared with those of infiltrating ductal carcinomas without special specific features, pure tubular, and pure lobular invasive cancer. The results of these analyses as well as the morphologic characteristics of these lesions prompt the conclusion that this lesion represents a tubular variant of lobular invasive carcinoma. Short term treatment failure rates in patients with tubulolobular invasive carcinoma are intermediate between those of pure tubular cancer and lobular invasive carcinoma.


Granulocytic sarcoma simulating "nonsecretory" multiple myeloma. A case of granulocytic sarcoma without the peripheral blood findings of myelogenous leukemia is described. The patient was a 33 year old male who developed numerous osteolytic lesions. On the basis of examination of bone marrow material, an initial diagnosis of "nonsecretory" multiple myeloma was made. Subsequent studies by electron microscopy and enzymatic histochemistry revealed the neoplastic cells to be composed of early myelogenous precursors indicative of granulocytic sarcoma.


Ultrastructure of a cardiac rhabdomyoma. Electron microscopic study of a cardiac rhabdomyoma removed at open heart operation revealed large rounded or polygonal cells that contained large amounts of monoparticulate glycogen. Myofibrils in these cells were few and located either subjacent to the plasma membranes or radiating from central areas. Leptofibrils and masses of anomalous Z band material were abundant. Shallow tubular sarcolemmal invaginations and elements of free and junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum were associated with the myofibrils. Desmosomes and nexuses were evident in intercellular junctions, which were extensive and randomly distributed throughout the cell surfaces. It is concluded that cardiac rhabdomyomas probably are hamartomas.


The length of the Y-chromosomes in men examined by forensic psychiatrists. The relative length of the Y-chromosome was investigated by a method of photometric scanning in 106 consecutive cases of men referred for forensic psychiatric examination and in 49 healthy controls. Comparison of both the mean value and the variance of the relative length of the Y-chromosome produced negative evidence for any association between the size of the Y-chromosome and mental disorder associated with criminality.


Lymphedema--distichiasis. A rare hereditary syndrome. The syndrome of familial lymphedema (type Meige) with distichiasis was observed in father and son. The association with uvula bifida and submucous cleft to the palate is described for the first time.


Yq deletion, aspermia, and short stature. A large Yq deletion involving both the fluorescent and part of the non-fluorescent segment in a 36-year-old phenotypic normal male is presented. His short stature and aspermia gives strong support, after a complete review of the literature, to the existence of factors involved in the control of both characteristics in the non-fluorescent segment of the long arm of chromosome Y, distally within band 11.


Studies of the meiotic behavior of a translocation t(10;13)(q25;q11) in an oligospermic man. An new type of translocation, t(10;13)(q25;q11), is observed in a phenotypically normal male who was examined for subfertility. The meiotic behavior of the rearranged chromosomes indicates that crossing-over is very frequent in a rather small segment such as the short arm of chromosome 13 and constant in the distal band of the long arm of chromosome 10.


A sibship with hypervalinemia.

A sibship with hypervalinemia. During routine screening of amino-acid disorders, we detected hypervalinemia in two sibs (a girl of 4 and a boy of 3 years of age) of a consanguineous marriage. There was no excess accumulation or excretion of leucine or isoleucine, which presumably indicates the absence of valine transaminase.


Familial incidence of L-xylulosuria.

Familial incidence of L-xylulosuria. During a survey for genetic disorders, L-Xylulosuria, an autosomal recessive condition, was found to affect three cousins in an inbred family. There were no clinical symptoms.


Split hand and food deformity and the syndrome of ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and clefting (EEC). A report of five patients. Five new casses of ectrodactyly are described. Two patients have the syndrome of ectrodactyly, extodermal dysplasia, and clefting (EEC). In one patient with the EEC syndrome, the disorder seems to represent a new mutation. One woman with isolated ectrodactyly has a daughter with the EEC syndrome. The variation in the clinical expression of this disorder among affected members of the same family makes it difficult to determine whether there may be several mutant alleles responsible for ectrodactyly and its related manifestations.


Distribution of human chromosomes on the metaphase plate using banding techniques. This study deals with the problem of distribution of the 46 centromeres on the human metaphase plate after treatment with colchicine and hypotonic shock. The location of the centromeres was recorded for 400 metaphases in which the chromosomes were identified by bands. A quantitative analysis of chromosome distribution ascertains the absence of proximities between homologous chromosomes. The already known ones between acrocentric chromosomes are found at a very high level. The nature and intensity of these proximities vary from one sample to another as is the case between heterologues. A three-dimensional graphic technique is proposed to summarize all of the interchromosome proximities.


Risk for short arm 10 trisomy. A segregation analysis of eleven families with different translocations. A segregation analysis has been carried out for 11 families with trisomy 10p caused by familial translocations involving a segment of the short arm of chromosome 10. The theoretical basis for the analysis is considered in some detail. No differences were found between the segregation pattern in the offspring of carrier mothers and that of carrier fathers. There was a high risk for offspring with trisomy 10p (22%). A phenotypically normal descendant also has a high risk of becoming a balanced translocation carrier (71%). This result does not deviate significantly from the theoretical value of 50%.


Cell division and sister chromatid exchanges in 45,X/46,Xi(Xq) mosaicism. The kinetics of cell division and sister chromatid exchanges were studied in PHA-stimulated short-term cultivations of peripheral blood by means of the BUDR/FPG technique in controls and in five patients with 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) mosaicism. No significant difference in the length of the cell cycle were observed between 45,X/46,X,i(Xq) and control 46,XX cells. The number of SCE on late i(Xq) was only nonsignificantly elevated (0.6 per i(Xq) against the value expected on the basis of its relative length.


Polymorphism of red cell glyoxalase 1. With special reference to South and Southeast Asia and Oceania. Glyoxalase polymorphism has been studied in 7296 persons from populations in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Iran and Colombia. The GLO frequencies are very low in most of Oceania, including Australia, somewhat higher in Southeast Asia, and intermediate though variable in India. In Iran the GLO frequency is similar to that in Europe. The value for the single amerindian group in Colombia is nearly 30%.


Syndrome +12p. Case report and review.

Syndrome +12p. Case report and review. Familial 12/15 translocation with a child trisomic for the short arm of chromosome 12 (segment of 12.1 leads to pter) is reported. The clinical picture of the child is strikingly similar to previous reports of 12p trisomy. The main symptoms of 12p syndrome are defined.


Plant regeneration from shoot tips and callus of papaya. Two methods of in vitro culture were employed to regenerate papaya plants. One involved regeneration of plants from callus and the other, production of multiple plants from single shoot-tip explants. Callus was induced from stem sections of papaya seedlings in a medium containing 1 mg per 1 NAA and 0.1 mg per 1 kinetin. The callus regenerated shoots and/or embryoids when transferred to a medium of lower auxin, 0 to 0.05 mg per 1 IAA, and higher cytokinin, 1 to 2 mg per 1 kinetin. Multiple shoots were produced when the excised shoot-tip explants were cultured in a medium supplemented with 0.05 mg per 1 IAA and either 5 mg per 1 kinetin or 0.5 to 1.0 mg per 1 benzyladenine. Root formation of the shoots or embryoids that derived from callus or shoot tips occurred in a medium containing 5 mg per 1 IAA and in a light intensity of 3000 to 4000 lx. The rooted plants could be established in soil and under standard greenhouse conditions after they had been acclimated by initially growing them in moist vermiculite contained in polyethylene-covered pots.


Characterization of human malignant melanoma cell lines. VII. Glycoprotein synthesis and shedding as revealed by [3H]glucosamine labeling. We have established conditions for the study of membrane glycoprotein synthesis and turnover in cultured human malignant melanoma cell lines using the labeled precursor [3H]glucosamine. Uptake of label increased parallel with cell growth, reaching a steady state in resting cultures. Fifteen to 30% of incorporated label can be released from the cells by trypsin treatment depending on the conditions of exposure to the enzyme, and about 50% of the incorporated label is spontaneously shed from the cells within 96 hr of incubation. Labeling in exhausted medium gave a 5- to 8-fold increase in uptake which was inhibited by addition of glucose (2 mg per ml) into the culture medium. The percentage of trypsin-releasable material was identical in fresh and exhausted medium; however, the percentage shed was less in cells initially labeled in exhausted medium. These data provide background information for further studies on the antigenic composition of the glycoproteins of cultured melanoma cells.


Liposomes in immunology: the immune response against antigen-containing liposomes. Three ways of antigen administration to rabbits were compared with respect to the resulting immune responses. Antigen was administered free in solution, entrapped in liposomes or free in solution but together with empty liposomes. Liposomal material showed adjuvant activity when injected together with free antigen, but a much stronger adjuvant effect was found when antigen was injected entrapped in liposomes.


Determination of antibody concentration using a stopped-flow turbidimetric technique. The aggregation of albumin and anti-albumin is studied during the first seconds of the reaction by measuring the rate of change of the optical density of the mixture. When this rate is plotted against the antigen concentration of a constant serum dilution, bell-shaped curves are obtained. The maxima of these rate curves parallel the maxima of precipitation curves. Thus, the maximum rate establishes the antigen concentration for maximum precipitate. On the basis of these experiments a method for relative quantitation of antibody in sera is proposed. The absolute concentration of precipitating antibody can be obtained by means of an additional one-tube precipitation experiment.


Further purification and chemical characterization of the lymphocyte-inhibiting-factor extracted from thymus (LIFT). A thymic extract which was previously demonstrated to contain a lymphocyte-inhibiting-factor (LIFT) based on its immunosuppressive activity in vivo and its antiproliferative properties on lymphocytes in vitro, has been purified using ultrafiltration procedures. Most of the activity measured by the ability to inhibit DNA synthesis in short term cultures of mouse thymocytes, was recovered in the 10,000-50,000 m. wt fraction (I fraction). In contrast, similar extracts from non-lymphoid organs were always ineffective in decreasing DNA synthesis in thymocytes. The I fraction was also inhibitory of DNA synthesis in mouse spleen cells stimulated by PHA whatever the time at which the fraction was added after the mitogen stimulation. This fraction, as well as the crude thymic extract, was ineffective in decreasing DNA synthesis in non-lymphoid target cells. The I fraction was further purified by Sephadex G50 filtration and DEAE Sephadex chromatography. The active molecule seemed to be a heat resistant basic peptide probably bound to a ribonucleotide moiety.


