Management of phenylketonuria: South Australian experience of 13 cases. The management and present status of 13 children with phenylketonuria detected on the fifth day of life, who have been treated by diet thereafter for five to eight years, are discussed. In all 10 cases in which there has been continuous adequate dietary control of blood phenylalanine levels, the physical, social and mental development of the children has been normal. In some of these cases there is an unexplained discrepancy between the verbal and performance IQ scores. The present policy is to continue restricting the diet indefinitely, relaxation being permitted conditionally only after the age of seven years.


Painful ophthalmoplegia following treated squamous carcinoma of the forehead. Orbital apex involvement from centripetal spread via the supraorbital nerve. Intraneural and perineural spread of squamous carcinoma from the face to the cranial cavity is an important cause of delayed cranial nerve palsies after local excision of a skin tumour. As exemplified in reports of two cases, signs of this type of centripetal spread of squamous cell tumour along the branches and trunk of the supraorbital nerve are (i) severe unremitting orbital and forehead pain with associated hypoaesthesia, (ii) palpable or radiological evidence of thickening of the nerve at the supraorbital notch and (iii) evolution of ophthalmoplegia, blindness, and sensory loss in the first division of the trigeminal nerve. Appearance of severe supraorbital neuralgia months or years after excision of a skin tumour from the forehead should alert the clinician to extension of tumour cells along the supraorbital nerve. This may enable him to institute timely treatment before a complete orbital apex syndrome has developed.


Vesico-ureteric reflux.

Vesico-ureteric reflux. There is increasing awareness that vesico-ureteric reflux is associated with the occurrence of renal scars. The influence of infection in scar formation is unclear. The way in which corrective surgery may prevent scar development in selected patients is gradually becoming apparent. It would seem probable that surgical correction of vesico-ureteric reflux is indicated only in infants and young children with gross vesico-ureteric reflux.


Social work and general practice: a review article. Closer collaboration with social workers may be a means of enabling the general practitioner to deal with the psychosocial problems expressed in his practice. Emerging interest on the part of general practitioners in exploring the potential contribution of the social worker to patient care is accompanied by some anxiety and ambivalence. Reports of collaborative projects have come mainly from the United Kingdom, and although these offer some guidelines, it is imperative that any policy proposals for the development of closer general practitioner-social worker collaboration in Australia be grounded in an Australian data base.


General practice and professional coordination. In a satellite city in South Australia, 17 miles from Adelaide, a controlled experiment in which a social worker from a local community agency has been placed in a four-man practice is demonstrating one way in which new forms of professional coordination can evolve out of already existing services. Through daily face-to-face contact, doctors, and social worker, as well as other surgery staff members, are learning ways of cooperating in unravelling the many mixed medical and psychosocial problems that present in a general practice setting. There are indications that community response to the innovation is positive because the doctors develop an assurance in making referrals, and people see the service as an extension of a known service in an already familiar setting.


The general practice and social work. Report on a trial. This report describes the experience of a social work student placement of 10 weeks' duration in a two-man general practice in Perth, Western Australia. The student was completing the final year of the degree of Master of Social Work at the University of Western Australia, and this was the student's third and final practical assignment. In particular, the report describes the means of referral, the nature and size of the social work service on the doctor-patient relationship.


[Alteration of coronary blood flow after injection of a contrast medium (author's transl)]. The injection of with different, energetic separable radioactive isotope labelled particles in the same coronary artery before and short after the injection of a contrast medium reveals in many cases variable scintigraphic pictures. The temporary vasodilatation caused by the contrast medium produces in presence of a coronary stenosis a disturbance of the regional blood flow. Thereby we find in the poststenotic myocardial area a transient ischemia, bringing about a decrease of the activity at the scintigram. As this transient ischemia is only demonstrable with a hemodynamic effective stenosis, in such cases a good effect of coronary surgery can be expected. On the other hand, in the presence of effective stenoses in all three coronary branches, in the double-scintigram alterations of the perfusion can be missed, showing the same scintigraphic picture as with normal coronary arteries.


[Mendelson's syndrome in coronary care units (author's transl)]. By means of the case of a patient resuscitated after cardiac arrest attention is brought to the occurring of Mendelson's syndrome in coronary care units. Aspiration pneumonitis following inhalation of acid gastric contents is little known outside of anesthesia, but is likely to occur more frequent than its diagnosis is made. A considerable black number is to be expected, mostly because of the danger that the aspiration itself has not been registered and the pulmonary edema setting in after a latency of several hours is regarded as sequela of the underlying heart disease. But this misunderstanding can have deleterious effects, because therapy has to consider a hypovolemia caused by the fluid loss into the lungs. Therefore pathogenesis and therapy of the lung edema in Mendelson's syndrome are carefully delineated. In patients surviving the acute stage of the disease, further prognosis is favorable: late sequelae have so far not been observed.


Metabolism of caffeine to nucleic acid precursors in mammalian cells. Caffeine is rapidly metabolized in human and mouse cells in culture by de-methylation: within 1-3 h of exposure to millimolar concentrations of labeled caffeine, more than 90% of the pool consists of labeled products of metabolism and less than 10% is still caffeine. The methyl groups seem to be transferred and used in the de novo synthesis of thymine, guanine, and adenine to nucleic acids. Normal fibroblasts, Lesch-Nyhan fibroblasts, xeroderma pigmentosum fibroblasts, HeLa cells, wild type mouse cells, and adenine phosphoribosyl-transferase-deficient mouse cells all seem to metabolize caffeine similarly.


The isolation and preliminary characterisation of 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants of human diploid fibroblasts. Mutant clones of human diploid fibroblasts deficient in the enzyme, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) were selected by their ability to grow in medium containing the cytotoxic purine analogue, 6-thioguanine (6TG). The optimal condtions for mutant selection were 6TG concentrations between 1 and 5 mug ml1 and cell plating densities approximately 10(3) cells cm-2. Nine spontaneous and four radiation-induced 6TG-resistant mutants had less than 2% of the parental strain HGPRT activity and were unable to grow in medium containing azaserine. These mutants were phenotypically stable during greater than 25 population doublings in non-selective medium and five mutants that were examined showed no gross change from the normal human karyotype. Evidence is presented to show that 6TG is a better selective agent than 8-aza-guanine (8AG) for HGPRT-deficient mutants of human diploid fibroblasts.


Radiation-induced DNA scissions and their rejoining in testicular cells of mouse. The radiosensitivity of DNA molecules in testicular cells from adult male mice in situ was 0.22 single-strand breks per 10(12) daltons of DNA per rad. This was significantly lower than the 0.6-0.7 for liver and thymus DNA, and was most likely attributable to a hypoxic condition of testicular cells in situ. Although a majority of the single-strand scissions was quickly rejoined, a significant extent of breaks remained without further rejoining. The presence of remaining breaks was demonstrated not only after 3-6 h of post-irradiation time, but also after irradiation at low dose rates. The remaining breaks might be a slow and/or non-reparable DNA damage.


Effect of human leukocyte interferon on hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic active hepatitis. Four patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and chronic active hepatitis were treated with human leukocyte interferon. Three of them had consistently elevated levels of circulating Dane-particle markers, including Dane-particle-associated DNA polymerase activity, hepatitis B core antigen and Dane-particle-associated DNA. Parenteral interferon administration at a dosage between 6.0 X 10(3) and 17 X 10(4) U per kilogram per day was associated with a rapid and reproducible fall in all Dane-particle markers in the three patients. The suppressive effect was transient when the interferon was given for 10 days or less but appeared to be more permanent when administration was prolonged for a month or more. In addition, long-term interferon therapy was associated with a marked fall in hepatitis B surface antigen in two of three patients and a disappearance of e antigen in two of two patients. Interferon may be useful in limiting carrier infectivity or eradicating chronic infection.


Differential characteristics of the electrocardiogram in early repolarization and acute pericarditis. Electrocardiographic mimicry necessitates differentiation between acute pericarditis and early repolarization. Among 96 persons, limb-lead RST deviations occurred in all 48 with pericarditis, but only 27 with early repolarization. RS-T vectors (A RS-T) in pericarditis tended to be horizontal (25 patients) and left of the T vector, A T (28 patients); in early repolarization, A RS-T was vertical in 15 subjects and right of A T (20 subjects); P less than or equal to 0.01. RS-T depression in Lead V1 was more common in pericarditis (14 vs. two); isoelectric RS-T in Lead V6 was more common in early repolarization (10 vs. one); P less than or equal to 0.01. PR segment deviations occurred in both limb and precordial leads in pericarditis; in early repolarization they were confined to either lead group. Thus, R-ST deviations in both limb and precordial leads with horizontal A RS-T to left of A T and RS-T depression in Lead V1 favor pericarditis; vertical A RS-T and isoelectric RS-T in Lead V6 favor early repolarization.


Closure of the ductus arteriosus in premature infants by inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis constricts the ductus arteriosus in fetal lambs in utero. We administered the inhibitors, aspirin or indomethacin to 18 premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus, and assessed the effects clinically and by echocardiography (left atrial/aortic-root ratio). After aspirin (20 mg per kilogram, every six hours for four doses) the ductus closed permanently in one infant within 24 hours; in another, constriction occurred with clinical improvement, and the third did not respond. In five infants given 0.3 mg per kilogram of indomethacin, complete closure occurred within one day; two of them, who received three doses had an elevated serum creatinine for one week. In one infant the ductus reopened, requiring a second dose of indomethacin 11 days after the first. Ten infants received 0.1 mg per kilogram of indomethacin, and closure occurred within 24 to 30 hours in eight. One had a soft murmur for four days, and one did not respond to two doses of indomethacin. A murmur reappeared after three to seven days in three infants but only one required further treatment. In infants receiving a single dose of 0.3 mg per kilogram, or one or more doses of 0.1 mg per kilogram, renal function was unaltered.


