The use of aryl azido ATP analogs as photoaffinity labels for myosin ATPase. The synthesis of ATP analogs containing a photoactive aryl azido grouping coupled to the 3' hydroxyl of ATP is described. The potential effectiveness of these analogs in the investigation of nucleotide-binding regions is outlined and this effectiveness demonstrated by their photodependent inhibition of subfragment 1 ATPase. The use of 14C-labeled azido ATP demonstrates an almost stoichiometric covalent binding of the analog. Because of their potential application to other systems, a number of reactions describing the reactivity of the 3' hydroxyl of the nucleotide ribose are outlined in an Appendix.


Physical and enzymatic properties of nucleotide-depleted beef heart mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase. Tightly bound adenine nucleotides are removed from multiple binding sites on beef heart mitochondrial ATPase (F1) by chromatography on columns of Sephadex equilibrated with 50% glycerol. Release of nucleotides from the enzyme is associated with large decreases in sedimentation velocity (from 11.9 S to 8.4 S) which may be observed in concentrated solutions of polyols. Polyol-induced conformational changes are reversed when the enzyme is returned to dilute buffers. The nucleotide-depleted enzyme restores oxidative phosphorylation in F1-deficient submitochondrial particles. Reconstitution of nucleotide-depleted F1 with the ATP analog (adenylyl-imidodiphosphate (AMP-PNP), almost 5 moles of AMP-PNP per mole of enzyme, results in preparations with substantially inhibited ATPase activity which nevertheless restores oxidative phosphorylation and the 32Pi-ATP exchange reaction in F1-deficient submitochondrial particles. Incubation of the analog-labeled enzyme with ATP and Mg++ results in partial displacement of the analog and a time-dependent recovery of ATPase activity.


Hemolysis following correction of double-outlet right ventricle. A 41/2-year-old child developed a severe degree of intravascular hemolysis within 24 hours after intraventricular correction of double-outlet right ventricle with a Dacron patch. The child developed jaundice, with a serum bilirubin of 4.3 mg. per cent. The hematocrit value fell from 47 to 25 per cent and the reticulocyte count rose to 22 per cent. The hemolysis diminished after 3 weeks and completely disappeared after 6 weeks. We presume that the hemolysis was due to turbulence caused by a long, curved patch and that its disappearance coincided with the endothelialization of the patch. The child is well 3 years after the operation.


[SLA-testing and MCL-reaction in swine and their reaction to rejection of skin and liver transplants]. After porcine skin allografts there is a regular rejection within 6 - 12 days with a characteristic pattern of humoral antibodies corresponding to the histocompatibility testing. The rejection of skin allografts may be due to weak histocompatibility antigens which are not measured by the SL-A and MLC typing. A porcine liver allograft induces an immunological reaction of moderate degree. This state of hyporeactivity i. e. partial tolerance could be induced and maintained by the release of tolerogenic antigens from the porcine liver.


[Carcinoma of the pancreas: clinical signs and diagnostic procedures (author's transl)]. The patients seen at the medical clinic of a community hospital over 6 years included 291 with diseases of the pancreas, 52 of whom had carcinoma of the pancreas. Their signs and symptoms are listed. The triad of weight loss, icterus, and abdominal pain was the commonest symptom cluster. In one third of the cases the serum lipase was raised though the blood level of amylase was normal. Laparoscopy led to exploratory laparotomy in 94 percent of cases, which was performed an average of 14 days later. The future will show whether ERCP (+cytology) and CEA will improve the possibility of early diagnosis.


[Regional neck lymph nodes and primary tumors. 2. The reactive neck lymph node lesion]. Topographic classification of lymphatic nodes with reactive changes and with metastasis makes evident, that the regional lymph nodes have not only changes, caused by inflammation but also by growth of tumor. Thus, the lymph nodes are accomodation of defense and in the second place as an accommodation of discharge. The regional lymph nodes respond independent of the extent of the primary tumor. The regional metastasis are nearly always localized in the center of lymph nodes with reactiv changes. Lymph nodes with follicular lymphatic hyperplasia are situated in the immediate environment of the metastasis. Lymph nodes with sinus-reaction are extended before the metastasis, in direction of lymph discharge. By super imposed projection of the results of histological evaluation of cervical glands with metastasis in the neck, one obtains to some extent an impression of the defense activity by the lymph nodes at the time of the operation.


[Schwannoma in otorhinolaryngology].

[Schwannoma in otorhinolaryngology]. In this study 4 cases of Schwannoma are reported. The primary localisation of the tumor in the first case was thought to be near the foreamen lacerum with large areas of bone destruction in the base of the skull. Moreover the internal carotid artery was trophic and thinwalled. In the second patient the onset of the disease must have taken place in childhood as a chronic otitis media. Also in this case the tumor was not diagnosed until it reached a considerable size. The primary localisation was the nervus petrosus superficialis major. In the third patient the neurinoma was located in the facial nerve between the two lobes of the parotid gland. In the fourth case a pedunculated neurinoma of the epipharynx was found. Symptomatology, treatment and differential diagnosis of the Schwannoma are discussed.


[The possibilities of a sub-standard miniature camera on an operating microscope and in endoscopy (author's transl)]. The article reports on a simple method of photographic documentation when using a Minox camera on the operating microscope and for endoscopic examinations. The advantages pointed out are: no additional microscopic or endoscopic equipment is required, simple handling, possibility of clear and room-saving documentation.


[The objective frequency decrement test (OFDT): a new objective EEG-test for determination of the difference limen for frequencies (author's transl)]. Subjective methods measuring the difference limen for frequencies (DLF) take a lot of time and are not reliable. You can find this fact not only while testing normal subjects, but also while testing patients with hearing loss combined with tinnitus. Therefore this new objective DLF-test has been developed. Apart from the testing function for clinical purpose, the different results of other studies can also be controlled. After 1080 msec a pure tone is changed to a lower frequency for a period of 670 msec. Immediately after the tone is finished a picture is presented. As a control pure tones of unvarying pitch are offered. This stimulus sequence is repeated for several times. The expectancies to the change of pitch and to the picture produce a negative slow potential shift (Walter's CNV) in the EEG. The perception of frequency change yields to a late evoked potential and to a DC-shift; as a result of the optimum conditions of the expectancy-situation and the appropriate recording-technique only 5-10 sweeps must be summed up to obtain a potential, sometimes it even can be seen in the "raw-EEG". The test makes a differentiation between a just believed and a real perception possible. A sample of subjects with normal hearing and a subgroup (musicians) were selected for the standardization. Because of objectivity, reliability and economy the test can be used for clinical application.


[Otosclerosis like bone in osteogenesis imperfecta tarda]. Bone like in otosclerosis from a 34-years-old man, from 33 years and 22 years old women, suffering from osteogenesis imperfecta tarda, with hardness of hearing in both ears were removed with chisel from the lower border of the oval window. After that a stapedectomy was accomplished. The stapedial crura have been genetically interrupted or broken, the footplate attached to the oval window. The bone from the border of the oval window was prepared for the histological examination. The specimens were coloured with Hematoxylin-Eosin and corresponding to Gomöri. In the bone similar cartilage osteoclasia and osteogenesis are rare. There are in the chondroosseous bone rooms filled with connective tissue. The diseased osseous labyrinth in osteo genesis imperfecta tarda must be regarded as a special morphogenetic formation of osteopsathyrosis.


[The rat as a suitable experimental animal in rhinology. Electronmicroscopic study of the nasal mucosa and its innervation]. The fine morphology and nerve supply of the nasal respiratory mucosa of six rats was investigated electron microscopically in osmium and permanganate fixed material. It was found that the subepithelial zone of the nasal lining contained a network of fenestrated capillaries which apparently was involved in the humidification mechanism of the inhaled air. The blood vessels that constituted the cavernous tissues were characterized by the porosity of their endothelial basement membranes and by their dual autonomic nerve supply. The nasal glands and the smooth muscle cells associated with the acini only received parasympathetic innervation. These and other characteristics of the rat's nose match those of man. Therefore, the rat should be a suitable animal for experimental rhinologic work.


[The surface of nasal polyps in the scanning electron microscope]. 23 specimens with endonasal polyposis are examined scanning-electron-microscopically. There is a domination of kinocilia-free epithelium. The latter is bulging out in a dome-shaped manner, extensively loosened, showing transitional forms from cylindrical epithelium to more cube-like and finally squamous epithelium. The cylindrical epithelium is partly closely joined, showing ballon-like bulgings, cytoplasmatic protuberances, filled beaker cells with reduced or missing microvilly and partially granulating surface as well as emptying beaker cells with a thin microvilly edge. The covered surface shows partially normal lawn- and/or bundle-like, long and most parallel kinociliae, and short thin kinociliae in small bundles. All of them have a coordinated direction and a morphologically evident function-phase. In addition there is a network of kinociliae without function-phase and coordinated direction, which may or may not be covered by mucous, as well as damage and reproliferation of kinociliae. By reason of the morphological findings one can come to the conclusion that there is an extensive decrease in function of the mucociliar system in case of polyposis and as a consequence of this bacterial and viral infections might be favoured.


[The normal distribution of human parotid salivary proteins according to disc electrophoresis in alkaline and acidic gel systems]. Discelectrophoresis from 67 stimulated human parotid saliva samples was carried out in acidic and alkaline polyacrylamide gel-systems. Characteristical standard disc-electropherograms were obtained by means of quantitative densitometry and following statistical analysis. Application of standardized parotid discelectropherograms for diagnostics was discussed.


[Objective measurements of airway resistance in recurrent nerve paralysis and hypotonic dysphonia]. Respiratory obstructions of the glottis may be reliably diagnosed at any time with a body plethysmograph used in pulmonary function testing. While respiratory resistance at 27.1 mm H2O/l and sec was only slightly increased in 35 patients with unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis and not even perceived by most of them, considerably increased resistance was found in 65 patients with bilateral paralysis. Critical lifeendangering obstructions of the respiratory system were not observed. Intra- and extralaryngeal lateral fixations of the vocal cord were carried out in 29 subjects. We observed unrestricted breathing and alveolar ventilation with respiratory resistance of 25 to 44 mm H2O/l and sec even under physical strain. Additional optimal phoniatric results and speech function is present in this range. 14 patients operated according to the endolaryngeal method of Thornell 1948 showed the best functional results. In cases of unilateral recurrent paralysis and hypotonic dysphonia we were able to measure the glottic resistance during phonation by using the modified interruption technique. The values were clearly subnormal at a median of 65 to 79 mm H2O/l and sec. In 43 cases treated with teflon injections a 50% increase of the airway resistance during phonation was observed. These findings correlate with the positive subjective experiences of the patients.