Prolonged survival of hypertransfused NZB/NZW mice. (NZB X NZW)F1 hybrid female mice were transfused fortnightly with 1 ml of packed buffy-coat-poor syngeneic erythrocytes, beginning at 3--4 months of age, in an effort to suppress erythropoiesis selectively and perhaps limit availabiliity of DNA for immune complex formation. The mean increase in survival was about 8 weeks (P less than 0-05). Repeatedly phlebotomized donor female mice tended to sicken earlier and die at younger ages. This is initial support for the hypothesis that erythroblast DNA may be involved in this SLE-like disease.


Genetic deficiency of the fourth component of complement (C4) in Wistar rats. A chance observation has led to the discovery of single component complement deficiency in Wistar rats. During serial total haemolytic activity (CH50) determinations on 10 male rats, 2 were consistently found to have values 20% or less than that of the others. An additional 30 males (200--220 g) and 20 females (180--200 g) were screened for CH50 and the defect was found in 10 of the males but none of the females. Mixtures of sera of high and low haemolytic activity gave intermediate values between the two populations arguing against the presence of an inhibitor of the complement system. Single component analysis revealed the defect to reside in the fourth component of complement (C4). Highly purified human C4 completely reconstituted the haemolytic activity of the complement deficient rat serum. A linear relationship between C4 and CH50 titres was observed. Data from preliminary selective breeding experiments point toward an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Animals with intermediate values were observed indicating a gene dosage effect with which the heterozygote may be recognized.


Isolation and study of murine C3.

Isolation and study of murine C3. C3 was isolated in purified form from fresh murine serum and plasma by precipitation as euglobulin followed by removal of other proteins on immunoadsorbent columns bearing antibodies raised against specifically C3 depleted serum. Recovery was 30--55% and the C3 was all in its native form. Functional activity was demonstrated by fixation of the C3 on EAC142gp cells and by interaction with lymphocyte C3 receptors. Mouse C3 in plasma and after isolation had a molecular weight of 240,000. Its cleavage by classical pathway and cobra factor induced C3 convertases and by trypsin yielded a major conversion product with molecular weight not less than 210,000, the electrophoretic mobility of which differed when it was generated from isolated C3 rather than in plasma.


IgE in experiemental schistosomiasis. I. Serum IgE levels after infection by Schistosoma mansoni in various strains of rats. Serum IgE levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in four strains of rats, before and after infection by Schistosoma mansoni. Differences were observed in basal IgE levels, depending on the strain considered. Serum IgE rose 10--20 days after infection and the maximum level, between days 30 and 50, ranged from 14 to 60 times the basal level. One of the most characteristic features of IgE production in rat schistosomiasis was the persistence of high IgE levels for a long time after rejection of the worms.


Classical pathway complement activation in association with paraproteinaemia. Five of twenty-three patients with paraproteinaemia (two IgM, three IgG) have been shown to exhibit marked classical pathway complement activation. The mechanisms of hypocomplementaemia proposed for the five patients are cryoglobulinaemia in one and in vivo immunoglobulin aggregation in the other four. Three further patients had a low C1q and three a low C3 unassociated with any other complement abnormality. No association with any particular IgG subclass or obvious clinical abnormality existed in association with hypocomplementaemia.


Radiometric ear index test as a measure of delayed-type-hypersensitivity in the rat. Intradermal skin tests performed in the pinna of the rat ear appeared to be 100 times more sensitive than classical flank skin tests in measuring Arthus and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions. One of these tests was antigen-induced thickening of the pinna of the ear. It was found to be a sensitive measure of Arthus reactivity at 4 h after irritation with antigen in both actively immunized rats and recipients of precipitating immune serum. The other test, radiometric ear index determination, exploits the fact that monocytes and monocyte derived macrophages accumulate at DTH reaction sites. The test was performed by labelling the precursors of these cells with a pulse of [3H]-thymidine and by determining radioactivity in biopsy specimens taken from test sites in the pinna of the ear. At a certain antigen dose range this objective and highly sensitive method was shown to measure a purely cell mediated reaction which could be transferred to normal recipients with thoracic duct lymphocytes but not with immune serum. It also behaved as a typical DTH reacttion in response to desensitizing injections of the specific antigen. Testing with unnecessarily high antigen doses, however, should be avoided since the strong early inflammation induced by them may interfere with the determination of DTH while using this sensitive assay.


Trichinella spiralis infection in congenitally athymic (nude) mice. Parasitological, serological and haematological studies with observations on intestinal pathology. In six experiments the course of a Trichinella spiralis infection in congenitally athymic (nu/nu) mice and their heterozygous thymus-bearing littermates (+/nu) was followed. In the +/nu mice worms were expelled at day 10 post infection. In nu/nu mice worms remained in the intestine until the end of the observation period (83 days post infection). In testing the yield of muscle larvae in +/nu and nu/nu mice 4--5 times more muscle larvae were isolated from nu/nu mice than from infected +/nu mice. The following phenomena were observed in +/nu mice only: anti-T. spiralis antibodies detected by immunofluorescence, intestinal plasma-cell production and intestinal eosinophilia. In nu/nu mice no blood eosinophilia was observed in contrast to the induction of eosinophilia both in infected +/nu and infected nu/nu mice reconstituted with thymuses from heterozygous littermates. Intra-epithelial lymphocytes, more numerous in +/nu than in nu/nu mice, were not attracted by Trichinella antigen. The data supported the hypothesis that worm expulsion is a T cell-dependent phenomenon. Plasma cell and antibody production as well as tissue and blood eosinophilia were shown to be thymus-dependent in a T. spiralis infection.


Isolation of a glycoprotein from Mycoplasma pneumoniae membranes. A glycoprotein was detected in Mycoplasma pneumoniae membranes. Its apparent molecular weight was about 60,000, as observed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. It corresponded to the single band that was detected on the gels by the carbohydrate stain, periodic acid-Schiff reagent. The intensity of this stained band varied for membranes derived from cells harvested between 4 and 10 days, with maximal intensity found for cells grown for 6 days. The carbohydrate-containing polypeptide was extracted with lithium diiodosalicylate. The extracted fraction consisted of about 80 to 90% amino acids (mainly glycine and histidine) and about 7% carbohydrates (mainly glucose, galactose, and glucosamine). The fraction was immunologically active, as indicated by the complement fixation and precipitin tests with antisera against whole cells, membranes, and membrane proteins.


Modulation of delayed-type hypersensitivity and cellular immunity to microbial vaccines: effects of cyclophosphamide on the immune response to tularemia vaccine. Treatment of guinea pigs with cyclophosphamide before immunization with killed tularemia vaccine in Freund incomplete adjuvant produced a prolongation and intensification of delayed-type hypersensitivity and in vitro lymphocyte transformation reactions to tularemia antigen. Such reactions resemble those ordinarily associated with the administration of live tularemia vaccine, killed vaccine in Freund complete adjuvant, or recovery from natural infection. The immunopotentiation lasted longer than that seen previously in other antigenic systems with this drug and was dependent on the dose of vaccine used. More intense delayed skin reactivity could be transferred into normal controls by cells from immunized donors pretreated with cyclophosphamide than by cells from immunized donors that were not pretreated.


Mycoplasma-dependent activation of normal lymphocytes: mitogenic potential of mycoplasmas for mouse lymphocytes. Nonviable preparations of a wide variety of glucose-utilizing mycoplasma species, including Acholeplasma laidlawii and Spiroplasma citri, were found to be mitogenic for mouse lymphocytes. Particularly strong reactions were obtained with Mycoplasma synoviae, M. gallisepticum, M. pneumoniae, S. citri, and a strain of M. fermentans that was previously isolated from a leukemic patient. Nonviable preparations of arginine-utilizing mycoplasmas inhibited the uptake of [3H]thymidine by lymphocytes, but this effect could be reversed by heat treatment or arginine supplementation, and a stimulatory effect was then observed. Viable M. arthritidis was also found to have a mitogenic effect, as detected by an increased uptake of [3H]thymidine by normal lymphocytes and by autoradiographic techniques in which an increase in the numbers of transformed cells was seen. These observations provide the potential for enhanced immunological responsiveness or lymphokine-mediated inflammation in mycoplasma-infected hosts.


Adjuvant effect of Bordetella pertussis vaccine to sheep erythrocytes in mice: enhancement of cell-mediated immunity by subcutaneous administration of adjuvant and antigen. The subcutaneous route (s.c.) was used to study the adjuvant effect of Bordetella pertussis vaccine (PV) on cell-mediated immunity to sheep erythorcytes (SRBC). The immune response was measured by a sensitive assay procedure in which the antigen is injected intracutaneously into the mouse ear and the inflammatory swelling is measured with calipers. PV significantly enhanced cell-mediated immunity to SRBC, and the enhancement persisted for at least 3 weeks. PV administered up to 6 days before SRBC also significantly enhanced the response; PV injected 1 or more days after SRBC was not effective. In addition, it was found that PV per se released into the suspension medium a cell-free component(s) (pertussis supernatant) that contributed significantly to adjuvanticity. The adjuvanticity of both PV and PS was completely eliminated by heat.


Isolation and characterization of a parvovirus of rabbits. The isolation and characterization of a new virus from rabbit stool are described. The virus replicated in rabbit kidney cell cultures and agglutinated human group O erythrocytes at 4 degrees C. It was stable at acid pH and resistant to chloroform and heat treatment. The growth of the virus was inhibited by 5-iodo-2-deoxyuridine, and virions were stained red with acridine orange, suggesting that they contain single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid. The density of virions was 1.41 to 1.44 g/ml in CsCl, and the sedimentation value was 137S in sucrose at 4 degrees C. The infectious particles had cubic symmetry and were 27 to 28 nm in diameter by electron microscopy. By these properties this virus can be classified as a member of the parvovirus group. Antibody response was demonstrated in the rabbit from which this virus was recovered. A number of rabbits from a commercial source were found to contain hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody to this virus.