Norepinephrine and epinephrine release and adrenergic mediation of smoking-associated hemodynamic and metabolic events. We studied the effects of cigarette smoking, sham smoking and smoking during adrenergic blockade in 10 subjects to determine whether smoking released the sympathetic neurotransmitter norepinephrine, as well as the adrenomedullary hormone epinephrine, and whether smoking-associated hemodynamic and metabolic changes were mediated through adrenergic mechanisms. Smoking-associated increments in mean (+/- S.E.M.) plasma norepinephrine (227 +/- 23 to 324 +/- 39 pg per milliliter, P less than 0.01) and epinephrine (44 +/- to 113 +/- 27 pg per milliliter, P less than 0.05) were demonstrated. Smoking-associated increments in pulse rate, blood pressure, blood glycerol and blood lactate/pyruvate ratio were prevented by adrenergic blockade; increments in plasma growth hormone and cortisol were not. Since significant smoking-associated increments, in pulse rate, blood pressure and blood lactate/pyruvate ratio, preceded measurable increments in plasma catecholamine concentrations, but were adrenergically mediated, these changes should be attributed to norepinephrine released locally from adrenergic axon terminals within the tissues rather than to increments in circulating catecholamines.


Hepatic fibrinogen deposits in pre-eclampsia. Immunofluorescent evidence. To investigate if fibrin (or fibrinogen), immunoglobulins and complement were present in the liver of patients with toxemia of pregnancy, we performed immunofluorescence studies on needle biopsies of pre-eclamptic women. Fibrin (or fibrinogen) outlining the hepatic sinusoids was found in all 12 cases; in two of them there were also large nodular deposits of fibrin (or fibrinogen) and to a lesser extent of IgG, IgM and C3 in areas of necrosis. Immunofluorescence study of 13 control liver biopsies, six from pregnant women, was negative. Our findings suggest that the factors involved in glomerular and hepatic injury are similar. To explain the predominant involvement of liver and kidney, we propose that in these organs, the vasospasm characteristic of toxemia is more severe; this enhanced severity, in the presence of a systemic yet mild blood hypercoagulability, would create adequate local conditions for the precipitation of fibrin-fibrinogen.


Changes in intestinal flora of farm personnel after introduction of a tetracycline-supplemented feed on a farm. A prospective study was undertaken to determine whether feeding farm animals antibiotics in feed caused changes in the intestinal bacterial flora of farm dwellers and their neighbors. Chickens were fed tetracycline-supplemented feed (tet-feed), and, as expected, within one week their intestinal flora contained almost entirely tetracycline-resistant organisms. Increased numbers of resistant intestinal bacteria also appeared, but more slowly, in farm members, but not their neighbors. Within five and six months, 31.3 per cent of weekly fecal samples from farm dwellers contained greater than 80 per cent tetracycline-resistant bacteria as compared to 6.8 per cent of the samples from the neighbors (P less than 0.001). Seven of the 11 farm members, but only three of the 24 neighbors, had two or more fecal samples containing greater than 80 per cent tetracycline-resistant coliforms (P less than 0.01). These resistant bacteria contained transferable plasmids conferring multiple antibiotic resistances. Selective pressure by tet-feed for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in chickens extends to human beings in contact with chickens and the feed.


[Gas chromatographic study of odor and flavor components of dry wine]. 6, 12 and 18 months after bottling, 1 sample of the primary wine, 2 samples of tank-fermented sparkling wines (taken at different production phases, i.e., during and after the second fermentation) and 3 samples of bottle-fermented raw champagne were analysed for aroma and flavour components. The samples were extracted with ether-pentane (2:1) and analysed by gas chromatography. 21 components were detected, 9 of which were identified (isopropanol, n-propanol, isobutanol, n-butanol, isopentanol, heptanal, n-hexanal, n-heptanol, isooctanol). There were marked qualitative and quantitative differences in composition between the aroma and flavour components of the primary wine sample and the sparkling wines sample taken during the main phase of the tank-fermenting process. This is essentially attributable to the fermenting activities of the yeasts. On the contrary, the aroma and flavour components of the primary wine sample agreed in quality with those of the sparkling wines sample taken at the end of tank-fermentation. It is concluded from these findings that greater amounts of new components do not form during the second fermentation. On the other hand, aroma and flavour components already present in the primary wine came to the fore by the quantitative increase of certain bouquet components. The comparison of the samples of bottle-fermented sparkling wines revealed, irrespective of slight changes, a clear-cut developmental trend. During the aging process, the contents of isopentanol and of a still unidentified component decreased, whereas those of isobutanol, isopropanol, heptanol and a still unidentified component increased markedly. It is stated that differences in the fermenting process manifest themselves mainly by the ratios of the components. The bouquet components were almost similar for both fermenting processes.


[Effect of blanching, freezing and sterilization on protein and amino acid content of green peas]. On the basis of the two years investigations carried on the green pea (var. Delis 11 fold), it was confirmed that blanching and freezing decrease the content of albumen and amino acids. The sterilizing belongs to the most drastic process. It was also confirmed that methionine limits the content of albumen.


[Substantiation of the concept of "freshness" with fodder rye and wheat as examples]. In moderately or severely damaged fodder rye and wheat, the catalase test and the acidity determination are suited for corroborating the results of the organoleptic examination; But it must be emphasized that organoleptic tests cannot be replaced by the determination of chemical parameters. The present studies indicate that the substantiation of freshness by means of chemical parameters is limited in case of light or moderate deterioration.


[Swelling properties and structural stability of spun protein fibers]. With spun protein fibers of casein and a mixture of casein and vegetable proteins results in a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate an increased diameter of the protein fibers. The determination of this change makes possible an examination of the swellability and stability of the structure of protein fibers.


[Value of the "amylose number" in determination of starch damage]. The author demonstrated column and paper chromatographically that no or very little amylose is extracted when using HAMPEL's method for the colorimetric determination of starch damage ("amylose number"). The actually extracted substances are mainly other starch components which form a violet colour on addition of a dilute iodine solution. Further starch components which form a violet colour on addition of a dilute iodine solution are extracted by rewashing with the different components of HAMPEL's solvent mixture. The most distinct results were obtained with distilled water. It is suggested to rewash the filter residue with distilled water to extract all the damaged starch and to use the combined extracts for the determination. In consideration of the fact that HAMPEL's solvent mixture extracts not only amylose from the damaged starch, the term of "amylose number" should be rejected and replaced by the term of formamide ammonium sulphate sulphosalicylic acid (FAS) method or formamide sodium sulphate sulphosalicylic acid (FNS) method.


[Analysis of thiabendazole in citrus fruits and bananas]. With regard to routine analyses in market control, the authors recommend two methods (according to the expected amounts of active principle) for the determination of thiabendazole residues on citrus fruits and bananas. The ultraviolet spectrophotometric method is preferable in determining thiabendazole contents of more than 1 p.p.m., if the cleaning operations described are respected. For the detection of thiabendazole and for the determination of amounts of less than 1 p.p.m. (the tolerance limit being 0.2 p.p.m. for pomes, berries, stone fruits, kernel fruits and also for potatoes) the thin-layer chromatographic method seems likewise to be suited (also in considering that it is semi-quantitative by nature); especially since the spectrophotometric method yields values by 0.2 p.p.m. too high (due to the measurement of residual absorption of vegetable constituents). The authors are of opinion that such an error must be considered to be too high for contents lower than 1 p.p.m.


[Changes in the nutritive physiological value of proteins modified by dialdehyde starch]. The reaction of dialdehyde starch with the proteins of certain model protein texturates produces changes in the nutrition physiological quality of the proteins. Under the experimental conditions chosen, these changes were barely or not at all detectable by amino-acid analysis. On using the technique of aminoacid liberation under in vitro conditions, these changes were evidenced only for lysine and arginine. The determination of the lysine availability, however, testifies to a reversible or irreversible change of lysine which reduces significantly the PER values (animal experiments) of protein texturates treated with 100% oxidized dialdehyde starch. The differences between the NPU values were but insignificant. In spite of the detectable change in protein quality, the quality of the model protein texturates tested still satisfies the criteria for proteins with a composition which is favourable from the viewpoint of nutrition physiology.


Eimeria leuckarti infection in foals.

Eimeria leuckarti infection in foals. This is the first report on Eimeria leuckarti infection in foals in Japan. Seven Thoroughbred or Angloarabian foals 2 to 7 months of age raised in the Hidaka district, Hokkaido, were infected with E. leuckarti. They died of severe alterations caused by the larval migration of Strongylus vulgaris, and were examined over a period from 1970 to 1973. Protozoa of this species were observed in the small intestine in all the foals. They were found mostly in vacuoles of the cytoplasm of monoclear cells in the lamina propria at or near the tip of villi. Various stages of gametocytes, oocysts, and microgametocytes were found. In infected cells the nucleus was markedly enlarged, but the cellular response was very slight to the parasite.


Optimum dialysate calcium concentration during maintenance hemodialysis. A dialysate calcium concentration of 7 mg/100 ml is optimal for hemodialysis. Provided plasma phosphate concentrations are maintained within the normal range and provided that thrice weekly dialysis is employed, this concentration of calcium in the dialysate restores plasma-ionized calcium level to normal, provides sufficient calcium during dialysis to offset loss of calcium in the stool, and prevents loss of calcium from bone. Several clinical trials indicate that it reduces the risk of progressive secondary hyperparathyroidism. Normalization of plasma calcium and phosphate levels reduces (but does not eliminate) the risk of metastatic calcification.


The influence of age on the renal response to water deprivation in man. Alterations in urine concentrating ability with age were examined in 98 active community-dwelling volunteers (aged 20-79 years) who were free from evidence of diseases known to adversely affect renal function. There was a significant decrease in urine osmolality reached after 12 h dehydration with advancing age, which could not be correlated with the age-related decline in creatinine clearance. A significant age-related diminution in the ability to conserve solute was also observed. This inability to conserve solute may result in diminished medullary tonicity and impaired urinary concentrating ability.


The effect of indomethacin on kidney function and plasma renin activity in man. 125Iothalamate and 131I-hippuran clearances, sodium excretion and plasma renin activity (PRA) before and during indomethacin administration in an oral dose of 3 x 50 mg/day were studied in volunteers with a normal or reduced kidney function, as well on non-sodium-restricted as on sodium-restricted diet. Indomethacin induced a temporary sodium and water retention and a decrease in glomerular filtration rate. It also lowered PRA. The latter phenomenon did not depend on sodium retention and was present within 2 h after an oral dose of 50 mg. The results may be explained by indomethacin-induced inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis.