[The Cogan syndrome].

[The Cogan syndrome]. Exactly 30 years ago D. C. Cogan reported 4 cases of "nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis associated with vestibulo-auditory symptoms". Report of 57 of these cases have come to our attention. They mostly concern relatively young people, although the age range is now 4-1/2 to 63 years. The etiology of Cogan's syndrome is unknown. It very frequently has been associated with some generalized vascular diseases. In our first case, a 13 year old boy, we found the symptoms of a serous meningitis with pathological signs in the EEG. No vascular changes were encountered. During 4 weeks the rapidly progressive hearing loss was accompanied by tinnitus and vertigo and an interstitial keratitis. The recession of vestibular symptoms is followed by the loss of function of the endorgans. The voice seemed high-pitched and monotonous. In our patient the eye condition improved, but the cochleo-vestibular disturbances did not. The second case, a 27 year old woman, could be observed over a period of 19 years. The ocular symptoms disappeared nearly completely after 1 year, but the cochleo-vestibular disturbances remained. The audition shows even after 19 years some fluctuations.


[Electrophysiological studies on the prognosis in idiopathic facial paralysis]. The literature on electrophysiological techniques used so far for the prognostication of idiopathic facial palsies contains reports on 31 patients with idiopathic facial palsy, in whom - after electric stimulation of the nervus facialis at the point where it exits from the foramen stylomastoideum - the amplitude of the compound muscle action potential of the M. orbicularis oris was measured. The extent of the SPA's decline was related to the progress of the disease. In those cases where the SPA declined by at least 75-100 per cent, the palsy regressed either in an unsatisfactory manner or not at all. However, where the decline amounted to at most 67 per cent a restitutio ad integrum took place or residual symptoms which do not disturb the patients were found. The prognosis can be made between the 5th and 10th day after the palsy has developed. If in cases of idiopathic palsy the diagnosis is made at an early date, this method is more reliable than any other technique.


[Regional neck lymph nodes and primary tumors. 1. Neck lymph node metastases]. The metastasis are situated in the primary regional lymphnodes. Preoperative palpation of the neck gives unreliable results. The extent of the primary tumor has no correlation to the occurence of metastasis. When the tumor is localized in the supraglottic, transglottic or in the tongue base region the frequency of metastasis in lymph nodes is approximately equal; more than half of them have metastasis. When the tumor is localised in sinus piriformis or in the marginal region a still higher frequency of metastasis is found.


Mechanism of work-induced hypertrophy of skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle can undergo rapid growth in response to a sudden increase in work load. For example, the rat soleus muscle increases in weight by 40% within six days after the tendon of the synergistic gastrocnemius is sectioned. Such growth of the overworked muscle involves an enlargement of muscle fibers and occasional longitudinal splitting. Hypertrophy leads to greater maximal tension development, although decreased contraction time and reduced contractility have also been reported. Unlike normal developmental growth, work-induced hypertrophy can be induced in hypophysectomized or diabetic animals. This process thus appears independent of growth hormone and insulin as well as testosterone and thyroid hormones. Hypertrophy of the soleus can also be induced in fasting animals, in which there is a generalized muscle wasting. Thus muscular activity takes precedence over endocrine influences on muscle size. The increase in muscle weight reflects an increase in protein, especially sarcoplasmic protein, and results from greater protein synthesis and reduced protein breakdown. Within several hours after operation, the hypertrophying soleus shows more rapid uptake of certain amino acids and synthesis of phosphatidyl-inositol. By 8 hours, protein synthesis is enhanced. RNA synthesis also increases, and hypertrophy can be prevented with actinomycin D. Nuclear DNA synthesis also increases on the second day after operation and leads to a greater DNA content. The significance of the increased RNA and DNA synthesis is not clear, since most of it occurs in interstitial and satellite cells. The proliferation of the non-muscle cells seems linked to the growth of the muscle fibers; in addition, factors causing muscle atrophy (e.g. denervation) decrease DNA synthesis by such cells. In order to define more precisely the early events in hypertrophy, the effects of contractile activity were studied in rat muscles in vitro. Electrical stimulation enhanced active transport of certain amino acids within an hour, and the magnitude of this effect depended on the amount of contractile activity. Stimulation or passive stretch of the soleus or diaphragm also retarded protein degradation. Presumably these effects of mechanical activity contribute to the changes occuring during hypertrophy in vivo. However, under the same conditions, or even after more prolonged stimulation, no change in rates of protein synthesis was detected. These findings with passive tension in vitro are particularly interesting, since passive stretch has been reported to retard atrophy or to induce hypertrophy of denervated muscle in vivo. It is suggested that increased tension development (either passive or active) is the critical event in initiating compensatory growth.


Environmental dermatitis: chrome cripples. The problem of the workman disabled by allergic contact dermatitis from chromium or chromate salts which are widely distributed throughout industry is discussed and illustrated by a few representative cases. The Workers' Compensation Act as constituted in South Australia and the prolonged legal arguments which may occur over the rights of the disabled workman adversely affect his rehabilitation.


Chloroplast genes in Chlamydomonas affecting organelle ribosomes. Genetic and biochemical analysis of analysis of antibiotic-resistant mutants at several gene loci. Six chloroplast gene mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii resistant to spectinomycin, erythromycin, or streptomycin have been assessed for antibiotic resistance of their chloroplast ribosomes. Four of these mutations clearly confer high levels of antibiotic resistance on the chloroplast ribosomes both in vivo. Although one mutant resistant to streptomycin and one resistant to spectinomycin have chloroplast ribosomes as sensitive to antibiotics as those of wild type in vivo, these mutations can be shown to alter the wildtype sensitivity of chloroplast ribosomes in polynucleotide-directed amino acid incorporation in vitro. Genetic analysis of these six chloroplast mutants and three similar mutants (Sager, 1972), two of which have been shown to affect chloroplast ribosomes (Mets and Bogorad, 1972; Schlanger and Sager, 1974), indicates that in Chlamydomonas at least three chloroplast gene loci can affect streptomycin resistance of chloroplast ribosomes and that two can affect erythromycin resistance. The three spectinomycin-resistant mutants examined appear to be alleles at a single chloroplast gene locus, but may represent mutations at two different sites within the same gene. Unlike wild type, the streptomycin and spectinomycin resistant mutants which have chloroplast ribosomes sensitive to antibiotics in vivo, grow well in the presence of antibiotic by respiring exogenously supplied acetate as a carbon source, and have normal levels of cytochrome oxidase activity and cyanide-sensitive respiration. We conclude that mitochondrial protein synthesis in these mutants is resistant to these antibiotics, whereas in wild type it is sensitive. To explain the behavior of these two chloroplast gene mutants as well as other one-step mutants which are resistant both photosynthetically and when respiring acetate in the dark, we have postulated that a mutation in a single chloroplast gene may result in alteration of both chloroplast and mitochondrial ribosomes. Mitochondrial resistance would appear to be the minimal necessary condition for survival of all such mutants, and antibiotic-resistant chloroplast ribosomes would be necessary for survival only under photosynthetic conditions.


[Distribution of highly thermophilic, nonsporulating bacteria in the hot springs of Tadzhikistan]. Extreme-thermophilic non-sporeforming bacteria belonging to the Thermus genus are widely distributed in hot springs (40-90 degrees C) of Tadzhikistan. Their content was highest (1.8-10(4)--6.0-10(4) cells per gram of ooze) in springs with the temperature of water of 50-60 degrees C, and decreased (to 8.0-10(2)--4.0-10(3) cells per gram of ooze) in springs with the same temperature of water but with a low content of ooze. The number of the cells was even less (5.0-10(2)--4.0-10(3) per gram of ooze) in the surface layers of heated soil, especially at a depth of 2 cm. The lowest number of the cells (0.5-4.0 cells per 1 ml) was found in water at the surface of soil, with the temperature of 96, 93, and 65 degrees C.


[Pyruvate kinase deficiency. I. Clinical and hematological observations (author's transl)]. Clinical and hematological studies were performed on ten homozygous and seven heterozytous individuals with pyruvate kinase deficiency, aged between 2 and 71 years. Five of the homozygotes were splenectomized. With the exception of a decreased enzyme activity between 41 and 55 per cent and minor changes in their red cell metabolism the heterozygotes showed no abnormal results. In the homozygotes the following results could be demonstrated: 1. Pyruvate kinase activity was decreased to 11 to 35 per cent of normal enzyme activity. 2. There is no relation between the severity of hemolysis and the degree of the enzyme defect. 3. The reticulocyte counts correlated inversely with the hemoglobin concentrations. 4. There is a close correlation between the activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate oxalacetate transaminase on the one side and reticulocyte counts on the other. 5. Adenosine triphosphate or adenosine reduced the increased autohemolysis in all cases. 6. Following splenectomy, anemia was less pronounced than before. Splenectomized patients did not need further transfusions, though hemolysis persisted.


[Experience in the care of a pregnant woman known to be carrying a mongoloid fetus (author's transl)]. This is a report on a 43-year-old woman in whom a mongoloid fetus could be diagnosed at the 26th week of pregnancy, following amniocentesis in the 23rd week. The interruption of pregnancy at first desired was later refused by the patient for reasons of conscience and the pregnancy carried to term. The lessons and conclusions to be drawn from this case are discussed.


Clinical trial with clotrimazole cream (Bay b 5097) in dermatophytosis and onychomycosis. Locally applied clotrimazole (Canesten) proved to be effective in the treatment of dermatophytosis. It was also effective but to a lesser degree in cases of onychomycosis mostly due to Candida albicans. The drug was well tolerated.


