Correlation between mixed lymphocyte culture in compatibility and cadaver kidney graft rejection. One-way mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity of recipient lymphocytes against the donor lymphocytes was measured in 11 recipients of cadaver kidneys. Peripheral blood was drawn from donors and recipients before the transplantation and lymphocytes isolated and frozen down for later typing. In one experiment, the lymphocytes from 11 recipient-donor pairs were thawed and the reactivity of the lymphocytes of the recipient towards the irradiated lymphocytes of the donor was estimated. Two unrelated controls were included, and the results were expressed as stabilized relative response taking into account both variations in responder- and stimulator capability of the lymphocytes. Four patients with a high relative response (above 50) had rejection episodes during the first month of transplantation in contrast to seven patients with a low relative response, who had no rejection episodes during the first month (p = 0.003). At six months, three of the four high responders had lost their graft compared to two of the seven low responders.


Inhibition of bone formation during space flight. Parameters of bone formation and resorption were measured in rats orbited for 19.5 days aboard the Soviet Cosmos 782 biological satellite. The most striking effects were on bone formation. During flight, rats formed significantly less periosteal bone than did control rats on the ground. An arrest line at both the periosteum and the endosteum of flight animals suggest that a complete cessation of bone growth occurred. During a 26-day postflight period, the defect in bone formation was corrected. No significant changes in bone resorption were observed.


Two and a half years of acupuncture in Alabama. From the data presented it appears that acupuncture helped in more than 50% of the patients by either completely or partially controlling pain from certain disorders. Patients helped by acupuncture received 8.55 treatments on the average, while patients not helped by acupuncture only received 4.75 treatments. There is difference between the male and female patients as to the response to acupuncture. However, we noticed that the younger the patient and the shorter the duration of their of problems, the better the response. Patients who had not had surgery to treat the pain syndrome responded better than those who had had previous surgery. Patients with backache who had previously had laminectomy showed better response to acupuncture than patients who had had spinal fusion. It appears that good general health plays an important role in favorable response to acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture may be a valuable extension of a conventional pain clinic and an alternative in patients who are desperate to obtain relief from pain which they failed to obtain from other methods.


Double loop mass closure technique for abdominal incisions. The technique of double loop mass closure of vertical abdominal incisions converts a vertical incision into a physiologic incision by converting distracting muscular stress into an opposing force. Use of the closure in a small series of high risk patients has demonstrated it to allow closure of vertical incisions with subsequent wound healing without hernia, dehiscence or invasive wound infection.


Transcatheter arterial embolization of a traumatic lumbar artery false aneurysm. The case of a false aneurysm of a lumbar artery secondary to penetrating trauma is presented. Problems of diagnosis are outlined, emphasizing the value of ultrasound, computerized tomography, and angiography. The early use of angiography is strongly advocated in cases of suspected post-traumatic bleeding. The use and value of therapeutic transcatheter embolization is discussed.


Lymphoid cell interactions in allograft immunity. Failure of hamsters to generate suppressor cells upon specific immunization. The alloantigenic reactivity of hamster spleen cells from unsensitized animals was analyzed in vitro. When compared with normal MHA cells, MHA anti-CB spleen cells responded better or to the same degree in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) during the first 3 days after alloantigenic exposure. However, by day 5 postsensitization there was a signigicant reduction in spleen cell MLR activity, which returned to normal or even an exaggerated response 7 days following immunization. We examined the possibility that the reduction in MLR responsiveness 5 days following immunization might be attributable to the generation splenic suppressor cells. Irradiated spleen cells from unsensitized and from MHA anti-CB donors were cocultured with normal responder MHA lymph node cells stimulated by (MHA x CB)F1 hybrid lymph node cells in MLR. No regulatory effect of either cell population was seen, indicating that even hamster spleen cells from alloimmune donors fail to suppress the mitotic response of normal lymph node cells to allogeneic targets.


[Effect of adrenaline on the ATPase activity of suslik brain synaptosomes]. Action of adrenaline on ATPase activity of ground squirrel synaptosomes in vitro at 37 degrees and 17 degrees C was studied. It has been shown in experiments in vitro at 37 degrees C that adrenaline in a concentration of 5.10(-4) M influenced Mg and Na, K-ATPase of the synaptosomes in ground squirrel brain. The inhibition (42-72%) of Na, K-ATPase in the synaptosomes of the brain was seen during hibernation and in summer. The inhibition of Mg-ATPase (50%) was observed only in summer. The effect of adrenaline on the activity of Na, K-ATPase of synaptosome was seen in vitro as well as at 17 degrees (a 50% inhibition). It was shown that adrenaline in vitro at a concentration of 5.10(-4) M inhibited ATPases more than noradrenaline.