Effects of digitonin on mitochondrial and lysosomal fractions from renal cortex. Digitonin was studied as a means of purifying mitochondrial fractions which were contaminated by lysosmes and other membranous structures. At concentrations which did not cause loss of mitochondrial enzymes, digitonin released into the supernatant significant amounts of marker enzymes for lysosomes, plasma membranes, and other cytoplasmic organelles. Acid glycosidases followed differing patterns of release that may reflect the heterogenous organization of the lysosomal enzyme-membrane complex. While there are limitations to the digitonin method, studies of certain aspects of mitochondrial function may benefit from the digitonin pretreatment step.


Renal failure following gentamicin in combination with clindamycin. Acute renal failure (ARF) occurred concomitantly with the administration of gentamicin in combination with clindamycin in three patients in whom no other known predisposing cause of ARF could be demonstrated. The evidence for combined nephrotoxicity consisted of the temporal relationship between administration of the antibiotics and the development of ARF, and the prompt improvement in renal function upon cessation of therapy. Complete or partial recovery of renal function occured in all patients. Renal function should be carefully monitored in patients receiving this antibiotic combination.


Occurrence of renovascular hypertension in two sisters. Renovascular hypertension in two sisters, aged 22 and 20, respectively, has been described. Renal artery stenoses were observed unilaterally in the elder patient and bilaterally in the younger one. In both patients, the functional significance of unilateral stenosis of the renal artery was documented by the renal vein renin ratio between the affected side and the contralateral or less affected side. High blood pressure and elevated plasma renin activity have been normalized with a unilateral revascularization in the elder patient, and with the treatment of propranolol in the younger one. The histological examination of the stenotic renal artery in the elder patient showed a finding comparable to the perimedial fibroplasia in Harrison and McCormack's classification of idiopathic fibromuscular stenosis.


[Clinical problems of neural lesions in the phase of rehabilitation. Their significance and importance in final success of rehabilitation therapy]. The frequency and significance of associated diseases and clinical problems in patients with nerve injuries in the recovery stage was statistically assessed. A variety of clinical situations are observed in practically all such patients. Half of the symptoms and diseases encountered relate to the nervous system and cardiocirculatory apparatus, while there is also a high incidence of skeletal muscle and urinary affections. The significance of these signs as far as rehabilitation is concerned can be seen in the fact that psychological and micturition disturbances are observed, along with muscle hypertonia, fibromyositis, cystitis and arthrosis. These form the more common obstacles to the regular execution of a rehabilitation programme, whereas no such significance is possessed by such serious diseases as valvular cardiopathy, hypertension and neoplasia of the neuraxis.


[Ergometric tests in cardiology. Diagnosis of coronary insufficiency: methods and evaluated parameters]. The historical development of the stress-test in the diagnosis of coronary insufficiency has been examined from the first observations about 1930 regarding changes in the repolarization phase during effort in coronary patients, up to modern tests with the ergometer bicycle and treadmill. Starting from the consideration that Master's Test is still the most commonly used in clinical practice, the limitations of tests of this type are highlighted and the discussion also covers the techniques and parameters now considered of greatest importance in cardiopathy diagnosis and evaluated by means of modern maximal stress tests. The results of a first period of work involving tests using the treadmill are reported. The methodology is discussed and the symptoms or ECG data that had suggested the test be used are related to the patient's origin (out-patient or hospitalized) and with the test's positivity or negativity. The high incidence of unstable ST syndrome, especially in the female sex, is also stressed. If this is not thoroughly investigated functionally (hyperventilation, Valsalva, etc.) it could be the cause of a large number of false positives. The lack of danger in the maximal stress test, even in cardiopaths, is confirmed together with the extreme ease with which nearly all patients manage to perform the test on the treadmill. Stress is also laid on the fact that the stress test is functional, unlike coronarography which is purely morphological, and the two examinations are thus complementary in the diversity of information they provide.


[Benign muscular dystrophy with hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism and congenital cataract]. A syndrome characterized by benig muscular dystrophy, hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, congenital cataract and normal karyotype is reported. A similar condition was described by Bassöe. The patient's family tree revealed a number of isolated cases presenting some component of the syndrome, suggesting that this is connected with a recessive autosomic gene, probably with pleiotropic effect. The muscular disorder was absent in most of the other family members and its clinical signs were probably favoured by the low plasma level of testosterone with consequent reduced myotrophic action. The simultaneous presence of congenital cataract links the syndrome on the one hand to Steinert's myotonic dystrophy, although there were no clinical or electromyographic signs of myotonia, and on the other to other hereditary or familial neuroectodermal syndromes, compared to which it presents specific differential traits.


[Treatment of obesity with chorionic gonadotropins. Relations between obesity, dyslipidemia and arthero-arteriosclerosis]. A long account of the many factors responsible form atherosclerosis (dysmetabolism, physical, genetic and familial factors, immunobiological features, diet) is followed by an assessment of obesity as a main risk factor in the local pathology of atherosclerosis. Results obtained in the treatment of obesity with chorionic gonadotropin and a 500 calorie standard diet are presented. These were highly satisfactory with respect to weight loss, tolerance, and marked improvement (or even normalisation) of blood lipid values, which were initially pathological in many cases.


[Geriatric department].

[Geriatric department]. The medicolegal, health and organisational aspects of the department introduced by law into the Italian hospital structure are examined. A comparison is made with the proposals made in the single national contract for hospital workers. An account is given of the Senior Citizen's Department set up at Trieste, in the light of the city's demographic and socioeconomic situation.


[Importance of atrial rhythm disease in geriatrics]. 13 patients aged between 69 and 85 suffering from atrial rhythm disease were examined. Special attention was paid to the relationships between this syndrome and acute cerebral vascular pathology. The series shows the high frequency in arrhythmic atrial disease of episodes of incipient loss of consciousness or authentic syncopal phenomena. Fully 11 patients were subjected.....ed to definitive endocardial stimulation owing to the intensity of the symptomatology. On the basis of these observations, stress is laid on the importance of atrial rhythm disease as a cause of acute cerebral ischaemia in the elderly subject


[Thoracic diseases with predominant abdominal symptomatology]. Common and uncommon diseases whose symptom picture includes signs that may lead to an incorrect diagnosis are examined. Questions of this kind are obviously important in both medicine and emergency surgery, since incorrect diagnosis may involve either delay in the commencement of suitable treatment or the taking of what may even be dangerous therapeutic measures. Instances of heart and lung disease frequetly marked by abdominal symptomatologies are presented: bronchopulmonitis of various aetiologies, myocardial infarct, rhythm disturbances. In addition to the more atypical signs, such as epigastric pain in infarct and right hypochondriac pain in right basal bronchopulmonitis, manifestations such as vomiting, diarrhoea, diffuse abdominal pains and intestinal occlusion must be borne in mnd in establishing the correct diagnosis.


[Contribution of the mechanocardiography to the study of obstructive chronic bronchopneumopathy]. Kinetocardiography, ECG and radiography, were compared as ways of obtaining early diagnosis of chronic cor pulmonale in two series of patients (81 in all) with chronic obstructive bronchopneumopathy. Kinetocardiography proved markedly superior in this respect. It revealed right ventricular pressure overload in a higher percentage of cases and at an earlier stage, i.e. when PAP values were little above normal resting values, of even when their increase appeared only during physical effort.


[Case of crural ulcer during polycythemia vera]. A case of polycythaemia vera, in which a crural ulcer appeared numerous years after the onset of the disease, is reported. The absence of important angioneurological lesions and the signs at cutaneous lesion level of capillary dilatation, suggest that crural ulcer is a complication of polycythaemia. Aetiopathogenetic aspects are also discussed.


[Plasma insulin and GH during oral glucose load in liver cirrhosis]. Blood sugar, insulin and GH values were examined in two groups of cirrhosis of the liver patients, with and without ascites, after the administration of 100 g glucose per os. No significant differences between the two groups were observed. Insulin values were higher than those in the controls, with a pattern similar to that noted in subjects with chemical diabetes. GH values were higher than in normal subjects and secretion was not suppressed.


[Clinical effects of a clonidine-chlorthalidone combination in the treatment of arterial hypertension]. Clonidine (0.075-0.225 mg/day) and chlorthalidone (0.15-0.45 mg/day) were associated in the management of 23 cases of arterial hypertension of varying nature and gravity. A significant and satisfactory decrease in pressure was accompanied by reduced cardiac frequency. Diuresis, body weight and the main biohumoral indices were not significantly affected. The mechanism of action of the two drugs is explained and the reason why success was obtained with their combination in less-than-normal doses is discussed.


[Initial results in the treatment with short-term dialysis]. Results observed during short-period dialysis management lasting 8 months in 80 patients are presented. There was no significant change in blood chemistry and clinical pictures, through intra- and interdialytic well-being improved. Six, out of 33 patients and to be transferred from 12 hr per week to more prolonged treatment periods due to the rapid onset of sub-dialysis symptoms. No patients receiving 15 hr per week required such a change. The reasons for failure in these six subjects are discussed, together with the indications for a choice of 12 or 15 hr periods.


[Hemato-tissue eosinophilia in a case of ulcerative rectocolitis]. A case of ulcerous rectocolitis presenting a remarkable haematic and tissue eosinophilia, both rectal and gastric, is described. After therapy, the eosinphil complement decreased in the blood but not in the colic mucosa. It is suggested that eosinphilia is not a particular characteristic of ulcerous colitis, but the expression of an inidvidual reaction to an inflammatory stimulus.


[Use of RIA (radioimmunoassay) technics in the identification of narcotics in biological fluids]. Radioimmunoassay has been compared with extraction thin-layer chromatography and gas-chromatography for the detection of morphine and barbiturate in urine. Radioimmunoassay has been found to be the most sensitive and rapid method and its use in large scale screening and forensic toxicology is considered.