[The role of active ion transport in the generation of the receptor potential of isolated frog muscle spindles]. Effects of lithium ions and ouabain on the receptor potential were studied in an isolated frog muscle spindle. Lithium ions and ouabain caused a reduction and rapid disappearance of the hyperpolarization phase of the receptor potential. The dynamic and static phases of the response were less reduced. The rate of rise of the receptor potential in the Ringer lithium solution decreased. There were no changes in the characteristic deviation of the response from the dynamic peak to the static level in the Ringer solution with ouabain and in the lithium Ringer solution. The results show that fast adaptation in the isolated frog muscle spindle is not due to the activity of an electrogenic sodium pump.


Dissociated cultures of newborn mouse brain. I. Metabolism of sulfated lipids and mucopolysaccharides. The metabolism of 35SO4-sulfated lipids and mucopolysaccharides was studied in dissociated brain cell cultures from newborn albino mouse brains. The cultures were maintained under an atmosphere of 40% O2 and 5% CO2 in apparent good health up to 30 days. Early morphological examination of the dissociated cells demonstrated an initial partial reaggregation of the cells, which later settled and became confluent bilayered cultures. Cell proliferation measured by DNA and protein determination, morphological differentiation and biochemical differentiation took place in the dissociated brain cell cultures analogous in some respects to the in vivo situation. A timed increase in the synthesis of a myelin precursor, cerebroside 35SO4, was observed after 6 to 8 days in culture (DIC). A peak of cerebroside sulfate was evident at 17 DIC. No stable sulfatide was observed at any time. Protein-bound macromolecular 35SO4-MPS was synthetized and secreted from the cells into the culture medium. Maximal synthesis and secretion occurred at 8 DIC. This culture system proves to be a useful model for studying some aspects of differentiation of brain cells under controlled external conditions.


Huntington's disease: treatment with dipropylacetic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Dipropylacetic acid (DPA), and anticonvulsant known to raise brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), was administered orally to eight patients with Huntington's disease. Both alone and in combination with high oral doses of GAGA, DPA failed to ameliorate and motor signs of this disorder. At maximum dose levels, combined DPA and GABA treatment led to an apparent increase in the central turnover of both dopamine and serotonin, as estimated by the oral probenecid-loading test. These latter observations may indicate a close functional interrelation between monoaminergic and GABAnergic neural pathways in the central nervous system of man.


Neuropathology of Huntington's chorea. Studies of the ventrobasal complex of the thalamus. In seven cases of Huntington's chorea, the ventrolateral thalamus was studied by quantitative cytometry. A selective 50 percent atrophy of microneurons (internuncial cells) was found while the macroneurons did not show significant atrophy. Thalamic microneurons might be presynaptic and postsynaptic inhibitory cells. Their specific atrophy in Huntington's chorea thus could be related to the known decrease of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in Huntington's chorea.


[2 cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis or Lyell's syndrome]. Two cases of Lyell's syndrome (toxic necrolysis of the epidermis) are reported on account of their rarity. The differential diagnosis of this form and its aetiopathogenesis and treatment are described.


Survey of HBag hepatitis infection in a semi-closed community. The presentation of one individual with HBAg-positive hepatitis in a semi-closed community led to the testing of 262 intellectually-handicapped persons and staff-members and to the detection of 12 others who were HBAg-positive. Only the presenting case and one other became unwell with hepatitis. Three other HBAg-positive individuals became negative within three months, none showing clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatitis. The remaining eight persons were still HBAg-positive six months later. Four of these had biochemical abnormalities suggesting they had suffered anicteric hepatitis while the remainder, three of whom had Down's syndrome, had no such changes and are therefore considered to be carriers of the infective agent.


Gastric perforation during pelvic laparoscopy. Gastric perforation is one of the recognized hazards of pelvic laparoscopy. Two such instances of perforation are presented and the role of gastric distention in causing this complication is examined. This article also reviews the literature and outlines the measures which can be taken to prevent and treat this complication.


Inhibition by 2,4-dinitrophenol of 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene carcinogenesis in the hamster cheek pouch. After topical treatment of cheek pouches of 10 hamsters with 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene and 2,4-dinitrophenol for 10 weeks no carcinomas developed in any of the animals. After treatment of 10 animals with the carcinogen only, there were 49 carcinomas in the 8 survivors. Inhibition of chemical carcinogenesis by dinitrophenol was tentatively attributed to suppression of ATP synthesis and to activation of ATPase by dinitrophenol.


[Specificity and mechanism of action of the granulocyte chalon and its role in the regulatory system of granulopoiesis]. An inhibitor of granulopoiesis is described which, on the basis of its cellular origin and its specificity of action, can be identified as the granulocytic chalone. A control system is discussed which is based on the interplay of leukocytosis inducing factors, colony stimulating factors and the granulocytic chalone. The granulocytic chalone inhibits all immature myeloid cells of the bone marrow by interacting with specific receptor sites on the cell membrane.


Determination and characterization of ciliary ATPase in the presence of serum from cystic fibrosis patients. The purpose of this investigation was twofold: (1) to identify and characterize the enzymatic ATP hydrolysis system of epithelial cilia, and (2) to develop a quantitative, biochemical test for the ciliotoxic cystic fibrosis (CF) factor based on inhibition of ATP utilization by ciliary preparations. Our rationale for selecting this system for CF factor analysis relates to the tight and essential mechanochemical coupling of functioning cilia. Using rabbit tracheal epithelium as the source, a high molecular weight (greater than 200,000) ATPase was identified, partially purified, and extensively characterized. The properties of this protein were similar to those observed in previous studies of others with flagellar and ciliary dynein (the motility-associated ATPase) isolated from microorganisms. Analysis of the pH profile revealed a broad range of high enzymatic activity between 6.5 and 9. Studies with potential cation activators showed that the enzyme is activated equally by either Ca2+ or Mg2+ in equimolar concentrations. No activation occurred in the presence of Zn2+, Na+, H+, or Na+ plus K+ and the effect of Mg2+ or Ca2+ was not inhibited by Na+, K+, or Na+ plus K+. The enzyme hydrolyzed Mg2+-containing solutions of UTP, CTP, and ADP at 51-54% the rate of ATP dephosphorylation, whereas Mg-deoxy-ATP was hydrolyzed 79% as effectively as ATP. Using a newly devised, analytical technique with [gamma-32P]ATP as the substrate, the ATP hydrolysis of various ciliary preparations from rabbit trachea and oyster gill (including motile suspensions) was monitored in the presence of sera from CF homo- and heterozygotes. Reproducible rates of ATP dephosphorylation averaging 27 nmol/min/mg protein were demonstrable with homogenates of ciliated epithelium. None of the test systems evaluated, however, were capable of demonstrating CF-related differences in ATPase activity or ATP utilization. Although these attemps have been unsuccessful thus far, the approach described in this report provides an example of an objective, quantitative, biochemical assessment of ciliary function.


Diet and growth in congenital heart disease. To assess the relationship between diet and growth in congenital heart disease we studied nutrient intake, body measurements, and cardiac status in 568 affected ambulatory patients less than 11 years of age. Most had mild heart disease, 104 were cyanotic, and only 10 were in congestive heart failure. Major disturbances of growth were uncommon. For the entire group body weight was below normal but only in those studied before 2 years of age; rate of growth and weight gain were normal over the period preceding the dietary study. There was no statistically significant relationship between intake of calories, protein, or other nutrients and growth or gain, analyzing the entire group, or analyzing patients subgrouped according to age,  severity of heart disease, or severity of growth retardation. Body size and growth were diminished in cyanosed compared with noncyanosed children but cardiac status had no effect on nutrient intake. We conclude that in children with growth failure associated with congenital heart disease, nutrient intake is not an important factor limiting their growth.


Influence of intermittent long-term stimulation on contractile, histochemical and metabolic properties of fibre populations in fast and slow rabbit muscles. Slow (m.soleus) and fast (m.tibialis anterior) muscles of the rabbit were subjected to indirect long-term intermittent stimulation (3 weeks, 8 hrs daily) with a frequency pattern of 10 imp/sec. Whereas no changes were observed in case of the slow muscle, stimulation induced profound changes in the fast tibialis anterior muscle. These consisted in a rearrangement of the enzyme activity pattern of energy-supplying metabolism, e.g. decrease in glycogenolytic and glycolytic enzyme activities and severalfold increase in key enzymes of aerobic endoxidation of substrates in beta-oxidation and the citric acid cycle. Concomitant with the increase in aerobic oxidative capacity, there was an increased resistance to fatigue. Histochemical studies revealed a strong increase in mitochondria of all fibres. The bimodal distribution of fibre cross-sectional area in the normal tibialis anterior muscle was changed by stimulation into a more homogeneous population of fibres with a smaller cross-sectional area. Despite a 50% increase in time to peak of isometric twitch contraction no changes were observed in the fibre population with regard to myofibrillar ATPase reaction in quantitative evaluation of whole cross-sections of the muscles. The percentage of fibres histochemically classified as slow amounted to 2.8% and 3.1% in control and stimulated tibialis anterior muscle. Nevertheless the data suggest a transformation of the fibre population under the influence of long-term intermittent stimulation.


[Hemoglobin J. Broussais alpha-2 90 Lys leads to Asn beta-2A (FG2) discovered in a Martinique family. Comparison of several analytical technics]. We report a new case of hemoglobin J. Broussais, present in its heterozygote form in a seven year old child from Martinque. The structural characteristics of this abnormal hemoglobin have been compared by three methods: 1. By analytical and preparative finger-printing on silica gel thin layer plates after tryptic digestion. 2. By a programmed separation of tryptic peptides on various ion exchange resins. 3. And by automatic sequencing of the peptides obtained following CNBr cleavage and separation by gel filtration chromatography. The functional behaviour of this hemoglobin was not modified by the substitution of an Asn for a Lys residue at position 90, although its presence induced slight hematological disorders in the patient. Abnormal hemoglobins which have been identified in Martinique and Guadeloupe are reviewed.


[Hemoglobin C -- beta-thalassemia disease and homozygous beta-thalassemia in a black African family (author's transl)]. The study of a Malian family has allowed to prove existence of two types of beta-thalassemia genes: the beta0 gene which suppresses the synthesis of the beta chain into cis position and the beta+ gene which slows down only partially this synthesis. The difference between this two genes has been possible owing to the hemoglobin C found in this family and induced by the betaC mutated gene. The segregation of the four genes betaA, betaC, beta0 thal, and beta+ thal. has allowed to compare all the possible phenotypes deriving from the combinations by two of these allelic genes.