[Several types of mitochondrial ultrastructure in animal cell mitochondria and their relationship to energy production]. Using the mitochondrial suspension of rabit's hepatocytes the interconnection between the ultrastructural reorganization and the power of mitochondria has been studied. Several steady states of these organelles were revealed corresponding to the rest, norm and to the excitement, all being characterized by definite ultrastructural and power-production parameters. It was shown that these physiological states of mitochondria were common to the intact cells. On the basis of the idea on the discrete physiological states of mitochondria, cases of a so-called "variety" of these methods of approach to the study of the interrelation between the structure and function of mitochondria may be used as well for the analysis of some pathological changes of these organelles.


[Effect of rat liver chalones on liver cell proliferation at different times after partial hepatectomy]. The action of rat's liver ethanol extract (72--81 per cent saturation) on cell proliferation of this organ at various periods after a partial hepatectomy has been studied. The most sensitive periods of the action of G1- and G2-chalone were, resp., the time of cell transformation, and the middle of the premitotic period of cell cycle. The action of G2-chalone used is organ-specific, since the drug decreased the mitotic activity of both hepatocytes and stromal cells. At the same time, the proliferation of ear, tongue and small bowel epithelial cells remained unchanged.


[Age peculiarities of actomyosin enzymic properties in embryogenesis]. Age changes in the subunits composition were comparatively studied for protein, ATPase activity, sensitivity to Ca2+ in low concentrations and alkaline activation of ATPase of natural actomyosin of skeletal muscles and myocardium in cattle feti. A rise in values in the process of the mentioned parameters development is established for actomyosin of skeletal muscles. The rise is especially considerable by the end of embryonic development. Correspondingly the myocardium actomyosin possesses a lower ATPase activity and higher sensitivity to Ca2+ in low concentrations. The ATPase activity rises moderately with development.


[Plasmin in human blood plasma].

[Plasmin in human blood plasma]. Formation of plasmin was studied when treating the human diluted blood plasma with kaolin in acid medium. The activity of the formed enzyme was determined quantitatively from the splitting of protamin sulphate, fibrin and fibrinogen. Dependence of plasminogen activation on time of plasma incubation with kaolin and on temperature as well as the effect of proteinases inhibitors on the plasmin activity are studied.


Coronary intimal sclerosis in Morquio's syndrome. Mitral valve, coronary arteries, cartilage, and liver were studied by light and electron microscopy in a 15 year old boy with Morquio's syndrome, a genetic mucopolysaccharidosis, in which a deficiency of lysosomal hexosamine sulfatase is associated with accumulations of keratan sulfate in various organs. Coronary artery intimal sclerosis was a prominent feature of this disorder. Ultrastructural examination revealed numerous intimal smooth muscle cells containing storage vacuoles consistent with lysosomes. This was associated with marked interstitial deposition of collagen, elastin, and basement membrane material. Recent studies of human and experimental atherosclerosis have demonstrated the accumulation of cholesterol within vascular smooth muscle cell lysosomes. Intralysosomal accumulation of substrates other than cholesterol is also associated with vascular intimal sclerosis in genetic lysosomal disorders such as Fabry's disease and Hurler's syndrome. Lysosomal storage of undegraded substrate may be an important pathogenetic mechanism in the development of sclerotic vascular lesions.


Ultrastructure of gastric leiomyosarcoma. Samples of gastric leiomyosarcomas from two male patients (69 years and 57 years of age) were studied by electron microscopy. The tumour cells contained abundant 50--90 A thick microfilaments and microtubules. Another cell type, regarded as immature leiomyosarcoma cell, contained numerous profiles of granular endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes and a well developed Golgi apparatus. There were intercellular junctions of zonula adherens-type between adjacent tumour cells. It was concluded that electron microscopy offers a valuable aid in the diagnosis of gastric neoplasms of smooth muscle origin.


[Neurofibroma and Perineurial cell. Electron microscopic examinations of 9 neurofibromas (author's transl)]. In neurofibromas type I (plexiform) and type II (diffuse) the Schwann cell is the predominant cell in the neoplastic proliferation. Electron microscopic investigation of a neurofibroma with structures resembling tactile corpuscles (type III) revealed neoplastic proliferation of perineurial in stead of Schwann cells. The tactile-like (pseudo-Meissnerian) corpuscles (corpuscles neurofibromateux) are formed by neoplastic perineurial cells. These cells have a tendency to wrap themselves around longitudinal structures, such as collagen fibres or axons, and to come into direct contact with the latter. The close relationship between the axon and the neoplastic perineurial cell, analogous to that between axon and Schwann cell, points to a neuroectodermal origin origin of the perineurial cell. The electron microscopic appearances suggest that either the Schwann cell or the perineurial cell is the essential neoplastic component of neurofibromas, the fibroblastic proliferation being a secondary phenomenon.