Epidemiology of hyaline membrane disease in the United States: analysis of national mortality statistics. National mortality statistics for hyaline membrane disease (HMD) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were examined in this study for the years 1968 to 1973. Detailed data were obtained by computer analysis of magnetic tapes from the National Center for Health Statistics. During the six-year interval, HMD/RDS was determined to be the underlying cause of death in 54,064 infants or 9,010 +/- 560 (mean +/- SD) infants per year. Analysis of individual death certificates for 1968 revealed the disease to a major contributing factor in another 24%. Thus, it may be estimated that HMD  was involved in the demise of nearly 12,000 neonates  per year over this period. This amounts to approximately 20% of all neonatal deaths. On the basis of mortality rates, a trend toward an increased incidence of fatal HMD/RDS was established from 1968 to 1973. Deaths tend to cluster in the summer months and January-February represent the lowest months of recorded fatalities. Analysis of the age at death, reflecting time course of the disease, revealed idential patterns for 1968 to 1970. The number of deaths was found to decline exponentially between the first and fourth 24-hour periods so that 92% of all deaths occurred by 4 days of age. Boys contributed more prominently to the death totals than girls with ratios from 1.62 to 1.76. Examination of mortality rates by race suggested that black permatures have a lower incidence of fatal HMD/RDS. In addition to nationwide figures, those of individual states were compared for three years. Generally, HMD/RDS mortality rates correlated with overall neonatal mortality statistics. Exceptions were observed, however, such as Illinois where low rates for the former coexist with relatively high neonatal death rates. These data respresent the first national mortality statistics for HMD and may prove useful in planning and providing intensive neonatal care.


The role of acidosis at birth in the development of hyaline membrane disease. To test the hypothesis that intarpartum acidosis has a role in the etiology of hyaline membrane disease (HMD), blood was collected from the umbilical artery (UA) at birth from 110 premature infants and analyzed for hydrogen ion concentration ([H+]), PCO2, standard bicarbonate, and lactic acid. The infants were followed until a definite diagnosis was made of HMD (33 infants), type II respiratory distress syndrome (16 infants) or the absence of respiratory distress (61 infants). In general, infants with HMD were more premature and had lower Apgar scores than nondistressed infants; however, there were no significant differences between the two groups in any acid-base measurement. Only in those patients of 32 to 37 weeks' gestational age was it possible to detect a significant increase in UA [H+] in infants with HMD compared to those without respiratory distress. There was evidence that the reduced Apgar score of infants with HMD may be due to immaturity and abnormal pulmonary function secondary to lung disease. It is concluded that acidosis at birth is not a factor in the development of HMD except possibly in more mature infants.


Persistence of fetal cardiopulmonary circulation: one manifestation of transient tachypnea of the newborn. Five cyanotic newborn infants underwent cardiac catheterization between 8 and 36 hours of age with a tentative diagnosis of cyanotic congenital heart disease. All had normal cardiovascular anatomy. Cyanosis was the result of persistence of fetal cardiopulmonary circulation with right-to-left shunting across the ductus arteriosus. In all infants, cyanosis resolved spontaneously and the infants survived without sequelae. Admission chest roentgenograms of all infants showed marked hyperinflation of the lungs. Except for severe hypoxemia, the clinical presentation, chest films, and course of illness of these infants were consistent with transient tachypnea of the newborn. It is proposed that an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, due to hyperinflation of the lungs, was the mechanism which reopened the fetal cardiopulmonary circulatory channels and produced hypoxemia, and that these infants suffered from a rare manifestation of a usually benign newborn respiratory condition. Further, given these pathophysiologic mechanisms, the use of continuous transpulmonary pressure gradients in the management of such infants would be contraindicated.


Tympanometric detection of middle ear effusion in infants and young children. Tympanometry, a test of middle ear status new to clinical pediatrics, was carried out on 280 subjects, 10 days through 5 years of age. The tympanograms obtained were compared with otoscopic findings and, in 107 of the subjects, with findings at myringotomy. Seven distinct tympanometric curve types were identified and defined, based on their degree of correlation with the presence or absence of middle ear effusion. In subjects 7 months of age and older, curves suggesting normal (high) tympanic membrane compliance in combination with atmospheric or near-atmospheric middle ear air pressure were rarely associated with effusion. Conversely, curves suggesting low tympanic membrane compliance were highly correlated with the presence of effusion. Curves suggesting intermediate compliance or reduced middle ear air pressure were also correlated with effusion, but the degree of correlation was dependent on the shape of the curve. In infants less than 7 months of age, many of the ears with effusion had "normal" tympanograms, presumably because external auditory canal walls in such infants tend to be highly distensible. Tympanometry is a simple, rapid, atraumatic, valid, and objective test, easily administered by paraprofessional personnel. Its use can result in improved detection of middle ear effusion and other middle ear abnormalities, and also appears to promote improvement in diagnostic acumen.


Cholesterol among children of men with myocardial infarction. Plasma cholesterol levels were obtained on 90 children of 39 men with premature myocardial infarction and 86 children of 39 healthy men. The mean cholesterol among children of affected men (195.1 mg/100 ml) was higher than among children of healthy men (176.6 mg/100 ml) (P equal to .009). Higher mean levels were demonstrable at each of nine age groups from 1 to 21 years(P equal to .004). Levels greater than 230 mg/100 ml were found in 16.7% of children of affected fathers and 4.7% of children of healthy fathers, a ratio of 3.6 to 1 (P equal to .01). These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that elevated childhood cholesterol level offers a mechanism whereby family history predicts coronary disease. A dip in cholesterol during adolescence, a finding that varies with population studied, was demonstratable among children of both affected healthy men.


The incidence of birthmarks in the neonate. The presence of various types of birthmarks was determined in 1,058 newborn infants under 72 hours of age. Of these, 79.5% were white, 6.2% were black, 11.2% were ladinos, and 2.6% were Asiatic. Mongol spots were present in 9.6% of the white babies, 95.5% of the black babies, 81% of the Asiatic babies, and 70.1% of ladino infants. Pigmented lesions were present in 42 (4%) of the infants. Biopsies obtained in 34 (3.2%) revealed that only one-third (11) of these were melanocytic nevi. Salmon patches were present in 40.3% of the infants, recognizable early strawberry marks in 2.6%, and port-wine strains in 0.3%. In addition to birthmarks, it was determined that 30.3% of the 508 babies examined at one of the two hospitals had toxic erythema of the newborn.


Predicting accident frequency in children. The concept of "accident proneness" is frequently discussed and rarely documented. We predicted that children who take more risks as judged by their behavior in gym class, or who have more stressful life changes as determined by their score on a Social Readjustment Rating Questionnaire (SRRQ), would be more likely to injure themselves. 103 junior high school boys were rated for these factors, and then followed for injuries by weekly telephone calls for five months. Boys having high SRRQ scores had significantly more accidents than those with low scores; risk-taking levels were not predictive. In this study, children undergoing stressful changes in their lives were more susceptible to accidents.


Postoperative trifascicular block complicating tetralogy of fallot repair. Transient and residual conduction defects, including early and late complete heart block, are not uncommon in children following the intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The case of a young girl is described, in whom early, transient complete heart block was found to be due to trifascicular damage. Through serial electrophysiological studies, gradual improvement in the conducting system was documented, although residual trifascicular damage remained. It is believed that all children with evidence of residual trifascicular damage are subject to possibly fatal bradyarrhythmias due to late postoperative complete heart block.


Syndrome of intrahepatic biliary dysgenesis and cardiovascular malformations. Peripheral pulmonary stenosis with or without intracardiac disease is described in 14 patients with intrahepatic biliary dysgenesis. Cardiovascular malformations were not present among a large group of patients with extrahepatic biliary dysgenesis. This association of intrahepatic biliary dysgenesis and vascular malformations is postulated to be a specific malformation syndrome resulting most probably from intrauterine infection. The cardiovascular disease is usually mild. The liver dysfunction varies in severity, and is accompanied by a notable hyperlipoproteinemia with secondary xanthomata which can be ameliorated by long-term treatment with cholestyramine resin and/or vegetable oil supplements.


Effects of acutely increasing systemic vascular resistance on oxygen tension in tetralogy of Fallot. Effects of phenylephrine hydrochloride on the degree of hypoxia were studied in six cyanotic patients with tetralogy of Fallot. Baseline aortic and right atrial oxygen saturations, blood gas tensions, pH, and indicator-dilution curves were obtained under stable conditions. Phenylephrine was infused while systemic arterial pressure was monitored continuously. Aortic and right atrial blood samples were measured at each 10 mm Hg systolic pressure increment and decrement and analyzed for pH, PO2, PCO2, and oxygen saturation. A 40 mm Hg peak systolic aortic pressure rise was the arbitrary end point for phenylephrine infusion and the indicator-dilution curve repeated. Aortic oxygen tensions rose in all from 4 to 28 mm Hg (mean, 14 mm Hg). The net right-to-left shunt decreased from 10% to 40% (mean, 25%) with phenylephrine infusion as compared to the shunt under basal conditions. The presumed mechanism related to the increase in systemic vascular resistance relative to right ventricular outflow obstruction with resultant augmentation of pulmonary blood flow. It is concluded that acutely raising systemic vascular resistance in patients with tetralogy of Fallot using phenylephrine infusion has a beneficial effect on systemic arterial oxygen level and might be the medical treatment of choice for protracted hypoxic spells.


Cholecystitis and cholelithiasis masking as abdominal crises in sickle cell disease. A case of sickle cell (HbSS) disease is presented in a patient with a history of recurrent admissions for abdominal pain, jaundice, and abnormal liver function tests. Although he was believed to have a sickle cell abdominal crisis, his abdominal X-ray films revealed three calcified stones. Each of these stones progressively passed through the common duct and into the duodenum while awaiting surgery. He has been followed for two years since his cholecystectomy without further hospitalizations. This case led to the investigation of cholelithiasis in sickle cell disease to dispel the following misconceptions. Some physicians and pediatricians believe that (1) cholelithiasis and cholecystitis are uncommon in sickle cell disease; (2) the complications of gallstones are not significant; (3) the operative risk in patients with sickle cell disease is high; (4) these patients with HbSS disease do not live long enough to get into trouble with gallstones. A review of the literature on cholelithiasis and HbSS disease presents adequate evidence to cause us to urge investigation of the gallbladder in all patients with HbSS disease and abdominal crises, and cholecystectomy as an elective procedure should stones be present.