[Medullary microcirculation in human primary and secondary myeloscloroses]. There are histological and experimental evidence for bone marrow microcirculation to play a role in histogenesis of myelosclerosis. Human sternal bone marrow microcirculation was studied after death using ink injection in two cases of primary myelofibrosis, two cases of secondary meylofibrosis (Hodgkin's disease) an one case of osteomyelosclerosis. Control material consisted of 30 previously studied normal human sternums. In all cases interadipocytic sinusoidal network has completely disappeared. Medullary vascularization is anarchic with a vascular and hypervascular areas. The significance of these modifications is discussed.


[Study of colony forming cells and aggregates (CFCA) in vitro in blood and bone marrow of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: simplified bovine serum albumin gradient centrifugation]. In untreated CML patients (at diagnosis or in relapse) we find about the same number of CFC per 1.10(6) nucleated cells in the blood and bone marrow (sometimes, slightly greater in the blood than in the marrow). Application of density-cut separation shows normal number of CFC in the low density fraction (Ldf-CFC) of bone marrow cells from patients in remission. In 7 untreated patients (at diagnosis or in relapse), we have always found a greater number of Ldf-CFC in the blood than in the marrow, when the study is performed on the same day and in the same technical conditions. This difference is observed even if the leukocytes count is elevated and thence, the contamination of bone marrow cells by blood cells is presumably important. The percentage of peripheral blood Ldf-CFC seems to be positively correlated with the number of peripheral blood leukocytes. The highest percentage of Ldf-CFC (greater than 60%) have been found in 5 patients in relapse. Two of these have entered into the blastic phase of CML and the three others relapse repeatedly in the chronic form of the disease.


[Approaches to the immunological problems of leukocyte transfusions]. 51 leukocyte transfusions from healthy donors and 3 from chronic myelogenous leukemia were given to 16 patients with acute leukemia and 4 with aplasia. During 14 transfusions we have observed clinicals reactions which are of immunological origin. The part of the transfusions and of the pregnancies in the presence of antibodies is argued. The necessity of utilisation of HL-A compatible donors during leukocyte transfusions is asserted.


The role of 5-HT in the mechanism of amphetamine action. AM stereotypy-inducing action was potentiated in rats in proportion to the previously administered doses of pCPA (3 X 100, 3 X 150 or 3 X 200 mg/kg); however, the dose of 3 X 300 mg/kg pCPA brought about the decrease in stereotypy. Reserpinized rats exhibited also increased AM stereotypy but of shorter duration. AM hyperactivity in mice was potentiated also by the pretreatment with pCPA but this action occurred within a further phase of observation (30 min after the injection). It seems then that 5-HT may be a factor suppressing the stimulating action of AM.


Serotonin content in the central nervous system of rats and cholinergic tremor. Oxotremorine did not alter the level of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in different brain regions. The content of 5-HT in the striatum was diminished by electrolytic lesions of the raphe system, by microinjection of the selective depletor 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine into the raphe system and inhibition of synthesis by pCPA or pCAM. The intensity of oxotremorine-induced tremor was reduced only in some experimental groups without clear-cut correlation to the decreased 5-HT levels. In pCPA-pretreated animals resoring of 5-HT concentration by intrastriatal microinjection of 5-HT and ip administration of 5-HT did not reestablish tremor intensity. There is no evidence that cholinergic tremor is triggered indirectly and depends upon an intact 5-HT system.


[Chediak-Higashi syndrome. Study of lymphocyte transformation stimulated by phytohemaglutinin (PHA)]. The reactivity to PHA stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from a child with a Chediak-Higashi syndrome was studied. Lymphocyte transformation was assayed by tritiated-thymidine incorporation. Patient lymphocytes reacted to much lower concentrations of PHA than normal controls. With an optimal dose of PHA the peak of thymidine uptake occurred on day 2 of incubation instead of day 4 as observed in normals.


Interspecies aggressiveness of rats towards mice after the application of p-chlorophenylalanine. The administration of pCPA (400 mg/kg) induces in 30% of Wistar rats the potentiation of interspecies aggressiveness and develops in them the instinct to kill mice. It can be supposed that 5-HT system inhibits aggressive behaviour in this type of aggressiveness. Applying mouse killing test it has been stated that cholinergic receptor blockers (atropine, scopolamine) suppress the predatory instinct towards mice in killer rats and the pilocarpine, the cholinomimetic, develops such instinct in rats which previously did not kill mice. The results of the mouse killing test indicate that cholinergic system affects this type of aggressiveness in rats. For the time being, it is difficult to state the correlation between 5-HT and cholinergic system in this type of aggressive behaviour in rats.


The role af amines in sexual activity of rats deprived of pineal gland. The studies were performed on rat's males 4--5 months of age in which pineal glands had been destroyed by electrocaogulation when they were 20--25 days old. These males, submitted to the action of both pCPA and DOPA had stronger reaction to these compounds than the shame operated animals. The administration of pCPA together with COPA was followed by the occurence of very high sexual activity which was accompanied by the decrease in the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA and the increase in DA level. DOPA together with Ro-4-4602 did not stimulate sexual behaviour although repeated administration resulted in the increase in DA level and the simulatneous decrease in 5-HT content. In these males, the observed increase in locomotor activity might be responsible for the reduced interest in females accompanying them. It seems that all the three amines play some role in sexual activity since the administration of compounds blocking respective receptors (pimozide-dopamine r., phentolamine-alpha-noradrenergic r., LSD 5-HT system antagonist) to males pretreated with DOPA and showing high sexual activity inhibited sexual activity.


Free energy levels and entropy production associated with biochemical kinetic diagrams. "Basic" and "gross" free energy levels are defined for the discrete states of a macromolecular biochemical kinetic system such as a free energy transducing enzyme (e.g., myosin or Na,K-ATPase). Basic free energy level differences are related to the first-order rate constants for transitions between states while gross free energy differences, along with the corresponding fluxes, determine the rate of entropy production in the system. In muscle contraction the analysis is complicated by the possibility of the system doing external mechanical work. The question of the sign of the flux or of the gross free energy level change in a given transition is examined for both single-cycle and multi-cycle models. More definite statements can be made in single-cycle cases. Some numerical examples are included. The more complicated cases are reserved for a subsequent paper.


Free energy levels and entropy production in muscle contraction and in related solution systems. "Basic" and "gross" free energy levels of a macromolecule such as myosin or Na,K-ATPase, defined in a previous publication, are discussed here for two relatively complicated cases: a six-state kinetic diagram of the sort that could be used to describe the actin activation of myosin-ATPase in solution; and muscle contraction, where a similar kinetic diagram is needed for each value of a positional variable X.


Actomyosin isolated from bovine tracheal smooth muscle. A contractile protein (actomyosin) was isolated from bovine tracheal smooth muscle by the use of "classical" procedures. The protein was considered to be actomyosin because it demonstrated: ATPase activity; superprecipitation upon the addition of ATP, and the solubility and extraction characteristics of actomyosin. The ATPase and superprecipitation reactions were not inhibited by EGTA, and did not require calcium. Lack of an effect of either calcium or EGTA could not be reversed by the addition of active bovine skeletal muscle troponin and tropomyosin. No troponin-tropomyosin like activities could be demonstrated in various tracheal muscle fractions.


Inhibition of sodium intestinal transport and mucosal (Na+-K+)-ATPase in experimental Fanconi syndrome. The administration of 1.5 or 9.0 mmoles/kg ip of maleate to rats induced, in addition to renal alterations similar to those occurring in the Fanconi syndrome, a decline in the intestinal mucosa (Na+-K+)-ATPase with a simultaneous decrease in sodium intestinal transport and an increase in potassium absorption. Further differences in the behavior of the two electrolytes were observed when the concentration of sodium in the perfusates was altered. No changes occurred in amino acid or glucose transport in experimental animals.


Electrical resistance and ATPase levels in the cecal wall of germ free and conventional rats. (a) Electrical resistance across the cecal wall of germfree rats is higher than in conventional controls when the luminal fluid is a physiological solution. Transmural resistance of the cecum increases both in germfree and conventional rats when the supernatant from cecal contents of germfree rats is used as luminal fluid. These phenomena might be due to an effect of germfree intestinal contents on the ionic composition and/or on the dimensions of intercellular pathways within the intestinal epithelium. (b) Total and Na+ and K+ stimulated ATPase show higher levels in mucosal scrapings from the ileum and cecum of germfree rats than in conventional controls. This characteristic of the germ-free lower bowel may be associated with the greater "absorptive efficiency" which it was found to display when relieved from luminal inhibitory substances.


Role of adrenergic mechanisms in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. This experiment was designed to study the role of cardiac beta-adrenergic mechanisms in the development of hypertrophy in rats. The suprarenal abdominal aorta was banded, resulting in an increase in cardiac wt-body wt ratio. A group of rats received a sham operation. Half of the banded rats were treated with practolol, 2.0 mg/kg intraperitoneally every 12 hr for the 6 days after banding. The effectiveness of cardiac beta-adrenergic blockade was confirmed by absence of an increase in heart rate following intravenous isoproterenol at various times between practolol injections. Practolol did not affect the gradient in the banded groups. Six animals in each banded group were sacrificed daily for 6 days. The right and left ventricles were dissected separately and weighed. RV-body weight ratios increased similarly in both banded groups. LV-body weight ratio (g/kg) was 2.17 +/- 0.043 in sham rats, and it attained maximal levels of 3.03 +/- 0.10 within 6 days in banded untreated rats and 2.96 +/- 0.14 in banded rats receiving practolol. Therefore, beta-adrenergic mechanisms were not involved in the development of hypertrophy due to increased afterload. Also, these findings are not consistent with the Meerson hypothesis, since hypertrophy occurred despite the reduction in myocardial O2 consumption due to practolol.


Interdisciplinary early intervention program. Developmental data were obtained on 40 children with Down's syndrome by an interdisciplinary team during an ongoing early intervention program. Interventive methods are described. Results are compared with available data on children with Down's syndrome who were not in early intervention programs. Comparisons of developmental progress are also made of children begun in the early intervention program before six months of age with those begun after six months of age. Conclusions from the study indicate that early intervention helps the child in earlier attainment of many developmental tasks and enhances functioning of the family unit.