Evidence for plasmid contribution to the virulence of fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum. Analysis of the plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid complement of high- and low- virulent strains of the fish pathogen Vibrio anguillarum showed a correlation between enhanced virulence and the presence of a 50-megadalton plasmid class. All 50-megadalton plasmids isolated from different high-virulent V. anguillarum strains were homologous as judged by the analysis of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization. The 50-megadalton plasmid class did not have polynucleotide sequences in common with plasmids of different incompatibility groups.


Influence of salivary components and extracellular polysaccharide synthesis from sucrose on the attachment of Streptococcus mutans 6715 to hydroxyapatite surfaces. The adsorption of (3)H-labeled Streptococcus mutans 6715 cells to disks of hydroxyapatite (HA) was studied. The number of streptococci that adsorbed was logarithmically related to the concentration of cells available up to at least 2 x 10(8) per ml; equilibrium occurred within 45 min. Assay reliability was verified by direct scanning electron microscopic counts. Untreated HA disks exposed to buffered saline (PBS)-suspended streptococci at a concentration of 1.1 x 10(8) per ml absorbed 3.2 x 10(6) cells per cm(2); approximately 3% of the surface area was, therefore, occupied by adsorbed organisms. The presence of adsorbed salivary components on HA reduced the number of attaching S. mutans cells by half. When S. mutans cells were suspended in saliva to mimic conditions existing in the mouth, the number of streptococci adsorbing to saliva-treated HA was reduced more than 30-fold compared to untreated HA. Approximately one-half of the streptococci adsorbed to untreated or to saliva-treated HA disks could be desorbed over a 4-h period with 0.067 M phosphate buffer. S. mutans cells exposed to sucrose to permit extracellular polysaccharide synthesis before or during adsorption attached in fewer numbers to both saliva-treated and untreated HA than PBS-treated organisms. When S. mutans cells adsorbed on untreated HA were exposed to sucrose, fewer organisms could be desorbed; thus, in situ polysaccharide synthesis promoted their more firm attachment to untreated HA. However, when saliva-suspended streptococci were adsorbed to saliva-treated HA surfaces, exposure to sucrose before or subsequent to adsorption did not promote more firm attachment. Evidently, the powerful adherence-inhibiting and desorptive effects of salivary components overshadowed any promoting effects attributable to glucan synthesis from sucrose. Similarly, no differences were noted in the desorption of S. mutans cells from human teeth after exposure to sucrose, glucose, or PBS relative to a strain of Streptococcus mitis (S. mitior). Thus, no evidence was obtained to support the hypothesis that glucan synthesis from sucrose was essential for, or promoted, the attachment of S. mutans cells to HA surfaces exposed to saliva or to the smooth surfaces of human teeth.


Toxicity of low and moderate multiplicities of Chlamydia psittaci for mouse fibroblasts (L cells). When mouse fibroblasts (L cells) were infected in suspension or in monolayer with 10 to 100 50% infectious doses (ID(50)) of Chlamydia psittaci (6BC) per host cell, they showed signs of damage 24 to 48 h later. Host-cell injuries were termed multiplication dependent when both the ingestion and subsequent reproduction of C. psittaci were required; when only ingestion but not replication was needed, the injuries were considered to be multiplication independent. The time that the injury was first apparent, as well as its final magnitude, was proportional to the multiplicity of infection. When L cells ingested infectious or ultraviolet-inactivated C. psittaci, damage was manifested by failure to exclude trypan blue, by leakage of lactic dehydrogenase, by inhibition of reproduction as measured by ability to form colonies, by inhibition of protein and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis, and eventually by cell disintegration. Infectious, but not ultraviolet-killed, chlamydiae stimulated host-cell glycolysis. Heat-killed chlamydiae were without measurable toxicity. The time of appearance of host-cell injury was always earlier, and its terminal magnitude always greater, with infectious inocula than with ultraviolet-inactivated ones. The multiplication-independent toxicity of ultraviolet-killed C. psittaci disappeared with inocula of less than 10 ID(50) per L cell, but an inoculum of only a single ID(50) of infectious chlamydiae per host cell injured most of the cells it infected, as evidenced by increased trypan blue staining and decreased efficiency of colony formation. The toxicity of multiplicities of infection between 10 and 100 ID(50) of infectious C. psittaci per host cell was the sum of both multiplication-dependent and -independent components. The effects of chloramphenicol and isoleucine deficiency on the ability of C. psittaci to injure L cells suggested that some synthesis of protein by both parasite and host may be essential for expression of multiplication-independent chlamydial toxicity. The failure of infectious chlamydiae to stimulate host-cell glycolysis in the presence of cycloheximide suggested that this multiplication-dependent consequence of chlamydial infection was also dependent on protein synthesis by the host.


Pathogenic mechanisms of a non-agglutinable Vibrio cholerae strain: demonstration of invasive and enterotoxigenic properties. A non-agglutinable Vibrio cholerae strain isolated from the blood of a child with kwashiorkor and fever was shown to have the potential to invade as well as to produce a toxin resembling cholera toxin.


Granuloma formation in lungs of mice after intravenous administration of emulsified trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate (cord factor): reaction intensity depends on size distribution of the oil droplets. The intensity of the granulomatous reaction evoked in lungs of mice by trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate administered intravenously in oil-water emulsion depended on the size distribution of the oil droplets. Emulsions containing the greatest number of the largest oil droplets were the most granulomagenic.


Analysis of established human carcinoma cell lines for lymphoreticular-associated membrane receptors. Thirty-one different long-term established human carcinoma culture cell lines were examined for the presence or absence of receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (IgG) ("Fc receptors"), the third component of complement (C3 receptors), sheep erythrocytes and mouse erythrocytes. Included in the catalogue of lines tested were adenocarcinoma of the adrenal cortex, colon, rectum, lung, liver, breast and kidney, and carcinomas of the uterine cervix, bladder and vulva. All lines were found to be consistently Fc receptor-negative, as assayed by rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes coated with subhemagglutinating amounts of anti-sheep erythrocyte antibodies, or bovine erythrocytes heavily coated with non-hemagglutinating anti-bovine erythrocyte antibodies. This is similar to results obtained with murine tumors: carcinomas are consistently Fc receptor-negative, while those lines which are Fc receptor-positive are invariably lymphoreticular in nature. The human carcinoma cell lines were also negative for complement (C3) receptors and spontaneous T and B rosette markers. It is proposed that, in most cases, rosette-forming cells found in primary human carcinomas are, as in the mouse or rat, representative of infiltrating non-malignant lymphoreticular cells.


Latent carcinoma of prostate at autopsy in seven areas. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyons, France. A world-wide comparative study of the frequency and characteristics of latent carcinoma of the prostate was undertaken in seven areas, using standardized methods and "blind" microscopic evaluation in order to reduce selection and observer bias. The morphological features of 350 latent carcinomas found in 1,327 prostates were examined. Two Chinese populations, from Hong Kong and Singapore, showed a low frequency of latent carcinoma in comparison with western Europeans in Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany and negroes from Jamaica; an intermediate position was found for Israelis and black Ugandans. The frequency of small latent carcinomas was about 12% in all the areas investigated and did not vary with age. Rates for larger latent carcinomas increased sharply with age ans showed an area-to-area variation resembling that of clinical carcinoma of prostate. The small carcinomas were almost exclusively situated in the outer half of the prostate and latent carcinomas of all sizes were evenly distributed between the anterior and posterior halves of the prostate and the right and left sides of the outer prostatic shell. Certain disagreements in diagnosis were noted when the sections from each area were evaluated independently by a different pathologist. Most of these disagreements were resolved by re-reading the sections; their occurrence had no significant effect on the geographical comparisons.


Immunity to MCA-induced rat sarcomas: analysis of in vivo and in vitro results. Three in vivo techniques were used to establish the specificity of tumor immunity induced after sensitization of F344 rats to syngeneic MCA-induced sarcomas: (1) post-excision resistance to tumor challenge, (2) passive tumor neutralization (the Winn test), and (3) concomitant immunity. In general, these assays revealed unique non-cross-reactive antigens associated with each of three sarcomas, FMF1, FMM2, and FMM3. However, spleen cells from tumor-sensitized rats did not demonstrate cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro corresponding to the specificity of tumor resistance in vivo. In the (3H)-proline cytotoxicity assay, spleen cells from FMM3 tumor-bearing rats or from FMM3 tumor-immune rats were not selectively cytotoxic for cultured FMM3 target cells. Parallel analysis of spleen cells from normal or FMM3-sensitized rats using the Winn assay and the (3H)-proline assay revealed that (1) spleen cell cytotoxicity in vitro did not correlate with effective tumor protection in vivo; and (2) normal spleen cells were cytotoxic against cultured sarcoma target cells in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Thus, passive tumor protection by normal spleen cells in vivo corresponded with the demonstration of natural cytotoxicity in vitro, but induced specific anti-tumor reactivity was observed only in vivo.


Analysis of karyotype variation following carcinogen treatment of Chinese hamster primary cell lines. Chinese hamster primary fibroblasts derived from several embryos were treated with the carcinogens benzo(a)pyrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Karyotype analysis, sister chromatid exchange frequency, evidence of transformation by growth in agar, cell morphology and reaction to cytocholasin B were tested at regular intervals over many culture passages. Carcinogen treatment was found to shorten the time period before onset of permanent karyotypically changed stem and side lines and in vitro transformation. Chromosomes X, 6 and 10 were more frequently involved in all cultures in these karyotype changes which were usually preceded by a period of chromosome variation. Spontaneous chromatid aberrations and aneuploidy increased in frequency with time in culture and generally appeared prior to the expression of transformation. No specific chromosomes were involved with the different carcinogens. There was no correlation between in vitro transformation and karyotype evolution and the criteria for transformation were present independently of one another. It is suggested that the lack of correlation between the parameters tested indicates that the expression of in vitro transformation is a result of selection for growth advantage from a cell population expressing an increasing degree of genetic instability and variation with time in culture.