A simple estimate of glomerular filtration rate in children derived from body length and plasma creatinine. Based on statistical analysis of data in 186 children, a formula was derived which allows accurate estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from plasma creatinine and body lenght (GFR(ml/min/1.73 sq m) = 0.55 length (cm)/Per (mg/dl). Its application to clearance data in a separate group of 223 children reveals excellent agreement with GFR estimated by the Ccr (r = .935) or Cin (r = .905). This formula should be useful for adjusting dosages of drugs excreted by the kidney and detecting significant changes in renal function.


Gastrin concentration in plasma of the neonate at birth and after the first feeding. Plasma gastrin was determined simultaneously in 19 newborn infants and their respective mothers shortly after birth and in ten neonates before and after the first feeding. The gastrin concentrations in the umbilical vein plasma of the newborn infants were significantly higher than in the peripheral vein plasma of their mothers. The values were statistically not different from those obtained in the neonates before the first feeding. There was an increase in gastrin concentrations after the first feeding. From these results it is suggested that gastrin is produced in the neonate independently from the mother. It is already secreted after the first feeding. Experiments in rats showed that 125I-gastrin is not transported through the placenta. From these findings we assume that most likely the gastrin measured in plasma of newborn infants is of neonatal origin.


Leiomyosarcoma of the duodenum in a 10-year-old boy. An unusual incidence of a duodenal leiomyosarcoma in a 10-year-old boy is presented. The corrected diagnosis was made after a 27-month course of occult gastrointestinal bleeding, vague abdominal complaints, and anemia. Gastrointestinal radiography and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were useful in localizing the lesion. The tumor was removed at exploratory surgery by simple excision. On frozen section, the tumor was thought to be benign, but fixed microscopic histological sections revealed a well-differentiated, malignant smooth muscle tumor. The presentation of this tumor in a child is compared to previously reported cases in adults, and the biological and clinical characteristics of malignant smooth muscle tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are reviewed.


Serum cholesterol levels in American (Pima) Indian children and adolescents. Serum cholesterol levels from birth to adulthood in a population of North American (Pima) Indians are described and compared to those of Caucasian populations. Cholesterol levels at birth (mean +/- SEM, 87 +/- 2.6 mg/100 ml) were similar in Pimas and Caucasians, but levels in Pimas from 5 to 16 years (148 +/- 4.6 mg/100 ml) were 20 to 30 mg/100 ml lower than among most white populations. The levels showed little rise with age from 5 to 16, then rose significantly in both sexes from ages 17 to 25. Cholesterol levels in adult Pimas (190 +/- 1.5 mg/100 ml) were up to 50 to 60 mg/100 ml lower than in American whites, and showed little increase after age 25. Two cohorts of children followed prospectively for six years indicated that the prevalence data reflect sequential changes in the population. Cholesterol levels of those subjects were significantly correlated at the first and last examinations. The Pima, in contrast to Caucasian American populations, have relatively low levels of serum cholesterol and low rates of coronary heart disease, but evidence of a causal relationship with the latter remains to be established.


Heart rate and blood pressure in black newborns and in white newborns. Sixty-one full-term, appropriate-weight black newborns had higher heart rates, replicating a racial heart rate difference, but did not differ significantly in systolic blood pressure from 71 white newborns. Systolic blood pressure in the newborn is related both to the total number of feedings from birth and to the total fluid intake.


Accidental quinidine poisoning in two children. Two cases of acute accidental quinidine poisioning in two children are presented. Both cases are characterized by the same ECG abnormalities consisting of rhythm disorders and AV and intraventricular conduction defects. It is suggested that there is a causal relationship between the electrophysiologic cardiac effects of quinidine and the ECG abnormalities observed. Both patients were successfully treated by continuous intravenous infusion of a hypertonic sodium chloride solution and lidocaine.


Binocular-disparity-dependent upper-lower hemifield anisotropy and left-right hemifield isotropy as revealed by dynamic random-dot stereograms. Dynamic random-dot stereograms devoid of all monocular depth cues were used to measure the limits of temporal and spatial resolution in the center of the visual field. The temporal durations for detecting a small, briefly presented test square of different binocular disparity than the surround varied as a function of its location and binocular disparity. The test squares presented in the upper hemifield were detectable at consistently shorter durations than those presented in the lower hemifield for a surround disparity which was uncrossed relative to the fixation marker. For crossed surround disparity this preference reversed, resulting in a superiority of the lower hemifield. The anisotropy diminished for zero surround disparity. No such anisotropy was found when left and right visual hemifields were compared. It was also shown that this upper-lower temporal anisotropy (and left-right isotropy) is paralleled by a similar disparity-dependent upper-lower anistropy (and left-right isotropy) in spatial resolution. Introduction of monocular clues into the stereograms tended to eliminate the anisotropies. This implies that the anisotropies reflect the spatiotemporal properties and distribution of binocular disparity detectors in the human cortex and result in a tilted surface that pivots around the horizontal midline in the space of binocular depth perception.


Psychophysical measurement of cortical color mechanisms not sensitive to spatial frequency. Virus and Haapasalo report that the Blakemore and Sutton apparent spatial-frequency shift is not color specific. Also supposedly demonstrated is a McCollough effect that is not possible to spatial frequency. It is suggested that inadequate test procedures and a confusion between retinal and cortical adaptation negate these results.


How many tastes are there for low concentration "sweet" and "sour" stimuli? - Threshold implications. Ascending series of solutions of sucrose, glucose, and citric acid were tasted and detection and recognition thresholds were noted; subjects were also required to determine the number of taste sensations that occurred and their sequence of occurrence. It was found that subjects varied in their reports of the number of taste changes and hence potential criteria for detection and recognition. Even among those subjects who reported the same number of criteria there was little consistency as to which were actually chosen for detection and recognition. Some subjects even used an intensity change rather than a quality change to signal a threshold. They criterion can thus be seen to be a potential variable in threshold measurement, and criterion-free measures of sensitivity are recommended. Taste quality descriptions were also studied and a high proportion of novel descriptions was noted; it was hypothesised that this was due to the fact that subjects were not primed with traditional descriptive terms during the instructions.


Coordination of auditory and visual space in newborn human infants. Two experiments are reported which demonstrate that the newborn human infant can make eye movements which are spatially coordinated with the locus of a sound. The results suggest that there may be an innate coordination of auditory and visual-motor space.


Dominance of touch by vision: generalization of the hypothesis to a tactually experienced population. It is now held that in conditions where there is conflicting sensory information vision dominates touch. The present study was designed to place boundary conditions on the generality of the hypothesis by comparing the performance of tactually experienced subjects - potters - with university students on a form-perception task in which a square was optically distorted so as to appear rectangular. Subjects examined the square haptically and visually, and matched it by touch or vision. Although potters were more accurate than students when not permitted vision, tactual judgements of both were dominated by vision when they were presented with conflicting information. In a supplementary study longer, more active exploration and emphasis on the necessity of matching by touch had no differential effect. In a third study it was found that a range effect produced by the comparison stimuli could explain the lesser accuracy of the students when they were making haptic judgements. The generality of the hypothesis that vision dominates touch is strengthened by our failure to refute it.


The visual perception of accelerated motion. The present research is an investigation of how changes in the rate of motion are percieved. Five separate experiments were performed with the use of filmed stimulus material and a variety of response measures, including both categorical judgments and reporduction techniques. It was found that (a) the smaller the ratio of terminal to initial velocity, the less frequent the judgments of acceleration or deceleration, (b) deceleration was significantly easier to perceive than acceleration, (c) the perception of acceleration was facilitated when the velocity of a lead-in segment was the same as the velocity at onset of motion, (d) a short tunnel centered in the motion path facilitated the perception of acceleration and deceleration, and (e) instantaneous changes in velocity were much more easily perceived than gradual changes. A one-event model for the perception of motion change in which there is a continuous interplay between earlier, later, and interpolated motion segments is favored over a two-event model in which earlier and later segments of velocity are compared.


Pulfrich effect and the filling in of apparent motion. In the stroboscopic version of the Pulfrich effect a filter is able to induce depth shifts in a target as if the latter were moving continuously, rather than merely occupying a series of discrete positions. This was examined in a further series of experiments, in which a visual alignment technique was used to measure the perceived visual direction of an apparently moving target in intervals between its presentations. Results showed that the target has approximately the visual direction that it would have if it were moving continuously. This "filling in" of apparent motion was shown to occur before the level of stereopsis. The possible influence of tracking eye movements is discussed.


A dynamic Ponzo illusion: induced direction of rotation in depth. Observers viewed parallel projections of a five-rung gate rotating in depth about its vertical center rung and judged the direction of apparent rotation. The background of a Ponzo illusion superimposed upon these parallel motion projections affected the direction of apparent rotation, with that end of the gate approaching the apex of the background appearing to recede from the viewer. This result is consistent with the thesis that the static Ponzo illusion is, at least in part, an illusion of depth.


Grouping of multiple ambiguous contours: towards an understanding of surface perception. Coplanar lines of different orientations rotating in depth and viewed in parallel projection may appear to rotate in different directions and reverse independently of each other, or they may appear coplanar and all reverse together. The frequency of the latter "grouped" appearance for lines with an orientation range of 30 degrees was a function of the number of lines in a given space. Grouping was greater for lines converging to an implicit vanishing point and for lines with collinear edges regardless of their orientations. Line length, and by inference, interline separation also had effect of the nature of the response.


Word length and visual-noise texture in backward masking. Visual-noise masks composed of randomly scattered letter fragments disrupt the recognition of briefly viewed letter arrays when the masks are presented immediately after these arrays. According to the feature-similarity assumption, maximal disruption should occur when the target letters and the letter fragments comprising the mask share a common stroke width. This assumption was disconfirmed in the present experiment. Two-, four-, and six-letter arrays, whose stroke width subtended a visual angle of 3-8', were viewed tachistoscopically in conjunction with visual-noise masks whose letter fragments subtended visual angles of 1-2', 1-9', 3-8', 6-6', or 9-7'. The most effective mask for all three letter-array lengths was the one composed of letter fragments subtending 6-6'. The results, together with those of previous experiments, are accounted for in terms of a neural line-detecting mechansim.