Methods of measurement in Soviet gait analysis research, 1963-1974. A description of several of the methods of measurement used by gait researchers in the Soviet Union from 1963 to 1974 is provided. The discussion encompasses seven major categories of measurement: 1) methods of measuring the rotatory position or angular displacements of the joints of the lower extremities, 2) the phase durations and their temporal relations, 3) support reactions, 4) the rotatory position of the pelvis and vertebral column, 5) step length, stride length, and other linear displacements of components of gait phase activity, 6) muscular activity, and 7) miscellaneous types of analysis. The incorporation of Soviet findings and methods of gait analysis into the design and operation of future investigations of human walking is recommended.


Meal patterning in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat. The free feeding behavior of 5 streptozotocin-diabetic rats and 5 sham injected rats was monitored both prior to and after the induction of diabetes. After streptozotocin injection, there was a marked increase in total intake resulting from the ingestion of large meals of long durations. Neither the postprandial relationship nor the circadian intake cycle were altered during diabetes. The results were interpreted as supporting the glucostatic theory of food intake regulation and suggest that the principal influence of insulin on feeding behavior is to promote the termination of feeding bouts.


Effect of p-chlorophenylalanine on the acquisition of tolerance to ethanol and pentobarbital. Rats were rendered tolerant to ethanol or pentobarbital by daily oral administration. Motor impairments after test doses of ethanol or pentobarbital were measured prior to and at various times during chronic treatment in order to assess the degree of tolerance development. Chronic administration of p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA) in a dosage regimen which produced and maintained approximately 95% depletion of brain serotonin (5-HT) did not alter motor impairment after initial acute administration of ethanol or pentobarbital. However, the rate of tolerance development to the motor-impairing effects of both drugs was slowed down in p-CPA-treated rats, p-CPA did not appear to exert this effect by altering the disposition of ethanol or pentobarbital, since blood levels determined 20 min after administration of the test doses were similar in animals treated with p-CPA and in controls. These findings suggest that brain 5-HT may have a role in tolerance development to ethanol and pentobarbital.


Effects of ischemia on adenine nucleotide metabolism and coronary flow during cardiac hypertrophy. The effects of ischemia on myocardial adenine nucleotide metabolism and coronary flow during cardiac hypertrophy were studied in 140 rats and 20 guinea pigs, respectively. During increased periods of ischemia, the initially lower ATP contents decreased significantly as did the initially elevated ADP levels, whereas AMP, adenosine, and inosine, and hypoxanthine showed a continually rising elevation compared with the normal hearts. The sum of ATP, ADP, AMP, and their degradation products in the hypertrophied myocardial tissues started to decline after 5 min of ischemia. The remainder was found in the 0.9% NaCl solution in which the rat hearts were incubated, in the form of hypoxanthine, which was the largest fraction, followed by inosine and adenosine, which was the lowest fraction. In normal hearts, these changes occurred only after 60 min of ischemia. The coronary flow of the isolated guinea pig hearts increased significantly with decreasing content of the oxygen gas phase in the Krebs-Henseleit perfusion medium. These changes were more significant in normal than in hypertropheid hearts despite the clear initial elevations of the coronary flow in these hearts at 95% oxygen saturated perfusion, as well as the essential increases of the adenosine content in the myocardial tissues and in the perfusates during the development of the hypoxemia. Consequently, these results significantly demonstrate the curtailed compensation possibilities of hypertrophied hearts for the maintenance of their functions during the development of ischemia in comparison with normal hearts, a factor obviously caused by the ineffecient utilization of their energy supply even without ischemia.


Feline cardiomyopathy.

Feline cardiomyopathy. Cardiology was diagnosed by means of clinical, radiographic, electrocardiographic phonocardiographic, angiocardiographic, and pathological findings in 271 or 3,745 cats necropsied from January 1962 to April 1974. The affected cats can be divided into three groups on the basis of the gross and microscopic pathological lesions: 1)endocarditis and myocarditis in 20 young cats; 2)endomyocardial fibrosis and left ventricular hypertrophy in 182 cats; and 3)myocardial degeneration and biventricular dilatation in 69 cats. Of 271 affected cats, thromboembolus was observed in the aorta, and in the carotid, femoral, iliac, renal, pulmonary, and hepatic arteries in 104 instances. The important aspects of cardiomyopathy in cats appears to be the reduced diastolic compliance of the thick left ventricle, resulting in poor fillin. Resistance to ventricular inflow raises the diastolic pressure and causes compensatory left atrial enlargement. A pathogenesis for the onset of clinical signs at any stages as the cause of the heart disease is postulated on the basis of stress causing tachycardia and poor left ventricular filling. Acute left-sided failure with pulmonary edema may be precipitated. Approximately one-fourth of the cats have enlargement of all cardiac chambers, typical of congestive cardiomyopathy. On the basis of the close similarily to cardiomyopathy in man, the cat could serve as a suitable animal model for a conservation of time and effort in the attack against this disorder. There is a need for coordinated research programs for utilizing the multiple avenues of approach such as: epidemiological, clinical, biochemical, pathological, ultrastructural, virological, and immunological.


Cardiomyopathy in the dog.

Cardiomyopathy in the dog. Medical records of 12 dogs determined at necropsy as having had cardiomyopathy and of 5 live dogs with clinical, electrocardiographic and radiographic evidence of the disease were reviewed. Congestive cardiomyopathy was the most common form of the disease, affecting 15 of the 17 dogs. The dogs were primarily of large breeds and ranged in age from 2 to 8 years. Clinical findings included right and left congestive heart failure presenting as pulmonary congestion and edema, pleural effusion, hepatomegaly, and ascites. Thoracic radiographs showed moderate severe enlargement of all cardiac chambers and evidence of congestive heart failure. Atrial fibrillation was the predominant rhythmn; ventricular premature contractions and left ventricular hypertrophy were sometimes noted. At necropsy, biventricular dilation including dilation of the atrioventricular annular rings and accompanying massive atrial dilation was observed. Myocardial contractility was poor and had resulted in dilation of the heart chambers with minimal hypertrophic responses. The atrioventricular valve leaflets and chordae tendinae were usually near normal. Medical treatment included rest, digoxin, and diuretics, Medical or electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm was also attempted. Prognosis for congestive cardiomyopathy is very poor. The average survival time after onset of signs is 6-12 months; 1 dog in our study survived for 20 months. In contrast to congestive cardiomyopathy, the hypertrophic form is rare in the dog. Only two of the dogs studied had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; one case was diagnosed at necropsy and one by angiocardiography. Both had features of idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS) as reported in man.


Myocardial hypertrophy, myocarditis, and myocardial fibrosis in a long term experiment. In a long term experiment, a systematic analysis was made of the cellular reaction of the myocardium and the lymphatic system to application of antigenic substances. Several groups of mice received single or repeated injections of human serum, serum from rabbits with antiheart antibodies, mouse spleen cells immunized to myocardium, and human or mouse cardiac homogenate with and without incomplete or complete Freund's adjuvant. After injection of human and mouse heart homogenate, hypertrophy of myocardial cells was the first alteration seen; then followed focal myocarditis and after 10 months, interstitial fibrosis. Simultaneously, in the lymphorecticular tissue, there was marked proliferation of reticulum cells, lymphocytes, and plasma cells, as well as an enlargement of secondary follicles. All the animals produced antibodies to the injected antigens. Following injection of human serum or serum from rabbits with cardiac specific antibodies or spleen cells, no morphological changes were seen in the hearts.


[Major objectives of pathogenic therapy of septicemia]. On the bases of the published data and their own experience the authors outline the context of the functional biochemical alterations that give an orientation in the choice of the major objectives of pathogenic therapy in the course of septicemias. Analysis of the frequency and intensity of these alterations make it possible to establish therapeutical priorities. In this sense it is demonstrated that hyperazotemia, hyperalbuminemia, low alkaline reserve, elevated serum lactate and a decrease in the plasma Na+/K+ ratio are characteristic of septicemia with a state of toxiinfectious shock.


[Clinical and biological aspects of chronic brucellosis]. The present study refers to 53 cases of chronic brucellosis admitted to the clinic or followed up in an out-patient unit for ten years (1962-1971). There was a total of 946 days in hospital and 1688 days of occupational disability, about 40% of the patients necessitating repeated hospitalization because of the relapsing course of the disease. This group of cases presented the classical dominant features of an occupational anthropozoonoses (90.5%). Elements of visceral and tissular pathology, obviously conditioned in their structure by the stage of the disease, were found in cardiovascular, hepatic, nervous, osteoarticular, orchitic, ocular, cutaneous localizations, etc. Their associated character particularize the polyvisceral forms. The immunopathology of chronic brucellosis is marked by its dynamics and frequently dissociated character of the sero-allergic diagnostic reactions. Blood proteins behave unequally (hypoalbuminemia, hyperalpha1-, hyperalpha2- and hypergammaglobulinemia). There is still debate about the terapeutic attempts, although sigmamycin associated with cortisone derivatives reduce or temporize the relapsing evolution, opening up new therapeutical perspectives.


[Studies of oral microbiocenosis. I. Incidence and properties of staphylocci in young persons]. The study of staphylococci in the buccodental washings of 117 second year students at the Faculty of Stomatology, all healthy youths aged 20-25 years, gave the following results: (I) stapphylococci were present in 90% of the students; (II) 50.66% were oral carriers of pathogenic staphylococcal strains; (III) in 23 cases two or more staphylococcal strains were found with different metabolic and biologic properties; (IV) part of the bucal lysozyme was of microbial origin since 95% of the coagulasopositive strains and 88% of the coagulasonegative strains produce lysozymes; (V) 35.23% of the strains yield staphylococcal active with regard to M. lysodeicticus; (VI) 56.19% of the staphylococcal strains were resistant to penicillin and/or tetracyclin, and 5 coagulopositive strains developed in media with a penicillin concentration of 800 u/ml; (VII) 85% of the coagulopositive staphylococci were sensitive to human anti-staphylococcal bacteriophages, the most frequent being phage type 77 of group III.


[The disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and infection]. The disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome (1) Definition. History. (2) Etiopathogeny of the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. (3) The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. (4) The principal infections in which the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome has been described: bacterial, viral, rickettsial, parasitic, mycotic. (5) Treatment of the disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome.