Geographic variations in tumor prevalence among marine fish populations. A global epidemiological study on the frequency of skin papillomas among various flatfish species (Pleuronectids), papillomas of eels and the virus induced lymphocystis disease has revealed particular distribution patterns. Skin papillomas are prevalent among at least 20 flatfish species of the northern Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, and Japan Sea but appear to be absent from the Atlantic, North Sea, and the Caribbean Sea. The opposite is found for lymphocystis, which is common among flatfish species of the Atlantic shores of Europe and North America. Similarly the skin papillomas of eels are restricted to relatively small region along the European coast extending from the Baltic countries to Denmark, Germany and Holland. Superimposed on this global distribution pattern are local variations in tumor prevalences which can vary from about 58% to 0.01%. The geographic distribution pattern points to the existence of areas around the globe in which flatfish or eels are able to develop skin papillomas. Outside these areas of "potential skin papilloma risk," flatfish and eel populations are not afflicted with papillomas even if they inhabit estuaries or rivers with a high man-made or naturally-occurring pollution.


The effect of long-term chronic marijuana use on neuropsychological functioning. Ten normal subjects who smoked marijuana daily for an average of 5 years and who denied other drug use were examined on a neuropsychological test battery. When compared with normal nonsmoking Ss, minimal differences were observed. It was concluded that long-term cannabis use does not cause a generalized decrement in adaptive abilities which might be related to cerebral impairments.


Behavioral and familial correlates  of episodic heroin abuse among suburban adolescents. Behavioral and familial correlates of predominantly White, suburban heroin abusers were investigated to determine whether such abuse was self-contained experimentation or suggestive of generalized personality disorders and impaired family relationships. Twenty of 296 male high school students recruited from 10 middle-class suburban schools had engaged in episodic heroin abuse. Of 29 antisocial behaviors other than heroin abuse assessed, heroin abusers engaged in 16 significantly more frequently. Heroin abusers found their fathers to be significantly less nice, honest, strong, and kind than did nonabusers, according to semantic differential technique. They found themselves to be significantly less strong than did nonabusers, suggesting failure to model themselves after adequately coping fathers. Heroin abusers also found their mothers to be significantly less fair, honest, and valuable than did nonabusers. It was concluded that episodic heroin abuse among suburban adolescents is suggestive both of generalized antisocial behavior and of impaired family relationships.


The United States drug problem and international trafficking. Part I. The need for more rigorous controls. Remedies at international law for obtaining prosecutory jurisdiction over illicit drug traffickers are examined. The paper looks at extradiction, expulsion, exclusion, and reconduction as means by which a state may obtain control of the offender.


Phenelzine as a stimulant drug antagonist: a preliminary report. Phenelzine administration, monitored via a pharmacy-controlled program, was employed in 38 subjects over a 6-month period to prevent amphetamine-type drug abuse, in much the same manner as disulfiram programs are employed against alcohol abuse. Advantages of the program were apparent, with a majority of subjects abstaining during the enforced phenelzine trial. Subjects generally made use of this abstinent period to benefit from a variety of psychotherapeutic modes, and demonstrated enhanced job and school performance and improved marital relationships. Results based on subject and observer reports, reports from dispensing pharmacies, and random urinalyses for drugs were encouraging. However, the study was uncontrolled and observational, and thus results are merely suggestive at present. Potential dangers as well as benefits of administering phenelzine to such a population are discussed.


Epidemiology abuse: epidemiologic and Psychosocial perspectives on heroin maintenance. Two perspectives on drug abuse have evolved. Epidemiologic approaches treat drug abuse as if it were an infectious disease and deal with it within the framework of host, agent, and environment. Epidemiologists, approaching drug abuse from a public health standpoint, tend to think in terms of supply reduction. Psychosocial approaches focus on the demand aspect of drug abuse. Interest centers on psychological/sociological explanations of drug-taking behavior, such as psychopathology and alienation, and on unintended consequences of supply-reduction strategies. The author proposes that the two models eomplement each other and need to be integrated. A policy of strict supply reduction for nonaddicts coupled with heroin maintenance for addicts is suggested. Such a policy combines epidemiologic emphasis on supply reduction with psychosocial stress on the impractible nature of addiction and the futility of prohibitionlike approaches.


Plasma levels and urinary elimination of diftalone, paracetamol, and their metabolites after single oral administration in man. The plasma levels of diftalone, its metabolite 7-hydroxydiftalone, unconjugated and total paracetamol have been assessed in 6 healthy volunteers after oral administration of diftalone 0.75 g and of paracetamol 1.0 g, given alone and in combination in a cross-over fashion. In the same subject the urinary elimination of 7-hydroxydiftalone, and of unconjugated and total paracetamol has also been estimated. The results provide some indication of a slight increase in the plasma levels of unconjugated and total paracetamol, when the drug is administered in combination with diftalone. The increase, however, does not reach the significance level. As to diftalone and its metabolite, the differences between the plasma levels obtained after administration of the compound alone and those obtained when it was given in combination were negligible. Furthermore, the urinary recoveries of 7-hydroxydiftalone and of unconjugated and total paracetamol were very similar after administration of each compound alone and of their combination. It is concluded that the administration of single doses of diftalone and paracetamol in combination does not produce any pharmacokinetic interaction likely to be of clinical relevance.


[Pharmacokinetics of indomethacin and indomethacin metabolites administered continuously to patients with healthy or damaged kidneys]. After oral administration of 75 mg Indomethacin dlimination half-life of the unchanged drug is not altered in patients with severely impaired renal function. In patients with renal insufficiency half-life of Indomethacin plus metabolites is twice that of the normal value. Repeated daily administration of 75 mg for 8 days does not influence Indomethacin kinetics. In the control group and in patients with moderate by impaired renal function Indomethacin half-life does not change during chronic administration.


Diagnostic policies of minor depressive illness by two differently trained groups of general practitioners. Two homogeneous general practitioner groups were differently trained for approaching minor depressive illness. One group was presented the depression problem in a traditional manner while the other was led to particularly emphasize the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, according to Balint's suggestions. Both groups adopted the same case record form. The structural analysis of diagnostic judgement based on the logistic transformation of recorded data made it possible to evidence several qualitative differences between the groups, probably deriving from the different training.


Psychotropic drugs: influence on respiratory function. The authors investigated, in 22 normal subjects and 22 bronchopneumopathic patients, the action of two anxiolytic drugs on ventilatory function and on the associated respiratory function. The analyses carried out before drug administration and 1, 2, 6 hours later showed that while a drug did not cause any important variation in the ventilatory parameters and O2 uptake, both in healthy subjects and in patients, the second one clearly reduced the ventilatory efficacy and O2 uptake. This behavior was quite evident 1 and 2 hours after the assumption of the drug while after 6 hours the parameters returned to the initial values. The influence of the circadian rhythm after 6 hours was more evident in both groups after the assumption of the second anxyolitic drug than with the first. Furthermore, evaluation drawn up among the healthy subjects, during simulated driving tests, demonstrated that the second anxyolytic drug provoked a standard depression unevenly distributed like that obtained after the ingestion of a fixed dose of an alcoholic drink.


Influence of food intake on the absorption of diftalone in man. An average 2.2-fold increase in the peak plasma concentrations of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent diftalone in the presence of food was observed in three studies carried out with healthy volunteers who received an oral dose of 0.75 g (6 subjects, study 1), 0.25 g (10 subjects, study II) and 0.5 g (6 subjects, study V) of the compound at 9:00 a.m. both in fasting conditions and after a meal. The effect does not depend on the unusual time (8:00 a.m., selected for experimental needs) at which the subjects were given the meal. In fact, a 2.5-fold increase in plasma concentrations was observed when an oral dose of 0.75 g of diftalone was administered to 2 subjects (study II) both at 8:00 a.m. in fasting conditions and at 1:00 p.m. after a meal. A similar enhancement in the absorption of diftalone was observed when 5 healthy volunteers (study VI) received an oral dose of 0.5 g of the compound both as plain capsules and as capsules containing dry ox bile. However, the absorption of diftalone was not modified when the compound was administered orally as an aqueous suspension or in tensioactive vehicles, or after 20 mg of metoclopramide (study II). Also, the results of a study (IV) on 2 subjects partly deprived of bile after surgery, showed that diftalone does not undergo enterohepatic circulation. The hypothesis that the increase in diftalone absorption is mainly due to bile  flow following food intake is supported by all the above experimental results.


Bioavailability and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity of solufenum. A comparison with ibuprofen. Bioavailability and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity of the lysine salt of ibuprofen (solufenum) were compared with those of the parent molecule in 5 healthy male volunteers. The study had a randomized, cross-over design. The average peak plasma level and the area under the curve were higher when solufenum was administered orally as compared to the same preparation given i.m. or as compared to oral ibuprofen. However, the bioavailability of the 3 preparations studied was not significantly different. In contrast, the inhibitory effect on adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation appeared significantly different. In contrast, the inhibitory effect on adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation appeared significantly earlier after the administration of both solufenum than after ibuprofen. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.


In vivo study of trace elements in leprous skin. The skin of leprous patients at various stages of the disease was investigated by diagnostic x-ray spectrometry, In the active stage raised iron and slightly raised zinc levels were found. The usefulness of the method in skin investigation is foreseen.


Cutting-aspiration instruments.

Cutting-aspiration instruments. Cutting-aspiration instruments are discussed in relation to design and principles of action. Experience with the Roto-extractor in over 100 cases is reviewed. Large pupillary openings were achieved in nearly all cases. No vitreous was attached to the wound postoperatively. Retinal detachment has not occurred to date in nontraumatic lenticular opacities.