Implicit labelling and readiness for pronunciation during the perceptual process. The authors assume that during the visual perception of labelable objects there occurs an implicit labelling which gives rise to a readiness for pronunciation, and that the two phenomena are involved in stimulus processing. In order to test these assumptions, the duration of eye fixation on drawing representing familiar objects was measured. The data show that on an average this duration was longer when the name for the object required four or five syllables to pronounce than when it required only one syllable. This syllable effect was observed in various experimental conditions where possible effects of other variables could be controlled. The effect obtained irrespective of whether or not the subjects were allowed to see the drawings before the experiment, and of whether or not they were allowed to go through the list of names for the objects.


Influence of selection difficulty on the time required for icon formation. By increasing the number of display items and the physical similarity between the target and the irreveland items it was possible to vary the difficulty of target selection in a visual-search task. The results showed that the accuracy with which the target was located declined as target selection became more difficult. On the other hand, estimates of the cumulative probability and the probability distributions of times necessary to form the icon indicated that these times were not influenced by changes in the difficulty of the task. The latter result supports Neisser's suggestion that the information processing carried out during the first stage analysis can be attributed to the action of a distinct cognitive mechanism.


A possible hybrid mechanism for modification of visual direction associated with eye movements - the paralyzed-eye experiment reconsidered. Previous work on the paralyzed-eye experiment concerning visual direction can be interpreted by a hybrid mechanism: outflow control of gamma motor fibers determines whether or not muscle spindles respond to changes in muscle length.


Aristotelianism, Newtonianism and the physics of the layman. Written and visual surveys were administered in order to assess people's models of the phsyical world. A comparison was made between scientific theories and the layman's philosophy of nature on the one hand, and between people's conceptions and perceptions on the other hand. The findings suggest that there are discrepancies on both levels: people do not conceive the world as physicists do, and their conceptions are different from their perception.


[A case of great instability of the hemoglobin: hemoglobin bicêtre (author's transl)]. The authors describe a new variant of unstable hemoglobin: hemoglobin Bicêtre, responsible for a severe hemolytic anemia in a young girl. This hemoglobin is characterized by the replacement of distal histidine (beta63 (E7)) by a proline, causing the molecule to be very unstable and very readily oxidized.


[Acute or subacute myelofibrosis].

[Acute or subacute myelofibrosis]. Nine patients were selected according to the following criteria: 1. Hematological findings consistent with the diagnosis of myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM), except for an excess of blasts in the blood and bone marrow; 2. No previous (silent) phase of MMM. 3. No PH1 chromosome, and 4. No identifiable cause of secondary myelofibrosis. These patients had either an acute or subacute myelofibrosis. The onset of such symptoms as fever, bone pain, hemorrhage and mild splenomegaly was rapid. Terminal acute leukemia or more often progressive bone marrow biopsy showing myelofibrosis with persistence of differentiated myeloid tissue, particularly megacaryocytes. Isotopic studies (59Fe and 51Cr) showed splenic erythroid metaplasia, poor bone marrow 59Fe uptake and increased peripheral red blood cell destruction. This study confirms that malignant myelosclerosis is a well-defined syndrome which must be distinguished from: a) Acute transformation of typical agnogenic myeloid metaplasia even though it was previously undiagnosed (4 cases of MMM illustrating this possibility have been reported); b) Acute myeloblastic leukemia with myelofibrosis; and c) Myelofibrosis secondary to lymphomatous or carcinomatous bone-marrow invasion (2 cases with acute myelofibrosis appearing long after appropriate treatment have been reported).


Inhibitory activity in human marrow plasma directed against mouse marrow cell proliferation: reduced in subjects with decreased granulopoiesis. Human venous plasma is known to contain a lipoprotein-inhibitor of mouse marrow cell growth which we have found does not have cell type-specificity, in that it inhibits mouse lymphoma cell as well as marrow cell colony formation in vitro. Following its removal by CHCl3, we have identified residual inhibitory activity which reduces the growth of mouse marrow cells but not lymphoma cells. This inhibitory activity was found to be present in marrow and to much lesser extent in peripheral venous plasma obtained from subjects without disturbances in granulopoiesis. It was markedly reduced in subjects with disorders in which normal granulopoiesis was reduced, such as acute leukemia. The deficiency of this inhibitory activity in the marrow plasma of subjects with leukemia and related disorders may be due to a reduction in the cells from which it is derived (e.g. normal neutrophils or stromal cells), although further studies will be required to verify its presence and to determine its source and physiological role in granulopoiesis in man.


[Comparison of the metabolism of 2 injectable iron preparations (sorbitol iron and polymaltose iron) with the metabolism of transferrin and hemoglobin iron]. Iron distribution in the different organs and chemical compartments of the rat has been studied after intravenous injection of 59Fe-sorbitol (Jectofer-Astra) and 59Fe-polymaltose (Fer Hausmann Lucien) and compared with the metabolism of 59Fe bound to transferrin and to hemoglobin. Both parenteral iron preparations are utilized more slowly than Iron-transferrin. The speed of red cell incorporation of 59Fe from sorbitol is similar to the hemoglobin iron utilization (half incorporation in red cells: 4 to 5 days). Iron polymaltose is much more slowly utilized (half incorporation in the red cells: 13 to 15 days). One third of the 59Fe from sorbitol is eliminated in urine, the remaining iron being taken up to 60% by the liver and to 30% by the bone marrow. It is very quickly catabolized, since as early as the first hour after injection most of the 59Fe is bound to polymaltose till the 14th day. Between the third and fourth week 25% of the 59Fe from polymaltose is found in hemosiderin. These metabolic differences are also found in man: 59Fe from iron sorbitol is found in urine after injection, is mobilized by desferrioxamine after six days, and eliminated through dialysis membranes. On the other hand the 59Fe from polymaltose is slowly but completely utilized and not mobilized by desferrioxamine in the first week after injection. The data give the indications for use and the pharmacokinetics of two forms of parenteral iron and oral preparations in the treatment of iron deficiency.


The effects of antipyretics on metabolic processes in rat liver mitochondria. Part II. The action of sodium salicylate, and pyrazolones on oxidation of alpha-ketoglutarate. The effect of sodium salicylate (SS), phenazone (Ph), and amiphenazone (APh) on the uptake of alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KG) by the rat liver mitochondria was studied in vitro. The investigated antipyretics inhibited the uptake of alpha-KG in the state 3 of respiration, and significantly increased it in state 4. This results and those of the preceding paper show that alpha-KG taken up by the mitochondrial preparations in respiratory state 4 is not utilized in the oxidative processes of the respiratory chain.


Histofluorescence studies on the effect of 1,3-dimethyl-5-adamantanamine (D-145) on serotonin neurons in midbrain raphe nuclei. 1,3-Dimethyl-5-adamantanamine (D-145), a dopamine system stimulating agent, given at doses of 10-40 mg/kg ip, 2-5 hr before sacrifice, depressed the intensity of serotonin fluorescence in the rat midbrain raphe nuclei. Spiroperidol, 2 mg/kg ip, given 5 min before D-145, prevented the depression of serotonin fluorescence in the dorsal raphe nucleus (NDR), but not in the other groups of serotonin midbrain neurons. The results suggest a functional interaction between dopaminergic neurons and serotoninergic neurons in NDR.


Synthesis and pharmacological properties of a phthalide derivative containing methoxy groups. 4,6-Dimethoxy-5-hydroxyphthalide 2 was obtained on three routes: by selective demethylation of 4,5,6-trimethoxyphthalide and by the action of formaldehyde on either syringic acid or acetylsyringic acid. Pharmacological tests carried out on rats showed that the product significantly increased bile excretion, its activity being five times higher than those of dehydrocholic acid.


Butyrophenones and brain serotonin metaboism. The influence of butyrophenone derivatives on the level of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in various regions of brain of normal and pargyline-treated rats was investigated. The result indicate that all butyrophenone derivatives used decrease serotonin utilization in rat brain stem while they have smaller influence on this process in the other rat brain regions examined.


The influence of 1,3-dimethyl-5-adamantanamine (D-145) on catecholaminergic neurons of the rat brain, Histofluorescence studies. The effect of a compound stimulating central dopaminergic structures, 1,3-dimethyl-5-adamantanamine (D-145), on the intensity of fluorescence in catecholaminergic nerve endings in some regions of the rat brain, mainly in the striatum and hypothalamus, was investigated with the modificated histofluorescence technique of Falck and Hillarp. D-145 (20 mg/kg), 2-3 hr after the administration depressed the intensity of catecholamine (CA) fluorescence in caudate-putamen (CP) and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH). A blockade of dopamine (DA) receptors with spiperone (SPIRO, 2 mg/kg, 5 min before D-145) abolished the D-145 effect in PVH, thus indicating an indirect effect of D-145 on PVH, via a dopaminergic system. D-145 potentiated the depression of CA fluorescence produced by alpha-methyl-tyrosine methyl ester (H 44/68), 250 mg/kg ip. High doses of the CA synthesis inhibitor (2 X 400 mg/kg ip) prevented the developing of stimulation produced by D-145. These data indicate that the action of D-145 on DA receptors is indirect, via endogenous DA.


The effect on cortical mirror foci produced by ouabain of gamma-aminobutyric acid, dopamine and haloperidol injected into the rabbit caudate nucleus. Epileptiform activity is inhibited by injection of dopamine, and potentiated by injections of haloperidol into the caudate nucleus. gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) initially potentiates, and shortly after that inhibits the epileptoform activity in the cortex. The authors discuss a possibility of combined treatment of seizure states with dopamine-mimetic and GABA-mimetic agents.


Studies on pyrazine derivatives. Part V. Synthesis and tuberculostatic activity of some 6-(beta-aminoethoxy)-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acids. In the reaction of 2-cyano-6-chloropyrazine with sodium beta-aminoethanolates a mixture of nitriles 1 and imidoesters 2 is formed in relation depending on the reaction conditions. Compounds 1 and 2 with H2S and triethylamine give thioamides 3, which were converted into amides 4 and amidoximes 5. Alkaline hydrolysis of the derivatives of 6-(beta-aminoethoxy)-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid of type 1,2,3 and 5 gave 6-ethoxypyrazine-2-carboxylic acid. The highest antituberculous activity (62-5-125 mug/cm3) showed thioamides 3a and 3b.