[Increased incidence of some strains of Klebsiella aerogenes]. Study of the incidence of Klebsiella aerogenes strains in neonates and infants with acute enterocolitis in the Maternity and Pediatric Departments gave the following results: - bacteriologic investigations were carried out in 1831 subjects, isolating 138 Klebsiella aerogenes strains; - the proportion of Klebsiella isolations increased from 4.6% in 1973 to 11.1% in 1974; - the maximum receptivity to Klebsiella aerogenes was noted in the 0-2 years age group, in a proportion of 23%; - in the 0-6 months age group Klebsiella aerogenes was the evident causal agent of enterocolitis, being isolated in pure cultures or as predominant germ in 70-80% of the cases. Worthy of note was the increased resistance to antibiotics in terms of the rising age-group scale. The predominance of a single serotype (K 15), the similar sensitivity of the strains to phage 32 and to antibiotics plead for an epidemic evolution of the cases studied.


[Sero-epidemiological surveillance, a method of prevention of complications of streptococcal infections]. In order to find methods for the prevention and control of streptococcal infections of 711 day schoolchildren and boarders, aged 7 to 14 years, were followed up during the 1969-1973 period. The clinical and epidemiologic investigations revealed a great number of acute infections with varied clinical manifestations and high proportions of the acute articular rheumatism (3.1%) in the boarding schools as compared to the day schools (0.5%). The bacteriologic examinations confirmed and established the etiology of the cases, revealing moreover the role of carriers in maintaining and spreading the infection. The ASLO test showed persistent and high gammaglobulin titers in the children of the boarding schools, pointing to a state of hypersensitivity consequent to repeated streptococcal infections.


[Protein changes in the jejunal juice and endointestinal exudation of albumin-I 131 in acute infectious enterocolitis]. The phenomenon of endointestinal protein exudation in acute infectious enterocolitis is studied. Total proteins were determined in 30 cases of acute enterocolitis and 50 of bacillary dysentery in the acute stages of the disease and convalescence. The proteinogram of the jejunal juice was performed in the acute stage and convalescence in 20 patients. In 16 patients and 5 controls endointestinal albumin elimination was determined quantitatively by means of 131I labeled albumin. The results showed increase in the total protein content in the jejunal juice in the course of acute infectious enterocolitis and bacillary dysentery and a return to normal values in convalescence. Electrophoresis of the jejunal juice in acute infectious enterocolitis showed the absence of fraction III with alpha1-globulin migration, and increased fractions I, II and IV probably due to the loss of endointestinal albumin, also confirmed by quantitative albumin determinations with 131I labeled albumin. In conclusion, patients with acute infectious enterocolitis present a marked loss of endointestinal albumins in the acute stage of the disease, with a return to normal values in convalescence.


Investigations on the changes of the blood coagulation-fibrinolysis system as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. I. Prevalence of the changes in the blood coagulation-fibrinolysis system in a middle aged male population. Platelet count and adhesivity, availability of platelet factor 3, fibrinogen concentration and plasma antiplasmin activity were studied in 2,000 men aged 40 to 60 years. The results were estimated in comparison with the data obtained in 100 young apparently healthy subjects. Platelet count was within normal limits in 90% of the cases but with an increased prevalence of upper normal values. Platelet adhesivity to glass, expressed as adhesivity index, varied widely in both directions : a low index was found in 20.23% of the cases ; the high adhesivity index varied with age from 12.27% in subjects aged 40, to 26.5% in aged 56-60. Availability of platelet factor 3 was clearly increased in a large number of middle-aged men. Fibrinogen concentration correlated with age. Antiplasmin activity was significantly higher in the elderly subjects than in the young controls.


[Pedodontics, a new teaching and examination specialty]. Since 1969, pedodontia has become an official part of dental education in this country. In the study and examination plan, the requirements are accurately defined. The build up and scope of the pedodontic plan of instruction at the dental school of the University of Zurich during the last 3 years is described.


Mixed cultures of sperm and leukocytes as a measure of histcompatibility in man. Human peripheral blood leukocyte cultures containing varying numbers of washed fresh sperm were cultured for 4 days. [3H] Thymidine incorporation was used as a measure of lymphocyte transformation. Human sperm cells induce a 4- to 250-fold increase in [3H] thymidine incorporation in allogeneic leuocyte cultures, but no increase was demonstrated in autologous leukocyte cultures. The response was dose-dependent with maximum stimulation obtained at 2 x 10(6) sperm per milliliter of culture. Seminal plasma was inhibitory in a dose-dependent fashion and as little as 0.2 microliter per 200 microliters of culture was inhibitory. The data indicate that tissues other than leukocytes can express the portion of the major histocompatibility complex responsibile for allospecific lymphocyte transformation, and thus have application in transplantation and reproductive biology.


Crossbridge attachment, resistance to stretch, and viscoelasticity in resting mammalian smooth muscle. There exist a calcium-dependent resistance to stretch in resting mammalian smooth muscle that is not caused by depolarization of the cell membrane or release of calcium from intracellulr sites. The similarity of the resistance to stretch in the resting state to that in rigor suggests that most, if not all, crossbridges are attached and thus able to resist stretch in noncontracting smooth muscles. When the muscle is stretched the breaking and subsequent reformation of links in nonstrained positions accounts for most of the so-called viscoelasticity, except at extreme lengths.


Cyclic stretching stimulates synthesis of matrix components by arterial smooth muscle cells in vitro. Rabbit aortic medial cells were grown on purified elastin membranes, which were then subjected to repeated elongation and relaxation or to agitation without stretching. Cells remained attached to the membranes, and cyclic stretching resulted in a two- to fourfold increase in rates of collagen, hyaluronate, and chondroitin 6-sulfate synthesis over those in agitated or stationary preparations. Synthesis of types I and III collagen was increased to the same degree. Stretching did not increase rates of chondroitin 4-sulfate or dermatan sulfate synthesis. Differences were not attributable to differences in cell number, for DNA synthetic rates were not increased by stretching. The model system devised to demonstrate these effects provides a means for relating various modes of mechanical stimulation to cell metabolism.


Applications of diagnostic ultrasound and radionuclides to cardiovascular diagnosis. Part I. Acquired cardiovascular disease in the adult. Noninvasive methods have become an important part of the diagnostic process for evaluation of cardiovascular anatomy and function in adults and in the young. Because there is a multiplicity of noninvasive methods presently available, in some cases with overlapping capabilities, there has been some confusion as to which constitutes the method of choice in a given clinical circumstance. The reviews that follow outline some of the practical strengths and limitations of two methods (echocardiography and radionuclide cardiography), hopefully thereby providing some rationale for choosing the more appropriate technique in the approach to specific clinical problems. We have found that the information available from radionuclide and from ultrasound studies frequently is complementary and that the most optimal diagnostic results often are obtained when they are combined. Since advances in technique and improvements in instrumentation are occurring continually in both of these areas, we have tried to provide only an overview. Further investigations and clinical experience will help to define the specificity, sensitivity, and capabilities of these methods in terms of present and future applications.


Jaundice and rash associated with the use of phenobarbital and hydrochlorothiazide. Rash, lymphadenopaty, splenomegaly, periorbital edema, and hepatitis occurred in an 18-year-old woman who was taking phenobarbital and hydrochlorothiazide. Tests for fluorescent antinuclear antibody and hepatitis-associated antigen and antibody were negative. Liver biopsy was not characteristic of viral hepatitis. Clinical recovery occurred within two weeks. Treatment consisted of withdrawal of the above drugs plus the administration of methylprednisolone and diphenhydramine.


Neurotic rachialgia.

Neurotic rachialgia. After a discussion of the term "benign dorsalgia," and a description of the clinical picture of the syndrome, the term "neurotic rachialgia" is proposed as being more exact. In fact, pain is not always referred to the dorsal tract of the spine but to other areas as well. Furthermore, the syndrome is an expression of a neurotic condition. Diagnosis is based on exclusion: no clinical or radiologic signs are demonstrable. The utility of "relaxation therapy" is described by several technics.


Early complications of sterilization in women not recently pregnant. This study was conducted to evaluate the complications occurring during operation and from the time of operation until the follow-up vist at one to eight weeks after operation, for patients sterilized by culdoscopy, colpotomy, laparoscopy, or laparotomy. Surgeons were unable to perform the elected procedure in less than 1 per cent of the patients, independent of the method of approach. With endoscopic techniques, the most common operative difficulty was in obtaining an adequate view of the tubes. Excessive blood loss appeared more frequent with both vaginal techniques. Postoperatively, pelvic infections were more frequent with both the vaginal techniques, while incisional complications were more frequent with both the abdominal techniques. Operative and hospitalization times were significantly shorter, and the proportion of women resuming normal activities within four weeks of sterilization was higher with the endoscopic methods. Laparoscopy appeared to be the preferable procedure. While technical difficulties, operative complications, surgical and hospitalization times, and the time until the patient resumed normal work activities were similar with laparoscopy and culdoscopy; infection of the pelvis was more frequent after culdoscopy.


Pancreatic islet isografts, allografts, and xenografts: comparison of morphology and function. Neonatal rat pancreatic islets were transplanted intraperitoneally into adult streptozotocin-diabetic rats and mice. Isologous pancreatic islet recipients (12 of 12) showed consistent and permanent reconstitution of normoglycemia and normal weight gain as well as readjustment to normal of intake of water, urine volume, and glucose excretion for greater than 10 months when compared to age-matched normal (ten) and diabetic (20) controls. Revascularized isologous islet grafts were found to be adherent to both visceral and parietal peritoneum. Pancreatic islet allografts (ten) and allografts and xenografts did not appear to differ markedly; both were characterized by dense round-cell infiltration within 5 days after transplantation.


Permanent in-series cardiac assistance with the dynamic aortic patch: Blood-prosthesis interaction in long-term canine experiments. The blood-prosthesis interaction of the dynamic aortic patch (DAP), an in-series assist device for permanent circulatory support which is implanted in the descending thoracic aorta, was studied in 65 long-term experiments. Periods of postoperative observation with the device inactive or activated ranged from 2 weeks to 22 months. The intravascular surface of the DAP, fabricated of Dacron velour backed by bioelectric polyurethane, displayed various degrees of organization, ranging from a thin fibrin layer to a well organized pseudointima. Activation of the system did not prevent the development of an organized pseudointima. Changes in free-plasma hemoglobin were minimal; platelet count per square millimeter and state of reactivity remained within normal limits. Evidence of renal embolization, attributable to activation of the device, was found in five animals. Frequent lethal complications were aortic rupture and infections of the thoracic cavity originating at the implantation site. Further improvement of the DAP and the techniques of implantation is indicated to insure its efficacy during long-term implantation and activation.