Surgery of traumatic cataracts.

Surgery of traumatic cataracts. Ninety eyes undergoing surgery for the removal of traumatic cataracts were evaluated. In the total group, the visual results fell generally into the 2 categories of satisfactory or poor. Most commonly, the latter patients sustained extensive preoperative trauma or were visually immature at the time of the injury. Forty-eight eyes, or 54% of this series, achieved an acuity of 20/80 or better, with 38, or 42%, achieving a corrected acuity of 20/20 to 20/30. There were 20 eyes in the patients 6 years of age and under, and a visual result of 20/60 or better was obtained in 7 of those eyes.


Vitreous loss following infantile cataract surgery. An improved understanding of the role of the vitreous in ocular pathology has led to a more rational approach to the prevention and management of vitreous loss during infantile cataract extractions. Infantile cataract surgery, properly performed by modifications of the Scheie aspiration and Kelman phacoemulsification techniques, should be associated with an incidence of vitreous loss no greater than that for adult extractions by current intracapsular or extracapsular techniques. Preexisting ocular lesions, faulty technique, and an inexperienced operator all contribute to the occurrence of vitreous loss. Improved techniques, surgical expertise, and an understanding of the factors that predispose to vitreous loss can reduce its incidence. Proper management of vitreous loss will decrease or eliminate its untoward sequelae; eyes so managed can be visually rehabilitated with the same ease or difficulty as similar eyes in which vitreous was not lost. The authors do not, however, advocate either the accidental or intentional disturbance of the intact vitreous body.


Retinal detachment following congenital cataract surgery. It is hoped that the results of surgery for retinal detachment after surgery for congenital cataract, when discission and aspiration or phacoemulsification under the microscope are used, will approach the present reattachment rate that has been achieved with improved examination, instrumentation, and surgical technique in cases of senile retinal detachment. Further studies of the role of retinal pathology as lattice degeneration, vitreous pathology, and the place for prophylactic cryotherapy all must be reevaluated. In summary, the low incidence of retinal detachment following the extraction of congenital cataracts as seen in major retinal referral centers suggests that the risks of detachment are not as high as previously reported, that the cure rate approaches that of senile aphakic detachment; therefore early operative intervention to prevent amblyopia, nystagmus, and strabismus is indicated.


Intraocular lenses in children.

Intraocular lenses in children. The intraocular lens offers an experimental alternative to be considered for the visual rehabilitation of children with traumatic or unilateral infantile cataracts. The disadvantages of aphakic spectacles or contact lenses and amblyopia have committed many of these eyes to the status of visual cripples. In this series of 41 patients with a maximum of 24 months follow-up, it has been concluded that an IOL may be successfully implanted. I wish to reemphasize that vitreous involvement does not preclude IOL implantation providing all the vitreous is removed from the anterior chamber by the conclusion of the operation. Discissions of secondary membranes should be performed if there is any doubt as to the clarity of the membrane. All patients should be repeatedly refracted and the over-refraction prescribed to assure that the child is obtaining the best possible form vision to the aphakic eye. Bifocals are encouraged for near work. Vigorous occlusion therapy is undertaken in all patients exhibiting signs of amblyopia.


Correcting low vision in aphakic children. There are many children who have subnormal vision in spite of successful cataract surgery and aphakic spectacle lenses. There are children who have lens opacities for whom the state of aphakia would not be an improvement. Careful evaluation of functional vision, careful refraction, and the prescription of high adds or other optical devices are part of complete ophthalmological care for every one of these children. The dioptric strength of the reading add is determined by the functional reading vision and the calculation of the reciprocal of the visual acuity. It is also important to realize that many children who have lens opacities do not require special aids; functional vision is adequate until their accommodative reserve wanes with age. Continuous-wear contact lenses may eventually replace spectacle corrections for the aphakic child.


Visual results following infantile cataract surgery. Aspiration and its modifications have been shown to be a superior operative procedure for neonatal, congenital, infantile, and acquired cataracts. However, the visual results obtained in the infantile cataractous eye, whether the opacity is complete or partial, still remain within the same range as the results of other operative techniques reported over the last 3 decades. Adequate visual results often cannot be obtained because of the associated systemic and/or ocular defects or failure of optical and amblyopia treatment. Perhaps increased efforts should be made to perform surgery at even earlier ages in those patients with complete, or in some cases, partial, cataracts in which surgery is contemplated. In children with partial cataracts who are able to function well, the lens should be allowed to remain in place and conservative measures of visual preservation should be undertaken for as long as possible. This allows the eye more time to develop normal visual functions with an intact lens and accommodative mechanisms. It should be stressed again that the sole success or failure of surgery for infantile cataracts cannot always be the visual acuity. The real measure is the child's ability to function successfully in his environment for the remainder of his life.


Intracapsular aspiration.

Intracapsular aspiration. Through a 2-mm. limbal incision, the aspiration of the lens is accomplished; this assures a strong eye immediately after operation. It frees the eye from the complications associated with the large incision required for linear extraction of the lens. Intracapsular aspiration of the entire lens cortex and nucleus is performed through a 2-mm. hole in the anterior capsule near the equator. Posterior synechiae are prevented by leaving the anterior capsule intact and in apposition with the posterior iris surface, assuring a round, mobile pupil. An axial 5-mm. hole placed through the collapsed anterior and posterior lens capsule usually remains free of secondary membrane formation, obviating the need for further surgery. The complication of vitreous presentation in the corneoscleral incision is managed by performing an anterior vitrectomy with an instrument that cuts and aspirates the vitreous.


Biosynthesis of proteins by the retina. Inactivation by near-ultraviolet light and the effects of tryptophan, epinephrine, and catalase. Postmitochondrial supernatant, cytosol, and microsomes were exposed to near-ultraviolet light and assayed for incorporation of (3H)leucine. The results indicate that near-ultraviolet light decreased the incorporation of radioactivity into the aminoacyl-tRNA fraction and into proteins. This effect depended on the wavelength of irradiation and the concentration of exposed protein. Tryptophan and epinephrine potentiated the effect of near-ultraviolet light, but catalase prevented this effect. Hydrogen peroxide decreased protein synthesis when it was added to unirradiated postmitochondrial supernatant. The results suggest that near-ultraviolet light would decrease protein synthesis by generating hydrogen peroxide from tryptophan and epinephrine.


Vitamin A storage and peroxisomes in retinal pigment epithelium and liver. Retinas and livers were studied with histochemical methods for catalase combined with light and electron microscopy, following intramuscular injections of C57 black mice with retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate in total doses of 0.9 to 6.7 X 10(6) I.U./kg. body weight. There were clear, dose-related increases in the numbers and sizes of vitamin A--storing lipid droplets in the stellate cells of the liver. Concomitantly, more conservative increases in similar lipid droplets occurred in the pigment epithelium but not in other cells of the retina. Such lipid droplets may represent physiological sites of vitamin A storage which are important for the maintenance of photoreceptor cells by the retinal pigment epithelium. No changes in lipids of the retina or liver were observed in mice injected with retinoic acid or with peanut oil. Both peroxisomes containing catalase and the putative vitamin A--storing lipid droplets were distributed along the basal and lateral cell surfaces of the pigment epithelium where receptors for plasma retinol-binding protein have been reported. Peroxisomes may play a role in the reactions related to the esterification and sequestering of vitamin A.


Clinical manifestations of inherited glaucoma in the beagle. Inherited glaucoma was exhibited in 55 beagles. The glaucomatous process was divided into early (6 to 12 months of age), moderate (13 to 30 months of age), and advanced (31 months of age). In early glaucoma the tridocorneal angles, as judged by gonioscopy, were open and without anomalies, intraocular pressure was elevated, and the tonographic facility of aqueous outflow was decreased. With moderate glaucoma, the tridocorneal angles were typically open; intraocular pressure was elevated, facility of aqueous outflow was decreased; and variable optic disc cupping and focal disinsertion of the zonules from the lens were seen. Advanced glaucoma exhibited narrow to closed tridocorneal angles, decreased facility of aqueous outflow, elevated intraocular pressure, lens dislocation, optic disc atrophy, and finally phthisis bulbi. The beagle in the early and moderate stages of glaucoma, before angle closure and lens dislocation, is an animal model for studies in open-angle glaucoma.


The effect of topical pilocarpine on intraocular pressure and pupil size in the normotensive and glaucomatous beagle. Topical 1, 2, and 4 percent pilocarpine were evaluated in the normotensive and glaucomatous beagles, comparing intraocular pressure (IOP), pupillary size, and time. In normotensive beagles pilocarpine produced maximal decreases of 25 percent (5.5 mm. Hg) at 1 percent concentration; 34 percent (7.26 mm. Hg) at 2 percent concentration; and 25 percent (6.9 mm. Hg) at 4 percent concentration. The maximum reductions in IOP after pilocarpine instillation in the glaucomatous beagle were 30 percent (9.1 mm. Hg) at 1 percent concentration; 44 percent (14.92 mm. Hg) at 2 percent concentration; and 31 percent (10.89 mm. Hg) at 4 percent concentration. The glaucomatous beagles responded with a greater reduction of IOP than did the normotensive beagles.


Lack of levamisole effect on experimental herpes keratitis. Levamisole, which is an anthelminthic, can restore depressed cell-mediated immunity (CMI) under some circumstances. In a controlled trial of experimental herpetic keratis in rabbits, levamisole was found to have no significant effect on acute herpetic keratitis or its recurrence rate. This is consistent with previous findings that other nonspecific CMI stimulation had no effect on recurrences of experimental herpes keratitis. Because of the known tendency of levamisole to produce agranulocytosis, we believe it should not be used in man unless proven effective in a carefully controlled double-blind study.


Tear calcium and magnesium levels of normal subjects and patients with hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia. Tear calcium and magnesium levels were measured in eight patients with hypercalcemia and two patients with hypocalcemia and compared to that of 72 subjects with normal serum calcium and magnesium levels. No correlation was found between tear and serum calcium and magnesium levels. Tear calcium level has no diagnostic importance.