Investigation on cyclic guanidine derivatives. Part III. Synthesis and properties of 2-piperidino and 2-homopiperidino-tetrahydropyrimidine-4,6-dione derivatives. A series of 2-piperidino-(1a-k) and 2-homopiperidino-(2a-k)-tetrahydropyrimidine-4,6-diones was synthesized. The structure of the compounds was confirmed by elemental analysis and UV spectra. Compounds 1a, 1j, 2a and 2k showed the antidepressant activity.


Physical activities: teaming up patients and programs. Physical activities programs are suggested for the average deconditioned individual over 35 years of age. They involve noncontact, noncompetitive aerobic activities which require minimal expense. Their purpose is to delay to some degree the progression of the degenerative diseases associated with aging and inactivity. The best activities are walking, running, bicycling, or other exercise in which a sustained cardiac rate of 70% of the individual's work capacity is achieved.


[Physiopathological concept of chronic cor pulmonale]. The chronic cor pulmonale is not a disease but a syndrome. The peripheral arterial gasometry is essential for the etiological diagnosis and consequently for treatment, as enabling to differentiate between CCP by alveolar hypoventilation and CCP by alveolar hyperventilation. The distinction is all the more important that with an identical hypoxia, acidosis increases the average pressure of the pulmonary artery and alkalosis decreases it.


[Desquamative interstitial pneumonia (apropos of one case)]. Suspected to be a syndrome rather than an authentic clinical entity, the "desquamative interstitial pneumonia" (DIP) exhibits typical anatomo-pathological aspects of intra-alveolar proliferation of granular pneumocytes, type II pneumocytes, leaving the alveolar interstitium unaffected. In absence of superinfection, it remains almost free of fibrous or inflammatory manifestations. The association of DIP to 4 other fundamental histological varieties of diseases of the pulmonary interstitium (UIP, BIP, LIP, GIP) is at the origin of Liebow's classification. The clinical individualization of these entities is still questioned.


[A case of Wegener's syndrome with a long evolution]. Presentation of a case of Wegener syndrome with two remarkable atypisms: multiple visceral localizations and evolution lasting over 17 years without any chemotherapy. Discussion of these abnormalities, particularly of the importance, in this slow evolution, of an early exeresis of the granuloma in the upper airways.


[Stability and variation of the maximal ventilation and maximal expiratory volume ratios]. The level of stability of the ratio (alpha coefficient) of maximal ventilation (MBC) over maximal expiratory volume per second (FEV1) was continued statistically for its practical value in estimating the respiratory functional incapacity. Three observations were made: --the mean value of the alpha coefficient=MBC/FEV1 is independent of the sex, age, size or weight in the normal subject; alpha was slightly higher than that found from theoretical values of MBC (CECA) and FEV1 (BALDWIN and COURNAND); --the alpha coefficient varied with the vital capacity (VC) and with FEV1; --there was a particularly simple relation between alpha and VC: alpha decreased from 38 to 30 when VC increased from 1 to 6 litres.


[Chronic pulmonary heart disease and its risk factors among a worker population in Teheran]. Because of the high frequency of chronic cor pulmonale in workers admitted to the cardiology department of the Khazaneh Hospital in Teheran, we studied the clinical aspect and the risk factors of this disease in 66 male patients. The average age of patients was 56.1 years and they often had a long history of bronchitis isolated or associated with emphysema. The ECG analysis showed that most abnormalities were localized on the QRST wave. Tobacco and a polluted working environment were the factors most frequently met in our patients. The opium habit probably acted as a risk factor for chronic bronchopneumopathy, but further studies are necessary to ascertain the fact.


[Effects of citidine diphosphocholine (citicholine) and phospholipids on the elastic properties of the lung and on the physico-chemical properties of the irrigation liquid]. The effect of citidin-diphosphocholine and of phospholipids treatments on the elastic properties as well as on the washing liquid physical-chemical properties of rat lungs is studied. Significant increase of the compliance and decrease of the tendency to collapse of the airways are observed after treatment with citidin-diphosphocholine.


[Blood immunoglobulin deficiencies during bronchial asthma in the adult]. The study of serous immunoglobulins of 500 asthmatic patients enabled the authors to discover a deficit in one of the Ig in 93 cases (18.6%), mainly in cases of intrinsic allergic asthma with an important or dominant infectious character, or microbial asthma. It concerned partial shortages of usually only one Ig in each patient, mostly the IgG. The importance of these deficits is discussed, particularly in the origin of bacterial sensitivity of these asthmas and in the genesis of atopy. The problem of IgG reagins is also discussed. Practical deductions drawn form these findings are envisaged.


[Value of pulmonary hemodynamic exploration during muscular exercise in chronic bronchitis?]. The value of pulmonary haemodynamic tests during physical exercise in chronic bronchitis was shown by the comparison of two groups of patients. In the first group (n=24) the PAP during exercise is lower than 30 torr. In the second it was over 30 torr. The PAP at rest was always lower than 20 torr. The load was 40 to 50 watts, i.e. an average O2 consumption of 500-600 ml.mm-1 m-2. The cardiac output doubled on average in exercise. Both groups varied markedly in their PAP at rest: 13.6 +/- 1.7 torr for the first group and 15.8 +/- 2.4 for the second (p less than 0.001). In fact differences in pressure during exercise (I=25.0 +/- 3.4 torr; II=39.6 +/- 7.4 torr, p less than 0.001) could be explained mainly by the differences of pulmonary vascular resistances (I=0.91 +/- 0.37; II=1.47 +/- 0.61, p less than 0.005): they tended to fall during effort in the first group and increased slightly in the second; and by the much higher increase in the pulmonary "capillary" pressure during exercise in the second group (I=12.5 +/- 4.4 torr; II=19.7 +/- 72 torr, p less than 0.001). The cardiac output during rest and exercise was equal in both groups. The haemo-dynamic "recovery delay" was much higher in the second group. The spirographic shortage was on the whole identical in both groups. PaO2 on average was higher in group I (p less than 0.05) where it improved during exercise (p less than 0.01). The PaO2 of the second group did improve during exercise. The haemodynamic differences were concomitant with the differences in gas exchanges during effort, of well known prognostic significance. As the "foretelling" of PAP in effort from the PAP at rest was quite poor, it appeared that haemodynamic test in effort has a real value in contributing efficiently to the differenciation of the degree in severeness. The threshold of 30 torr for PAP in exercise (and for the load mentioned above) seemed a good discriminating factor.


Safety evaluation of gentian violet for breeder chickens. Four treatment levels (1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 x the recommended use level) of a gentian violet premix (Dye-Gen) were compared with non-medicated controls for breeder chickens during a 168-day study. There were no treatment effects up to and including 10 x the recommended use level on: average daily feed consumption, feed/dozen eggs, hatchability of fertile eggs, or mortality. Fertility was higher for the birds receiving 2.5 x the recommended use level than for the non-medicated controls. Egg production was higher (P less than .05) for the non-medicated controls and 10x groups than for the birds receiving the gentian violet premix at 2.5 x the recommended use level. Semen of breeder males was observed for % abnormal sperm, % dead sperm, % motility, vigor, and semen volume. There was no treatment effect on any of the semen characteristics evaluated. It can be concluded from these data that the gentian violet premix is safe for breeder chickens under the conditions of this study.


Mineral metabolism in chicks on high dietary pyridoxine and magnesium. The effect of high dietary pyridoxine and magnesium on tissue electrolytes was studied in day-old broiler-type male chicks. There were 15 treatments of 875, 1375 and 1875 mg. magnesium/kg. diet and pyridoxine at 1, 4, 31, 301, 3001 mg./kg. diet in a 3 x 5 factorial block design. The sodium concentration of the liver decreased linearly with increasing dietary magnesium concentration expressed as log 10. In the kidney, no such effect was observed. The response of sodium concentration in these two tissues to increasing dietary pyridoxine, also expressed as log 10, was curvilinear, decreasing to minimum concentrations at pyridoxine intakes estimated to be equal to 40 mg./kg. of diet for the liver and 50 for the kidney and thereafter increasing. Potassium concentration of the liver exhibited opposite trends to those for sodium concentration but the responses to dietary magnesium were not consistent at each dietary pyridoxine concentration. Kidney potassium content followed essentially opposite trends to those of sodium. Kidney calcium decreased with increases in either dietary magnesium or pyridoxine, but the decreases were not consistent. The magnesium content of the kidney tended to increase with increases in dietary magnesium. Dietary pyridoxine resulted in a curvilinear response only in those chicks fed the 1875 mg. diet, decreasing to a minimum value at a pyridoxine intake of 26 mg., and increasing at higher pyridoxine dietary concentrations. No significant effects on sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations in the heart were observed. It was speculated that the maximum potassium retention estimated to occur in the livers of birds consuming a diet containing 48 mg. pyridoxine/kg. diet might be due to increased glycogen turnover or increased phosphorylase activity.


Infected feather follicles in cage reared broilers. A high incidence of feather follicle infection was observed in broilers reared in cages with wood slat floors. The incidence of feather follicle infection  was significantly higher for males than for females within cage-reared broilers at 59 days of age. Male broilers at 50 days of age had a significantly lower incidence of the feather follicle condition than hatch mates at 59 days of age. Intact feather follicles were removed from freshly killed cage-reared birds and prepared for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Examination of infected follicles revealed surface detail about the lesions. Removal of the encrustations covering the infected follicles revealed numerous cocci type bacteria at the base of the follicle. Infected and non-infected follicles were also examined by conventional histological techniques. Gram positive cocci were observed at the base of the infected follicles.