Desmoid tumor: musculoaponeurotic fibrosis of the abdominal wall. A 26-year-old woman developed a desmoid tumor of the lower abdominal wall shortly after the birth of her fourth child. It measured 15 by 17 cm. and involved most of the lower abdominal wall of this small-framed woman. Operative removal would have been mutilating and almost surely doomed to failure. No treatment was given. Over a 5 year period, the tumor regressed and has disappeared almost completely. It was and has remained entirely asymptomatic. Desmoid tumors of the abdominal wall never metastasize, are asymptomatic, and may regress spontaneously. Since surgical treatment so often fails, it is felt that extensive or mutilating operations are not justified.


Effects of operation on immune response in cancer patients: sequential evaluation of in vitro lymphocyte function. The effect of operation on in vitro lymphocyte function in 35 cancer patients was studied. Lymphocyte proliferative responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA), poke-weed mitogen (PWM), and concanavalin A (Con A) were measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. Sheep red blood cell (SRBC) rosette formation also was quantitated. These tests were performed preoperatively and at 24 hours, one week, and 4 weeks postoperatively. Intra-abdominal and intrathoracic procedures, transfusions, and longer operating times depressed the lymphocyte proliferative response. However, an increased lymphocyte proliferative response was noted in sarcoma patients 24 hours postoperatively, possibly as a result of lowered tumor burden. Several of these changes still were evident 4 weeks after operation. Rosette formation also decreased significantly 24 hours postoperatively in patients who had intrathoracic or intra-abdominal procedures, but returned to preoperative levels after one week. In general, operation appears to cause transient depression of lymphocyte function in some cancer patients. However, lymphocyte function returns to normal by the fourth postoperative week in most patients.


Revascularization of the kidney after occlusion of the aorta and both renal arteries. A patient who developed acute renal artery thrombosis as a complication of distal abdominal aortic occlusion is described. Because of the presence of an extensive collateral arterial supply, the right kidney survived and revascularization was accomplished successfully with a saphenous vein graft interposed between the superior mesenteric and the right renal arteries. Criteria for revascularization of renal artery occlusion are presented, with emphasis on the importance of collateral circulation and the elective correction of distal aortic thrombosis.


The human splenic suppressor cell.

The human splenic suppressor cell. Studies of human spleen cell suspensions show that they contain a population of cells which can inhibit the mixed lymphocyte reaction. The cells appear to be able to suppress the patient's own response to an antigenic challenge in slightly greater degree than their ability to suppress a nonspecific mixed lymphocyte culture. The suppressive effect is dependent on cell dose and is linearly related to the log of cell concentration. At low dose these cells have no suppressive effect and, in fact, behave as stimulators. Exposure of these cells to an environment containing immunosuppressive drug abrogates their suppressor activity. Manipulation of these cells may prove to be of value in the control of graft rejection.


Immunosuppression by embryonic liver cells. Liver cells from embryonic and newborn mice were found to interfere with mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) reactions measuring either cytotoxicity by 51Cr release from target cells or 3H-thymidine incorporation. In both experimental systems a suppression was noted when the stimulator cells were syngeneic or unrelated to the liver donor. In addition, 18-day embryonic and neonatal liver cells were found to interfere with production of antibodies to alpha-dinitrophenyl-poly-L-lysine (alpha-DNP-PLL) in vitro. These findings conform with the hypothesis that embryonic cells can actively suppress immune reactions and thereby prevent a possible response to self.


Lymphocyte transformation induced by human granulocytes. Contrary to previous reports, human granulocytes are capable of causing transformation of allogeneic lymphocytes. Pretreatment of granulocytes with mitomycin C results in nonstimulation, but untreated granulocytes are capable of stimulating lymphocytes. Nonstimulation with mitomycin C-treated granulocytes may result from the reduced viability of the cells. It is concluded that granulocytes possess alloantigens that stimulate lymphocytes in vitro.


The immunosuppressive mechanism of azathioprine. I. In vitro effect on lymphocyte function in the baboon. The effect of azathioprine on in vitro baboon lymphocyte function tests was evaluated using the mitogen stimulation test, the mixed lymphocyte culture test, the migration inhibition factor test, the cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity test and the antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity test. It was found that azathioprine inhibited phytohemagglutinin and Concanavalin A stimulation at lower concentrations than those required to inhibit pokeweed mitogen stimulation. It inhibited the MLC reaction with as little as 0.2 mug/culture in the microculture system. Azathioprine had no effect on (a) the release of migration inhibition factor, (b) the cell-mediated lymphocytotoxicity assay if presensitized cells were used, and (c) the antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity assay. However, azathioprine inhibited CML if it was added during in vitro sensitization and induction of killer cells. These in vitro results suggest that azathioprine inhibits those reactions which require cellular division.


[Genetic bases for the selection of microorganisms using analogs]. The main mechanisms are considered for biosynthesis processes regulation by means of repression and inhibition with final products. On the basis of these mechanisms the state and prospects of the directed alteration of various stages in regulating the synthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, using breeding selection of mutants resistant to analogues are discussed. The main regularities are presented for using analogues of primary metabolites in the breeding strains with overproduction of various biologically active compounds.


[The action of chemotherapy on cicatrization processes]. The increasing use of chemotherapy in association with surgery has prompted the suggestion that cancer chemotherapeutic drugs may interfer with the healing process. To test this hypothesis 30 Wistar rats were subjected to laparotomy and colonic resection and treated with 5-Fluorouracil or Mitomycin C. The bursting strength of the abdominal scars and the colonic anastomotic bursting pressure revealed some interference in the rats treated with 5-Fluorouracil (Student's t test P less than 0.05) but none in the case of Mitomycin C. This preliminary study deserves to be followed up.


Studies on cerebrovascular stroke. III. Long-term prognosis and clinical findings in a follow-up study of a stroke material. The present paper reports the third part of an investigation of first-time cerebrovascular strokes occurring in people under the age of 70. The long-term prognosis for 214 patients discharged alive from hospital after the acute phase of the stroke is presented. The clinical and laboratory findings for 114 patients alive at the time of a follow-up examination 32 months after the stroke are discussed. The long-term prognosis could be predicted best by a score, calculated from the neurological findings on admission after the acute stroke. Recurrence of stroke was associated with a very high mortality. Forty-five per cent of the patients who survived the first month had died by the time of follow-up. About 15% were able to return to normal life or go back to work. There was a trend among patients originally severely handicapped to improve their performance ability. Factors influencing the chances for rehabilitation are discussed. Among the survivors there was a strikingly high percentage of patients with overt diabetes or decreased glucose tolerance, of patients with arteriosclerotic heart disease and patients with elevated serum triglyceride levels. These findings are discussed.


[Mg 2+, Ca 2+-ATPase of skeletal muscle nuclei in normal rabbits and in rabbits with experimental muscular dystrophy]. The total ATPase activity of the rabbit skeletal muscle nuclei was established to be a sum of activities of two ATPases--Mg2+ and Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPases. The latter composes 50% of total ATPase activity for skeletal muscles nuclei of the normal rabbits and 30% for skeletal muscles nuclei of the rabbits with muscular dystrophy. Mg+, Ca2+-ATPase of the skeletal muscle nuclei is activated by calcium ions within a range of 10(-6)--10(-4) M and is inhibited with its concentration of 0.5-10(-3) M and higher. Sodium and potassium ions activate Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPase. Inhibition of Mg2+-ATPase is observed for the skeletal muscle nuclei of the rabbits in norm with the presence of 80 mM of Na+ and 70 mM of K+ in the incubation medium. Under experimental muscular dystrophy such an effect is not observed in connection with the fact that the concentration of monovalent cations in the incubation medium does not exceed 60 mM. The ATPase activity in nuclei of the rabbit skeletal muscles may be also manifested in the presence of Mn2+ greater than Ca2+ greater than Ba2+. A problem is under discussion as to substitution of ions Mg2+ by ions Mn2+, Ca2+, Ba2+ in manifestation of the Mg2+ATPase activity for the skeletal muscle nuclei of the normal rabbits and of those with experimental dystrophy.


[Morphological changes in the structure of liver cell nuclei in rats with PP anitaminosis following injection of nicotinic acid]. The injection of the surplus quantities of nicotinic acid (150 mg/kg of body weight) to PP-deficient rats causes morphological changes in the structure of hepatocyte nuclei 3-6 h after the injection. These changes reach maximum by 9h, and the liver returns to its normal state by 24 h after administration. This time coincides with that of intensified new-formation of nicotinamide coenzymes (9h) and normalization of NAD content 24h in the rat liver after injection of the mentioned dose of nicotinic acid that evidence for a definite linkage of the biosynthesis processes with structures of the cell nucleus.


[Disulphide bond in rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase]. A comparative study was performed for rabbit muscle phosphofructokinase (PFK) from normal and atherosclerotic animals. The diagonal electrophoretic technique was used for cysteic acid containing peptides separation. On performic acid oxidation among the tryptic peptides of PFK the disulphide containing peptide was found. Its electrophoretic mobility, compared to that of cysteic acid, gives ground for intrasubunit disulphied bond existence.


[Distribution of the action of creatine kinase, AMP-aminohydrolase and ATPase,and absorption of Ca+n microsomal fractions of skeletal muscles]. The microsomal fraction of the rabbit skeletal muscles contains structures which absorb Ca2+ and where ATPase-aminohydrolase activities are pronounced. Electrophoresis of this fraction in the saccharose density gradient results in separation of a considerable amount of soluble proteins including creatine kinase, as a high ATPase activity and absorbing Ca2+ to an inconsiderable extent. The activity of creatine kinase in the microsomal fraction of the rabbit and rat skeletal muscles is not so high to provide for ATP regeneration from creatine phosphate in the amount sufficient for any considerable transport of Ca2+. In the microsomal fraction of the myocardium, as distinct from the skeletal muscles creatine kinase is strongly bound with its structural components and is not separated by electrophoresis.