Capillary-free area of the fovea with advancing age. The mean diameter of the capillary-free zone of the fovea was measured on fluorescein angiograms of 167 eyes of 158 patients. In all eyes examined, a clear-cut capillary-free area was found, although in a few cases one or two capillaries crossing the avascular zone were seen. There was a considerable individual variation in each age group. The mean diameter of the capillary-free zone was 0.53 mm. in patients between 10 and 39 years of age and 0.61 mm. after the age of 40. This difference is statistically highly significant (p less than 0.001), indicating some occlusion or atrophy of the macular capillaries by age, but no further increase in the mean diameter of the avascular zone was observed during the fifth decade or later. Findings in the two youngest patients, 12 and 22 months of age, were roughly comparable with those observed in adults.


Serum cystine aminopeptidase and leucine aminopeptidase activity in women with benign and malignant uterine and ovarian tumors. The serum enzymatic activities of cystine aminopeptidase and leucine aminopeptidase were measured in a group of 113 patients of whom 90 had benign uterine or ovarian tumors, and 23 had cancer of the endometrium or ovary. Thirty healthy nonpregnant women and 260 women at different stages of normal pregnancy served as control groups. The presence of pregnancy-specific enzymes in women with uterine or ovarian tumors showed once again that similar processes occur during pregnancy and malignancy. When ovarian or uterine malignancy is suspected on clinical examination, determination of the activities of these enzymes in serum may be of diagnostic value.


Effect of routine bedside procedures on intracranial pressure. The effect on intracranial pressure (ICP) of routine bedside procedures, such as changing the patient's position, suction, rotation, flexion or extension of the head, was investigated in 21 comatose patients with brain edema. Simple maneuvers, which under physiological conditions have no effect on ICP, often led to significant changes in the ICP in these patients. It is suggested that monitoring of ICP and adjustment of body position in accordance with the level of ICP become a standard procedure in neurosurgical wards.


Further investigation on the radiation induced inactivation of ribonuclease and the radioprotective effect of some selenium-containing compounds. Steady state inactivation data on dilute aqueous solutions of RNase show that all water radicals, e-aq, OH, and H are responsible for the inactivation, but the most efficient radical is H atom, only about 4 of them being required for one inactivating event. The data are, therefore, more in agreement with the conclusions of Mee et al. (1972). In the transient absorption spectra of pulse irradiated ribonuclease different components derived by the individual radicals are observed. Organic and inorganic selenium-containing compounds offer a great protection of the enzyme activity, in agreement with the data obtained in other chemical and biological systems. In particular the effects of two new secondary radicals (CNSe)-2 and SeO-3 are in good accord with the known structure of ribonuclease.


Phospholipase C treatment of mitochondria. Heavy beef heart mitochondria depleted of phospholipids by treatment with phospholipase C followed by removal of the by products by lipase treatment or sonication in pentane were analyzed by electron microscopy, chemical analysis and assays of enzymatic activities. The results indicate that diglycerides are present after phospholipase C treatment and are inhibitors of NADH-cytochrome c reductase. After removal of diglycerides with lipase treatment, a phospholipid requirement for NADH-cytochrome c reductase could be demonstrated.


Determinants of pattern and degree of utilization of health services in Western State, Nigeria. A survey of the determinants of the pattern and degree of utilization of health services in two divisions of Western State, Nigeria was carried out. There was generally a close similarity between the two divisions in the choice and use of services even though one is "urban" and the other "rural" in terms of socioeconomic characteristics and available health facilities. The study showed that the choice of a particular service was based on a complex of factors, such as age, educational status, type of occupation, place of work, medical cost, the individual's perception of and attitudes towards services or dispensers of service, and the quality and location of the services. The individual effects of age, education, type of occupation or place of work on attitudes towards health services could only be inferred from the study; these need to be empirically investigated and validated. The implications of the determining factors for health planning and public health education are outlined.


Parasympathomimetic action of scorpion venom on the cardiovascular system. Although the precise mechanism of the cardiovascular effects in man evoked by the venom of the yellow scorpion has yet to be completely elucidated, previous studies indicate that excessive adrenergic activity is present in many of the cases. This report describes two patients in whom yellow scorpion sting was followed by bradyarrhythmia with varying degrees of atrioventricular block which promptly regressed after the administration of atropine; this is consistent with a direct parasympathomimetic effect of the venom or with a central effect producing increased vagal tone. It is suggested that the cardiovascular actions of the venom may represent a wide spectrum of effects on the autonomic nervous system, ranging from the predominantly sympathomimetic to the predominantly parasympathomimetic.


Disclosure and informed-consent: does it matter how we tell it? Traditionally, informed consent has been handled by the physician in a one-to-one interchange with the patient. As standards for adequate disclosure become more rigid and demands on physician time increase, however, the physician-patient model may cease to be practical. This study evaluated four alterative disclosure models: a formal discussion, a videotape, a pamphlet, and an informal discussion, each designed and executed by a team of health educators. Study results suggest that the informed consent process is little affected by disclosure medium and that it may be possible to strive for cost-efficiency in disclosure without compromising the quality of the consent obtained. Based on these results, a two-part disclosure process is proposed which allocates certain aspects of the disclosure to the treating physician, others to health education.


Scales for measuring health belief model dimensions: a test of predictive value, internal consistency, and relationships among beliefs. Critiques of research on the Health Belief Model have been directed at the need for: (1) applying the Model to behavior related to chronic illness; (2) multivariate testing of the major dimensions of the Model; (3) developing reliable scales; and (4) explicating the relationships among the beliefs. In an attempt to respond to these concerns, data are presented from a prospective study of mothers' adherence to a diet regimen prescribed for their obese children. The Model components were found, both singly and in combination, to be correlated with the study's measure of dietary compliance. Multiple regression analysis utilizing five belief indices accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in children's weight change. Questionnaire items employed in creating indices for each Model dimension are presented, together with discussion of the internal consistency of each index. Belief intercorrelations appear to demonstrate that distinct Model dimensions exist.


The health belief model as a conceptual framework for explaining contraceptive compliance. The problem of compliance in family planning is discussed in relation to the lack of theoretical and conceptual clarity in research, which has produced contradictory, and often inconsistent findings. Current research has contributed little to explaining the phenomenon of compliance and to directing further research. The Health Belief Model, which has been demonstrated to have application in the areas of preventive health behavior and compliance with medical regimens, is offered as a potentially useful conceptual framework for family planning research. The generalization of the Health Belief Model to family planning behavior is seen as an out-growth of the theoretical strength of the Model and the similarities between family planning and other health behavior.


The health belief model and contraceptive behavior: limits to the application of a conceptual framework. The Health Belief Model is an inadequate conceptual framework for explaining the motivational dynamics of acceptance or rejection of contraception, although it does satisfy criteria of a good theory in explaining individual disease prevention behavior. Cues to action are the variables in the Model most clearly applicable to contraceptive behavior. The motivational variables, which are more important to the Model, are ambiguous at best is this area, however.


Cancer information by telephone: a two-year evaluation. A two year evaluation of a cancer information system accessible to the general public by telephone found a reported positive impact on behavior directly related to physical health for about 40 percent of a systematic sample of callers interviewed several weeks after their initial contact with the system. Another 20 percent of the same sample reported taking some positive action not directly related to health, or reported some other positive impact such as relief of anxiety as a result of hearing one of the system's 36 pre-recorded cancer lectures. Callers showed greater cancer knowledge, when interviewed, than a sample of non-callers, but no clear conclusion could be drawn because pre-call knowledge levels of callers were not ascertained. Data also were collected from callers at the time of their initial contact; caller characteristics patterns of calling, topics selected, and source of information about the system are reported. Results of experiments to increase public response are summarized.


Fluorescamine, a fluorescence probe for amino groups in histochemical studies of plant cells and the effect of mercury fixation. When fixed in mercuric chloride solutions and stained with Fluorescamine, histological plant specimens emit a strong fluorescence. The fluorophore distribution is topologically identical to the staining pattern revealed by visible light methods for nucleoproteins, but the fluorescence mode of viewing preparations gave greater sensitivity and contrast than transmitted light absorption methods. The parameters that influence the formation of the fluorescent image in plant cells are discussed. The results obtained indicate that the mercury-Fluorescamine reaction is an ideal histochemical procedure for collecting qualitative and analytical information on plant nuclei and on the changes of nucleolar architecture that occur during the cellular developmental cycle.


Catalase in salivary gland striated and excretory duct cells. I. The distribution of cytoplasmic and particulate catalase and the presence of catalase-positive rods. Catalase-positive rods of different dimensions, which frequently appeared crystalline by light microscopy, were found to be concentrated along with microbodies and cytoplasmic enzyme in the cells of the striated and extralobular excretory ducts of mouse salivary glands. When an entire mouse submandibular gland and its ducts were excised, fixed, sectioned and incubated for catalase demonstration, the excretory ducts were intensely stained relative to the remainder of the gland. Light microscopic examination of the stained ductal cells revealed particulate catalase in the form of rods and microbodies as well as reactivity due to non-particulate cytoplasmic enzyme. The cytoplasmic enzyme activity was less intense in some ductal epithelial cells (light cells) which were interspersed in mosaic arrangement among those more intensely stained (dark cells). The rods were somewhat more common in the light cells. Although the rods lack a symmetrical definitive crystal habit, their gross conformation and periodic substructure are reminiscent of crystalline catalase. No rods and relatively few peroxisomes were observed in excretory duct cells of germ-free mice although cytoplasmic catalase was abundant. These observations suggest that the catalase in salivary gland duct cells could be related in some way to the protection of the gland or the oral cavity or both against micro-organisms. Alternatively, the enzyme could be involved in the non-thyroidal biosynthesis of iodinated tyrosine derivatives.