Effect of photoperiod upon age and maintenance of sexual development in female Coturnix coturnix japonica. Coturnix kept in a 14L:10D photoperiod from hatch began to lay their first eggs at a mean age of 42.8 days (range 38-55). Approximately 2/3 of Coturnix held from hatch in  photoperiods of 6L:16D light were laying at 165 days of age. Mean age at first egg was 112.7 days (range 68-162 days) in 8L:16D and 130.8 days (range 117-158 days) in 6L:18D photoperiod. Coturnix transferred from a non-stimulatory (8L:16D) photoperiod to a stimulatory one (14L:10D or 24L) begun laying in 15-20 days if less than 140 days old, and in about 5 days if greater than 140 days old, when trasferred. Birds which has spontaneously begun to lay in an 8L:16D photoperiod did not stop laying when the photoperiod was reduced to 6L:18D. Those which began laying under 14L:10D photoperiod ceased laying in about 15 days if 89 or fewer days old when switched to 8L:16D, or in about 6 days if 140 or more days old. Those switched from 14L:10D to 6L:18D ceased laying in about 13 days when 76 days old, and 7 days when 89 days old.


Plasma LH progesterone concentrations in the turkey hen during the ovulatory cycle. Progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measuured in the plasma of Large White turkey hens at frequent intervals during the ovulatory cycle and during the periods when ovulations did not occur. The hormones were quantitated at the beginning and the end of the reproductive season to follow the change in patterns and concentrations of these hormones. Radioimmunoassay procedures were used to assay both hormones. Both progesterone and LH reached a peak amount at about 8 to 2 hours before ovulation. At no time did the progesterone peak precede that of LH. On the other hand, the peak of progesterone was observed to last somewhat longer than the LH peak. Progesterone and LH concentrations demonstrated no peak during the non-ovulatory periods. The patterns of both hormones at the end of the reproductive season was about the same as at the beginning of the season, but with lower concentrations.


Genetic parameters of organ and body weights in the Japanese quail. Heritability values were estimated for the weights of various internal organs and correlations among the organ weights were calculated using 279 male and 305 female birds of Japanese quail. The organs measured were heart, lungs, liver, gizzard, intestines, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, gonads, oviduct, muscles, and bones; total body weight was also recorded. The heritabilities for these internal organs ranged from 78 percent for bones to 17 percent for intestines, and showed no marked differences between male and female groups. In total body and muscle weight, however, males had higher heritabilities than females; male birds had larger genetic variances of these traits than females. Total body weight and muscle weight were stronly correlated both phenotypically and genetically. Correlations among other organs were generally low.


Efficacy of intratracheal administration of Newcastle disease vaccine in day-old chicks. Groups of day-old chicks with varying levels of parental antibody were vaccinated against Newcastle disease (B1 strain) with a commercially available device which simultaneously debeaks the chick and emits a fine spray of vaccine into its trachea. Some groups were also vaccinated (B1 or Lasota strain) with a commercially available vaccine sprayer at 9 days, 14 days, or 9 and 25 days of age. Response to vaccine was evaluated once each week during the experimental period of approximately 8 weeks HI titers were determined and 10 chicks were challenged with the Texas GB strain of Newcastle disease virus. In chicks with low to moderate levels of maternal antibody a satisfactory antibody response was attained by vaccination at 1 day of age, and in most cases resistance to challenge was evident by 3 weeks of age. Intratracheal vaccination of chicks with extremely high levels of maternal antibody had a minimal antibody response. All groups of chicks spray vaccinated at 9, 14, or 9 and 25 days of age showed a marked increase in antibody titer regardless of whether they had been vaccinated at 1 day of age.


Effect of citrinin, a mycotoxin produced by Penicillium citrinum, on laying hens and young broiler chicks. Citrinin fed to mature laying hens at levels of 0, 50, and 250 mug/g. of diet for three weeks had no effect on body weight, feed consumption, egg production, egg weight or egg shell quality. A moderate diarrhea occurring about three days after feeding 250 mug. citrinin/g. of diet was observed. However, the diarrhea subsided once the birds were returned to a normal diet. Young broiler chicks were fed a diet containing either 0, 62.5, 125, 250, or 500 mug. citrinin/g. of diet from hatching to three weeks of age. Body weight was decreased by the 500 mug/g. level whereas all levels of citrinin resulted in enlarged kidneys and an improvement in feed conversion when compared to control values. There was also a slight dose-related increase in liver size. The 250 and 500 mug./g. levels resulted in a dose-related increase in water consumption accompanied by an acute diarrhea. Dietary citrinin had no effect on serum protein, glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, calcium, potassium and sodium concentrations or packed cell volume.


Increased bone strength in coop-reared broilers provided flouridated water. Four experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility of using fluoride to mitigate bone fragility (osteoporosis) that develops in cage-reared broilers. The treatments consisted of adding sodium fluoride to the drinking water at the levels of 100, 150, 200, and 200 p.p.m. of fluoride in the four experiments, respectively. Birds were transferred from starting batteries at four weeks of age into six coops. Birds in three coops served as controls; birds in the other three coops were provided the fluoridated water ad libitum from four to eight weeks of age. No significant differences were observed in the final body weights between treated and control birds in the four experiments. The percentage of bone ash was usually greater from the treated birds than from the controls. These differences were significant (P less than or equal to 0.01) in the 150 and 200 p.p.m. treatments. At all levels of fluoridation, the strengths of humeri were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) increased. However, at the lowest level of fluoridation, 100 p.p.m., the increase was significant only in the females. Tibia strength was significantly (P less than 0.01) increased only at the 200 p.p.m. level. The increase in bone strength from fluoridation may be sufficiently great enough to result in a decrease in the incidence of bone breakage during the processing of coop-reared boilers.


Studies on the accessory reproductive organs in the drake. The effects of androgen on the ejaculatory groove region (EGA) of the drake were investigated. Testosterone propionate was injected into the juvenile male duckling and prepuberal castrate male. The EGR developed as a result of androgen administration, showed the characteristic appearance of EGR of adult drakes. The oozing of the fluid from the ejaculatory groove region (EGR-fluid) was observed 9 to 12 days after injection and the characteristics of the fluid were similar to those of normal drakes. Some secondary sexual organs, that is, the penis, vas deferens and vascular body were also developed by androgen injection to the same extent as those of normal drakes. Castration of adult drakes resulted in the involution of the secondary sexual organs including the EGR and the volume of EGR-fluid decreased with the lapse of days and no oozing of the fluid was observed one month after castration. In view of these results and the function of EGR, the EGR should be considered an accessory reproductive organ of the drake.


Effect of semen dose, frequency of insemination, age and productivity of the male on duration and levels of fertility and hatachability in the turkey. In 3 separate trials, duration and levels of fertility and hatchability were studied in 3 groups of Broad Breasted White turkey hens inseminated on 1, 2 or 3 successive days with 0.030 ml. semen. In the first test, hens in a fourth group were given a single insemination of 0.090 ml. semen. and those in the fifth group received 2 inseminations of 0.045 ml. The semen used in Trial 1, was obtained from males producing different levels of semen, and in Trials 2 and 3 the semen was from males of different age groups. Neither age of the male nor level of semen production appreciably affected duration or levels of fertility in turkey hens. However, duration and level of fertility were slightly better in hens given 2 or 3 inseminations of 0.03 ml. or 2 inseminations of 0.045 ml. of semen on successive days than in comparable hens given a single insemination of 0.030 ml. or 0.090 ml. semen. Hatchability was significantly higher (p = less than .05) in hens inseminated twice with doses of 0.030 ml. as compared with hens inseminated 1 or 3 times with doses of 0.030 ml. In 1 of 2 test years, hatchability in hens inseminated with semen from young males was from 7 to 12 percent greater than for comparable hens inseminated with semen from old males. Semen concentration and percent of normal sperm was generally higher in young males (39 wk.) as compared to older males (89 wk.).


A comparison of the daily energy needs of the normal and dwarf broiler breeder hen. Feeding trials were conducted to determine optimum daily calorie intake needs for broiler breeder hens of normal and dwarf (dw) genetic lines. Pullets were grown to 24 weeks of age with limited feed intake and placed on one of five series of energy intakes. Series 3 represented a composite of energy intakes suggested by major broiler breeders with Series 1 and 2 representing a slower rate of energy increase and Series 4 and 5 representing more rapid rates. It was found that energy intakes suggested by a composite of the recommendations by the major breeders resulted in performance equal or superior to that of other groups tested. Using prediction equations the maximum daily needs for energy for normal sized hens was 422 M.E. kcal./day, with 418 mg./day of lysine and 380 mg./day of methionine.


Lysine needs of rapidly growing turkeys from 12-22 weeks of age. Two experiments were conducted with Large White male turkeys to investigate the lysine requirement from 12 to 22 weeks of age. Six pens of 20 turkeys were fed each of the experimental diets. In experiment 1, a basal diet containing wheat, meat meal, cottonseed meal and distillers dried grains with solubles was supplemented with four levels of L-lysine. Lysine at 4.27% of protein and 2.31 g./mcal. of metabolizable energy from 16 to 20 weeks of age, and 1.83 g. from 20 to 22 weeks of age was inadequate for optimum growth and feed efficiency (16-22 weeks). Supplementing the diet with lysine from soybean meal gave performance equivalent to synthetic lysine, indicating that it was fully available. Performance of turkeys fed a diet containing 88% triticale from 16 to 20 weeks of age, and 72% from 20 to 22 weeks of age was equivalent to that of turkeys fed a more complex ration with an equivalent level of lysine. In experiment 2, Large White male turkeys were fed a basal diet composed largely of triticale and soybean meal from 12 to 20 weeks of age with different levels of added lysine. From 12 to 16 weeks of age, 3.11 g. lysine/mcal. of M.E. (4.9% of protein) was adequate for optimum growth and feed efficiency. From 16-20 weeks of age 2.36 g. lysine/mcal. of M.E. (4.3% of protein) was adequate for optimum performance. Although the estimated requirement from 16 to 20 weeks of age based on the two experiments differs (perhaps because of differences in lysine availability), the results suggest that the current N.R.C. recommendation may be higher than necessary.


Studies on the sodium requirement of growing Japanese quail. The response of Japanese quail, fed a purified diet, to dietary increments of sodium chloride was studied. Birds fed the basal diet (0.042-0.051% sodium) displayed poor growth, high mortality, depressed plasma sodium levels, elevated blood hematocrit and increased relative adrenal gland weights. Growth plateaued and the other parameters reached normal values at a total dietary sodium level of approximately 0.10 percent.