[Enzymes of glycolysis and pentosephosphate shunt during early embryogenesis of the loach and the effect of glucose, lactate and fumarate on fertilized oocytes]. The regularities for changes were established in activity of hexokinase, glucokinase, glucosephosphate-isomerase, phosphofructokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenaseduring the early development of loach (Misgurnus fossilis). It was found that a 30-minute incubation of fertilized loach eggs in the lactate or fumarate solutions decreases the glucokinase activity in the embryos of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 hours of their development, while the inhibitory effect of glucose on the enzyme activity is pronounced only after 18 and 24 hours of the development. A significant increase in the hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities under the above-mentioned conditions is observed only under the effect of glucose 9 and 6 and 9 hours, respectively, after fertilization. The glucose phosphate isomerase and phosphofructokinase activites under the effect of used compounds undergo no changes during the primary stages of embryogenesis.


[Isolation of active preparation of Na+, K+-ATPase from cattle brain and study of the role of carboxyl, sulfhydryl and hydroxyl groups]. A method is presented for obtaining the preparation of N+, K+-ATPase from the cattle brain. The specific activity of the preparation is 5 units (mu mole Pi per 1 min) per 1 mg of protein. A water-soluble derivate of carbodiimide is shown to inhibit reversibly both Na+, K+-ATPase and K+-phosphatase. ATP, Na+ and K+ manifest a protective effect against inhibition, and Na+ and K+ revealed a competition with the inhibitor for the enzyme. p-Chloromercuribenzoate inhibits irreversibly Na+, K+-ATPase and K+-phosphatase activities. The substrates ATP and p-nitrophenylphosphate protected these activities against inhibition. The phosphororganic compound O-n-butyl-S-(beta-ethyl-mercaptoethyl)-methyl thiophosphate has no significant effect on the Na+, K+-ATPase and K+-phosphatase activities.


[Phage typization of Staphylococcus aureus strains from staphylococcic mastitis of dairy cows]. Of 62 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from milk samples of dairy-cows with staphylococcic mastitis from five agricultural enterprises, 68 p. c. could be typified as bacteriophages. In 42 typified strains, altogether 17 different phage pictures were found, in which case, in the different agricultural enterprises, the number of phage picture fluctuated between 1 and 8. Phage picture 42 D was found and dominated in all the agricultural enterprises. Of the typified strains, 76% could be ranked only into one phage group and 24% in the "M" group (= miscellaneous). Of 32 typified strains, 56.3% belonged to phage group IV, 25% to group III, 12.5% to group I, and 6.2% to group II.


[Possible synergic action of some drug combinations against Mycoplasma gallisepticum]. Yamamoto and Adler's method (1956), making use of the modified medium of Edward, was employed to determine the minimal concentrations of gentamicin (GMC), erytrhomycin (ERM), oleandomycin (OMC) spectinomycin (SPM), tetracycline (TC), tylosin (TLS), and chloramphenicol (CA), all of them showing bactericidal effects on Mycoplasma gallisepticum-S6, applied alone or in combination. In vitro studies showed that relatively most effective were TLS, GMC, and SPM, when used alone. Combining the antibiotics by two in the most cases led to a pronounced synergic effect. Comparatively most effective were the combinations of TLS+ERM; TLS+TC; CA+TC; CA+OMC; TLS+CA; TLS+OMC; SPM+TC; and SPM+CA. Lowest absolute concentrations of the individual components showed the combinations of TLS+GMC; TLS+TC; TLS+ERM; TLS+CA; TLS+SPM; TLS+OMC; SPM+TC; and SPM+CA.


The subcutaneous fascial analogue of myositis proliferans: electron microscopic examination of two cases and comparison with myositis ossificans localisata. Two cases of the so-called fascial analogue of myositis proliferans were investigated by histological and electron microscopic methods. It was found that the structure of the fascial variant corresponds almost completely to the true myositis proliferans localized within the musculature. The electron microscopic observations show a preponderantly histiocytic differentiation of the cells and strongly activated proliferating capillaries, and exclude a myogenic origin of the characteristic ganglion-like giant cells. Ultrastructurally a traumatic genesis appears possibly, the cells of the lesion could derive from multipotent cells of the microvasculature. The relations to myositis ossificans and fascitis nodularis are discussed.


[The epidemiology of cancer in Central Asia]. The author reports the data characterizing the incidence of cancer, as a whole, and its main localizations in the Republics of Central Asia. According to these findings the cancer incidence indices the Central Asia are more low, as compared with the All-Union data and the data from other Socialist Republics. The main localizations of cancer, except esophageal cancer, are recorded more seldom than in other Republics. Especially low indices of the morbidity were noted in relation to cancer of the skin, lower lip, mammary gland, uterine cervix. In some Republics of Central Asia (Uzbek SSR, Turkmen SSR) the incidence of esophageal cancer was found to be high, exceeding several times the corresponding indices in the USSR and other Socialist Republics.


[Activities of coagulation factor and fibrinolysin in muscles before and after exertion]. Frog muscles were shown to contain thromboplastin, antiheparin factor and activators of fibrinolysis. The thromboplastin activity was distinctly increased in exhausted muscles. At the same time the activity of fibrinolytic agents was increased less significantly. It was proposed that stimulation of cell structures was related to liberation of thromboplastin from membranes both into an extracellular environment and into the cell. The latter effect caused structural alteration in protoplasm, which resembled blood coagulation. The exhaustion is considered as a result of absence of suitable "spreading out" of protoplasm or as a process caused by decrease in content of structural biopolymers.


[Study of proteins of rat skeletal muscles in experimental rickets]. In dynamics of experimental rickets proteins of rat sceletal muscles were studied after and before physical exercises. Occurrence of rickets was estimated by following concentration of inorganic phosphorus and calcium in blood and by X-ray examination of knee joint. An increase in total amount of sarcoplasmic proteins was observed within the first week of development of the disease. After physical exercices the effect was noticed also within the second week of the development of rickets. Content of fractions of the sarcoplasmic proteins was similar in all animals and within all the periods studied. Within four weeks content of myofibrillar proteins was decreased in rickety rats, which were not subjected to physical exercices. In rats of the both experimental groups the ATPase activity of actomyosin was not distinctly altered within all the periods studied.


An association of hepatitis B (Australia) antigen with platelets. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg, Australia antigen) was detected by radioimmunoassay in freeze-thaw lysates of washed platelets from HBsAg carriers. Incubation of platelets from an HBsAg-negative person with medium containing HBsAg resulted in the platelets becoming positive for HBsAg. We suggest that platelets may phagocytize HBsAg-coated particles, and this may be an important transport mechanism for the hepatitis B agent.


[Activity of phosphofructokinase in some organs of guinea pigs with different ascorbic acid levels]. Changes of the phosphofructokinase (PFK; KF.2.7.I.II) activity in the skeletal and heart muscle, in the liver and skin of guinea pigs with different ascorbic acid allowances of their organism were studied. In animals receiving physiological and high vitamin "C" doses no changes in the activity of the tissues under study were observed. In cases of acute C-hypovitaminosis the activity of the enzyme in the skin fell by 26 per cent, in scurvy it declined in the liver by 28 per cent and in the skin -- by 46 per cent. In these conditions the PFK activity in the skeletal and heart muscles remained invariable. In one group of the animals chronic latent C-hypovitaminosis was simulated it attended by a diminishing fermentative activity in the heart by 24 and in the skin -- by 20 per cent. No changed activity in the liver was revealed.


Nurse-protocol management of low back pain. Outcomes, patient satisfaction and efficiency of primary care. To test the validity of a nurse-administered protocol for low back pain, a prospective trial of 419 patients was undertaken in a walk-in clinic. In all, 222 patients were randomly allocated to a "nurse-protocol group" in which they were evaluated by one of five nurses using the protocol; the nurses independently managed 53 percent of the patients and referred to a physician patients with potentially complex conditions. In addition, 197 patients in a randomly allocated control group were managed by one of 32 physicians. Care in the experimental and control groups was compared by follow-up telephone contact and by a four-month chart review. There was no significant difference in symptomatic relief or the development of serious disease in the two groups. Nurse-protocol patients expressed greater satisfaction with the care they had received; patient satisfaction correlated positively with symptom relief. In over 95 percent of the patients, there were noncomplex, nonserious, nonchronic conditions as the cause of back pain. We conclude that nurse-protocol management of this generally benign condition in a primary care setting is both effective and efficient.


[Results of identifying ornithosis strains isolated in Tajikistan (author's transl)]. Studies were carried out aimed at isolation of the causative agent of ornithosis from the organs of pigeons and budgerigars. The present study was based on the results of a serological survey which had revealed a high rate of infection with ornithosis in pigeons as well as a case of ornithosis in an owner of budgerigars. The isolates were identified, their pathogenicity for some animal species was determined; morphological studies were carried out in cell culture; antigens and immune sera were prepared. The results of identification permited allocation of the isolated strains to the agent of ornithosis and confirmed the role of pigeons and parrots in spread of this infection in Tajikistan.


Clinical aspects of hepatosplenic schistosomiasis: a contrast with cirrhosis. The clinical picture of liver disease in endemic areas of Schistosomiasis mansoni differs in many ways from that observed in alcoholic and other types of cirrhosis. In hepatosplenic schistosomiasis there is predominance of the clinical manifestations of portal hypertension, e.g., bleeding esophageal varices, while ascites, jaundice, and hepatic precoma or coma are much less common. Ammonia tolerance is usually normal and helps explain the low mortality rate during bleeding. Of special interest is the observation of a high incidence of persistent hepatitis B surface antigenemia among patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis, suggesting increased susceptibility of such patients to the development of virus-induced chronic active hepatitis.


[Early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases in younger patients]. In 114 persons with an average age of 30 years who were found out during an X-ray examination on account of pathological findings of the heart clinical examinations were carried out and the findings were compared with those of a control group of the same age which had normal fluorographic findings. Among the patients with radiologically provable enlargement of the heart were 29% of active sportsmen who in the majority of cases had no other findings. Moreover, the enlargement of the heart correlated with overweight, increased values of blood pressure, vitia cordis and with subjective heart complaints. The effectivity of the primary screening is confirmed by the establishment that 66% of patients free of symptoms could be established.