Catalase in salivary gland striated and excretory duct cells. II. phi body: an ellipsoidal peroxisomal organelle with crystalloid axial projections. A new distinctive and unique peroxisomal organelle with a spindle shape has been observed in luminal epithelial cells of striated and excretory ducts of mouse salivary glands. Light microscopic studies indicate it has an ellipsoidal centre from which catalase-positive filamentous or rod-like processes protrude along its major axis; hence, it is called a phi body. A role for this specialized peroxisome in the formation of nearby free filaments and rods is suggested by the frequent observation of segmentation of its axial processes. Complementary ultrastructural studies of osmium-fixed preparations show that the deformation to an oval shape results from the pressure of the extruding crystalloid coincident with the major axis of the ellipsoidal body. The size range and conformation of phi body axial processes are comparable to those of free catalase-positive rods and filaments observed in the same cells. The periodic substructure of the crystalloid in the phi body core is identical with that of nearby cytoplasmic rods. These observations are consistent with the view that the rods and filaments observed free in the cytoplasm are formed by extrusion from the crystalloid core of the phi body. phi Bodies could also be responsible for the Aver rods of leukemic leukocytes.


The apparent failure of sodium borohydride reduction to block further PAS reactivity in rat epithelial mucins. Sections of rat small intestine were oxidized with 1% periodic acid for periods of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 30 min and were subsequently either (a) stained with Schiff reagent, or (b) reduced with sodium borohydride and then treated with either Schiff reagent alone or by the standard PAS procedure. It was found that whereas sodium borohydride reduction abolished all Schiff staining, initial periods of oxidation in excess of 10 min were necessary to abolish any subsequent PAS reactivity. The theoretical and practical significance of these data is discussed in relation to the recent publication of Bayliss & Adams (1976).


Influence of emulsion type and atmospheric oxygen on the fading of latent image in electron microscopic radioautography. The intensity of radioautographic reactions in Ilford L4, Sakura NR-H2 and Kodak NTE emulsions was compared after exposure in either dry air or dry helium gas at 4 degrees C to test the stability of latent images in the presence or absence of oxygen. A light proof container is described in which slides bearing radioactive sections coated with the three emulsions were exposed in dry helium at a constant pressure of approximately 0.5 atm. The comparison of air and helium atmospheres during exposure of radioautographs was estimated qualitatively for 125I-labeled thyroid sections stored for several years and, in addition, quantitative data was derived from 3H-labeled methacrylate sections stored from 21 days to 1 year. With the three emulsions under study, the background fog remains low under both exposure conditions at 4 degrees C for as long as several years duration. Using L4 emulsion, similar high grain densities are obtained in air and helium, and therefore, the latent images in L4 emulsion remain stable in the presence of oxygen. In the case of NTE and NR-H2 emulsions, as the exposure time increases, substantially lower reaction intensities are observed in air than in helium. This difference in reaction intensity is evident by 3 weeks with NTE and after 4 weeks with NR-H2. Hence, there is fading of the latent images in the latter emulsions in the presence of oxygen. It is concluded that reliable results may be obtained with the L4 emulsion by exposure of radioautographs in dry air, whereas with the NR-H2 and NTE emulsions, exposure should be in an oxygen-free medium, such as is provided by a dry helium atmosphere.


Ontogeny of peptide-producing nerves and endocrine cells of the gastro-duodeno-pancreatic region. The ontogeny of different types of endocrine cells and nerves producing different hormonal peptides was studied by immunocytochemistry. The data indicate that several endocrine cell types are more frequent in the foetal than in the adult gastro-duodeno-pancreatic region. Some cell types were found to show an over-lapping distribution. Such distributional over-laps were more frequent in foetuses and neonates than in adults. Both parallel and non-parallel patterns of development of endocrine cells and peptide-producing nerves were detected. Together with available information on the trophic effects of the gastrointestinal hormonal peptides these findings indicate that foetal and neonatal endocrine cells may participate in the regulation of growth and morphogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract.


Uptake of peroxidase by calcitonin inhibited osteoclasts. The present electron microscopic histochemical study demonstrates that osteoclasts from calcitonin treated bone are able to take up organic macromolecules even though the ruffled border has disapppeared. The absorption occurs around the entire periphery of the osteoclast, but the amount of absorbed peroxidase seems to be reduced in comparison with that of untreated cells. It is concluded that the effect of calcitonin on osteoclasts is primarily a cessation of the exocytosis and the concomitant disappearance of the ruffled border.


[Special problems in the chemotherapy of bacterial infections in otolaryngology (author's transl)]. The different occurrences of pathogens in acute and chronic otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis and infections of the respiratory tract are described, with consideration given to the development of gram-negative flora. Therapeutic plans are presented with regard to each of the possible organism patterns. Specific emphasis is given to the aminoglycoside antibiotics which can affect the auditory and vestibular systems.


[A comparison of tympanometric with audiometric and otoscopic findings (author's transl)]. An analysis is reported of the assessment of 233 ears by otoscopy from which the tympanic membrane appearances were classed into five groups, audiometry, tympanometry and in 57 cases middle-ear-puncture. Although observer errors must be acknowledged the findings were that the type B tympanogram does not conform to a specific pathology and may occur with different degrees of conductive hearing loss. Furthermore in the diagnosis of middle ear effusion the tympanogram does not supercede careful otoscopy and pure tone audiometry.


[Olfactometry after transethmoidal surgery for cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea and after head injury (author's transl)]. After transethmoidal exposure and closure of the dural defect olfactory assessments were made on 26 patients with frontal dural dehiscence. Different methods for both unilateral and bilateral assessment were applied. The incidence of abnormalities were evaluated and these were compared with a second group of 52 patients who had suffered head injury without cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea. There was no significant difference in the frequency of anosmia. The practical advantage of the transethmoidal approach to the floor of the anterior cranial fossa is emphasized.


[Objective determinations of individual sound protectors (author's transl)]. A method for objective measurements of the sound attenuation provided by ear protectors is described, utilizing a head model which contains all normal human sound properties. The difficulties experienced in localizing sound sources when wearing ear protectors is explained by changing the characteristics of the individual frequency bands.


[Paralayrinthine cholesteatoma and tympanoplasty (author's transl)]. Closed tympanoplasty techniques greatly increase the risk of recurrent cholesteatoma. This is obvious as many surgeons using these methods insist on a necessary obligatory control operation as a "second look". In this paper cholesteatomata are classified according to their tendency to extend within the petrous pyramid and the subsequent danger of invading semicircular canals, cochlea or cranial fossae. The predisposition to this type of growth is present in the well defined "medial" type of epitympanic cholesteatoma, and more in the anteriorly than the posteriorly placed ones. As infection becomes less prominent in countries with advanced medical services, especially otology, the cholesteatoma hidden behind a small dry epitympanic perforation and those even with no perforation termed "hidden primary cholesteatoma" become more frequent. They cause their own special symptomatology, not infrequently a slowly progressive facial palsy. Every cholesteatoma requires mandatory prophylactic surgery. This means the complete exposure of the danger area, the epitympanum, and nowadays the possibility of the syncronous complete reconstruction of a normal middle ear and external canal, i.e. osteoplastic epitympanotomy.


[The effects of a high placed jugular bulb on middle ear ventilation (author's transl)]. A study of healthy and inflammed mucosal folds within the middle ear has demonstrated another although narrow airway across the tympanic cavity to the aditus and antrum. The anatomical anomaly of a high placed jugular bulb can interfere not only with ventilation and drainage of mesotypanum but also of the epitympanum and antrum.


[The extreme flat nose, its formation and correction (author's transl)]. The extremely flat nose is a handicap because of nasal airway obstruction, and its consequences, and cosmetic unsightliness. This problem which is rarely discussed in the literature is considered to be inherited. We feel that it is also traumatic in origin. Two patients are presented in whom trauma to the nose is known to have occurred at birth by obstetric forceps. The surgical correction of the flat nose should restore normal function and produce a cosmetically satisfactory result.


[The double chisel--a new nasal osteotome (author's transl)]. A new chisel for performing osteotomy in rhinoplasty is described. It is double barrelled and consists of two flat chisels jointed together. Its advantage is that it permits clean division of the nasal bones and in combination with "in and out fracturing" contour irregularities are almost completely avoided.


Nitrites, nitrosamines, and meat.

Nitrites, nitrosamines, and meat. Food additive regulations are frequently misunderstood and are often the basis for widely disparate views. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not accept the concept that zero health risk with food additives is a humanly attainable goal; however, if the USDA is to accept that zero health risk is not attainable, then the department must propose, through regulations, a socially acceptable level of risk. Nitrite is an example. On one hand, nitrite is toxic at high levels and can combine with amines to form nitrosamines, which have been shown to cause cancer in animals. On the other hand, nitrite has been shown to provide the necessary protection, in many products, against Clostridium botulinum. The USDA, however, is not content to accept this position as a final one; they will continue to urge additional studies designed to further refine and decrease nitrite usage or replace it with a safe substitute. Given adequate information as to the relative risks involved in the use of nitrite or a substitute, society itself should be in a position to make the determination as to its willingness to accept potential risks in its daily life.


Trichinosis in sows slaughtered at a Kentucky abattoir. From July 26 to 30, 1976, diaphragmatic pillar samples were collected from 513 sows slaughtered at a federally inspected abattoir in Kentucky. The sows represented 5 marketing areas: Rushville, In (186); Cincinnati, Oh )158); Indianapolis, In (70); Georgetown, Ky (54); and Columbus, Oh (45). Using the pooled-sample digestion technique, 3 dead trichina larvae were identified in 1 sample pooled from 15 diaphragms (10 g each). An attempt to identify the individually infected sow(s) was unsuccessful, but the pooled sample originated from animals marketed at Rushville, In. The prevalence (1 of 513) was 0.194%.


Paralytic shellfish poisoning: a review. Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in man results from the consumption of mussels, clams, and oysters that have fed on toxic dinoflagellates. Motile, marine protozoa of the dinoflagellate group often produce "blooms," i.e., red tides, which color the sea. Not all genera or species are toxic to fish and mammals, nor are the toxic principles the same in all poisonous protozoa. At least 5 of the group are known to cause poisonings in man. Shellfish poisonings other than PSP are also recognized. The PSP toxin, saxitoxin, is concentrated in the viscera and occasionally in the mantle and syphon of marine bivalves. Cooking does not completely destroy the low molecular weight poisonous factor. Reported mortality ranges from 8.5 to 23.2%. The disease is of significant public health concern in some localities of the world from May to November.


Accidental exposure of veterinary students to rabies. Accidental exposure to rabies occurred in more than 200 veterinary students at Texas A&M University from 1970 to 1977. Few of the animals to which the students were exposed had typical signs of rabies prior to the exposures. An accelerated preexposure rabies prophylaxis program coupled with retention of suspect tissues suitable for fluorescent antibody procedures has reduced the number of postexposure prophylaxis series.


Control of radiation in animal facilities. Use of radioactive materials in animals for research and clinical studies is on the increase. These studies may be undertaken with little or no disruption of normal facility operations if a few facts are considered. The primary factor of consideration is the radiopharmaceutical--its pharmacologic behavior and physical characteristics. The preferred radionuclide is one with the shortest half-life compatible with the variables to be measured. The fact that an animal is a source of radiation as well as a potential source of contamination must be kept in mind. Improper use of radiopharmaceuticals is inexcusable.


Epidermolysis bullosa simplex in the Collie dog. Epidermolysis bullosa simplex was diagnosed in 4 Collie dogs. Three of the dogs were less than 6 months old when lesions were first noticed. Lesions were characterized by alopecia, erythema, edema, erythematous plaques, erosions, ulcers, crusts, atrophy, pigmentary changes, and (rarely) blisters affecting the skin over bony prominences and joints of the limbs, face, lips, and ears. Minimal to moderate pruritus or pain was manifested by chewing and licking at the affected areas of the limbs and by pawing and rubbing at the face and ears. Lesions could be induced by frictional trauma in areas of normal skin. Diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination of affected tissues and induced lesions. Therapy with large oral doses of prednisolone and avoidance of trauma were palliative.


A serologic survey for Brucella canis in dogs on a military base. A survey for Brucella canis antibodies in dogs was conducted at an Air Force Base in Missippi in 1976. The rapid slide agglutination test was used as a screening test prior to determination of titers by the standard tube agglutination test. Of 6 sera reacting positively by the slide technique, only 1 was confirmed positive by the tube agglutination technique. The seropositive rate among stray dogs apprehended on the base was 7.6%, whereas the seropositive rate among pet dogs was 0%.


Urogenital blastomycosis in a dog.

Urogenital blastomycosis in a dog. Blastomycosis was diagnosed in a dog by finding the causative organism in preputial exudate and urine. Prostatic involvement was confirmed by transrectal biopsy. The dog was not treated, and, after it was euthanatized, a complete necropsy was performed. The only other sites where organisms were found were the iliac lymph nodes and the lungs. Although organisms were not found in any other part fo the genitourinary tract, both kidneys had diffuse glomerulonephritis and tubular degeneration.


Ectopic ureters in a male cat.

Ectopic ureters in a male cat. A 16-week-old male cat with urinary incontinence was initially diagnosed as having a right ectopic ureter. Other abnormalities of the urinary system included phimosis, hydronephrosis, and localized right megaloureter. Surgical removal of the right kidney and right ureter was partially successful in stopping the urinary incontinence. Further radiographic studies and retrospective examination of initial radiographs revealed that the left ureter was also ectopic.


Dorsal laminectomy techniques in the dog. The effects of various lengths of complete dorsal laminectomy were compared with the effects of Funkquist method B laminectomy on the spinal cord of dogs. Complete dorsal laminectomies were done on L1 (group 1), L1 and L2 (group 2), and L1, L2, and L3 (group 3). Dogs of group 4 had Funkquist method B laminectomies on L1 and L2. Complete dorsal laminectomy on 1 vertebra and Funkquist method B laminectomy on 2 vertebrae did not result in any clinically untoward signs. In conjuction with these results, there was no dorsoventral flattening of the spinal cords and minimal microscopic damage within the spinal cords. If 2 or 3 vertebrae had a complete laminectomy, tonic spasticity of the pelvic limbs developed after surgery. Dorsoventral flattening of the spinal cord and moderate to severe microscopic damage were seen in the spinal cords of these dogs.


Isolation of wine influenza virus in Oklahoma. Three isolations of swine influenca virus were made from 2 swine herds in west-central Oklahoma. Many swine in these herds had signs of respiratory tract disease, and in 1 herd, some affected animals also had diarrhea. Two isolations were made in swine testicle cell line and 1 in embryonating chicken eggs. All 3 strains were cytopathogenic for swine testicle cells.


Tyzzer's disease in Syrian hamsters.

Tyzzer's disease in Syrian hamsters. Tyzzer's disease was diagnosed in 18 Syrian hamsters. The clinical signs included sudden onset of diarrhea, dehydration, and lethargy; all affected hamsters died within 48 hours. Gross lesions consisted of multiple white nodules in the heart; dilated cecum and colon containing semiliquid feces, sometimes bearing necrotic plaques on the mucosa; and occasionally, a few small scattered white spots in the liver. Microscopic study of those lesions revealed areas of necrosis and mixed cellular inflammation. The causative agent, Bacillus piliformis, was demonstrated within myocardial fibers, hepatocytes, and colonic epithelial cells. Inoculation of chicken embryos and a clinically normal hamster with a homogenate of cecal wall prepared from affected hamsters resulted in reproduction of the agent and transmission of the disease.


Myopathy in guinea pigs.

Myopathy in guinea pigs. Myopathy resembling nutritional muscular dystrophy occurred in a colony of 150 guinea pigs. Of 54 animals affected, 27 died. Major clinical signs were depression, conjunctivitis, and reluctance to move. Lesions were widespread throughout skeletal and cardiac musculature. Clinical signs and deaths ceased when the diet was changed to a different commercial ration. A single intramuscular injection of sodium selenite and alphatocopherol brought prompt remission of clinical signs in one group of 20 so treated.


Self trauma and Staphylococcus aureus in ulcerative dermatitis of rats. Eight cases of ulcerative dermatitis occurred in 7 groups of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from skin lesions of all affected rats; in some affected rats, coagulase-positive S aureus was also isolated from the feces and oropharynx. Amputation of toes of chronically affected rats resulted in remission of lesions. Self trauma (scratching with the hind feet) and fecal contamination of wounds with coagulase-positive S aureus were postulated as factors contributing to persistence of lesions in affected rats.


Ketamine and xylazine for surgical anesthesia in rats. The responses of 2 inbred strains of rats to intramuscular doses of ketamine and xylazine, singly and in combination, were studied. A synergistic effect was observed when the 2 drugs were administered together, which resulted in anesthesia with extended analgesia and immobility. Anesthesia was achieved in most rats given 87 mg ketamine/kg of body weight and 13 mg xylazine/kg, beginning 10 to 15 minutes after simultaneous injection and lasting 15 to 30 minutes, then followed by a relatively long period of immobility (mean, 3.8 hours) and reduced responsiveness to external stimuli. Some rats required up to twice this dose for adequate surgical anesthesia. Total doses (initial and supplemental) of up to 3 times the amount were administered with apparent safety.


Trichophytobezoars in miniature swine.

Trichophytobezoars in miniature swine. Miniature swine confined indoors on concrete developed gastric trichophytobezoars that resulted in gradual weight loss and debilitation. The ability to maintain the swine on a chronic research project was threatened by premature deaths associated with the trichophytobezoar formation. The predisposing husbandry practices and history of the development of the trichophytobezoars included confinement for several years and consumption of pelleted feed directly from the concrete floor. Gastrotomy performed on 3 sows and 5 boars avoided the progression of complications leading toward starvation and resulted in clinical improvement.


Surgical drainage of a submandibular air sac in an orangutan. Continuous enlargement of a submandibular air sac was observed in a 7-year-old female orangutan. The animal was treated with tetracycline orally prior to administering phencyclidine and establishing surgical drainage. The incision into the air sac remained patent for 5 days and the cutaneous wound healed 2 weeks later.


Mycotic enteritis in a chameleon and a brief review of phycomycoses of animals. Rectal prolapse in an adult chameleon was surgically replaced. The animal was given tetracycline and dextrose orally, but became comatose 7 days postoperatively and was euthanatized. Necropsy revealed intussusception of the terminal portion of the colon. Phycomycotic hyphae accompanied by necrosis and a mixed leukocytic infiltrate were found in the area of intussusception.


Renal styphlodoriasis in a boa constrictor. Renal styphlodoriasis was diagnosed in a 2 1/2-year-old male boa constrictor (Constrictor constrictor). The snake had been anorexic for 6 months prior to its death. Necropsy revealed numerous hard, white foci of mineralization in the kidneys. Histologic examination revealed distorted renal tubules containing cross sections of trematodes or mineralized debris, tubular epithelial hyperplasia, and chronic interstitial nephritis. Several adult trematodes were recovered and identified as Styphlodora horrida.


Cerebral nematodiasis in captive nutria. Of 35 nutria (Myocaster coypus) at a city zoo, 20 died or were killed because of a progressive central nervous system disease. On the basis of histopathologic findings, a diagnosis of cerebral nematodiasis complicated by nosematosis was made. The only significant management change prior to illness was the feeding of poplar tree branches from a lowland area inhabited by skunks and raccoons. Neurologic disturbances gradually ceased within 2 months after control measures were initiated and the practice of provided poplar branches as a source of roughage was discontinued.


Bilateral ocular lipidosis in a cottontail rabbit fed an all-milk diet. Lipid infiltration of the corneal stroma, sclera, and uvea occurred in a 2-year-old cottontail rabbit that had been fed an all-milk diet for 20 months. Superficial keratectomy was performed on the left eye but the rabbit died. Histologically, lipid deposits were most extensive in the anterior corneal stroma and posterior iridal epithelium.