Study of light-, electron- and immunofluorescence microscopy of urinary sediment in amyloidosis. Urinary sediment of 11 patients with amyloidosis and 12 without (with proteinuria or in good health) have been sutdied by different morphological techniques. By light microscopy, an amyloid-related substance was occasionally demonstrated both in patients with amyloidosis and in control subjects. Immunofluorescence (IF) showed substance A (amyloid component) to be present in some cases of amyloidosis and in controls. On electron-microscopy, fibrils with characteristic appearance of amyloid substance were found in some cases of amyloidosis (4 out of 11), but were also found in controls. It therefore seems difficult to establish the diagnosis of amyloidosis by microscopic studies of the urinary sediment.


Correlations between the morphological and clinical findings in a patient recovering from secondary generalised amyloidosis with renal involvement. Light- and electron microscopic investigations on serial biopsies. We report light- and electron microscopic findings in glomerular amyloidosis (secondary amyloidosis), which occurred after recurrent empyema of the pleura. After healing of the empyema, the clinical symptoms disappeared, over a period of eight years. During the acute stage of the disease (grade II-III amyloidosis) when the nephrotic syndrome was present, amyloid deposits were seen in the mesangium and on both sides of the basement membrane of the glomerular capillaries. Furthermore, denuded basement membrane areas showing the passage of amyloid into the urinary space, and invaginations of the podocyte by straightened amyloid fibrils were found. After clinical recovery (except for a trace of proteinuria), the renal amyloidosis had electronmicroscopically transformed from an active into an inactive or resting form, while the amount of amyloid present was almost the same. In the areas of amyloid deposits, reparative changes were observed, espcially in the area of the mesangial cells and of the podocytes. The podocytes were separated from the persisting amyloid deposits by newly formed basement membrane material.


Investigations on the cause of the nephrotic syndrome in renal amyloidosis. A discussion of electron microscopic findings. Systematic electron microscopic investigation of glomeruli of 35 patients with renal amyloidosis (grade I-III), among them 26 with nephrotic syndrome, reveals the following: 1. The extent of the area of basement membrane denuded of its epithelial covering is correlated significantly with the reduction of plasma protein concentration at the time of renal biopsy. 2. In amyloid free regions of the glomerular capillary loops, the foot processes of the epithelial cells remain intact despite the presence of the nephrotic syndrome. From these findings we conclude that the high glomerular protein losses in amyloidosis occur in areas of the basement membrane which are penetrated by amyloid and denuded of their epithelial covering. With increasing number of these lesions per unit area, the permeability of the capillary network for protein increases to a degree which is significantly correlated with the reduced plasma protein concentration at the time of biopsy.


Fine structure of multiple neonatal haemangioendothelioma of the liver. This paper discusses the fine structure of multiple haemangioendothelioma of the liver. There have been no previous reports of electron microscopic studies of this tumour, which was found to be composed of young capillaries continuous in type and varying in calibre. The capillaries were lined by actively proliferating, immature endothelial cells with pericytes forming an integral part of the tumour. Their morphological characteristics indicated intensive protein production. The authors suggest that the active pericytes play a role in the production of reticular fibres of the tumour. Following corticosteroid therapy, regression of tumour nodules occurred in this case in the interval between surgery and autopsy. This was confirmed by histological studies. The results seem to support the hypothesis that actively proliferating, young endothelial cells show an increased sensitivity to corticosteroids.


Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in systemic sclerosis of childhood. The renal lesions of a 5-year-old girl with progressive systemic sclerosis are described. The nephropathy was clinically characterised by moderate proteinuria, microscopic hematuria and transient hypertension. Light microscopy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis of segmental character. On electron microscopy intramesangial, subendothelial and extramembranous glomerular deposits were observed. By immunofluorescence miscrosocpy deposit of IgG, Clq, C4, C3, C5, C8 and C9  in a predominantly subendothelial location were found in all glomeruli. Vascular lesions were of minor degree. Histological and immunohistological findings are compatible with an immune complex disease.


[Changes in the activity of monoamine oxidase, adenylate cyclase and adenosine triphosphatase in liver cells during the process of hepatocarcinogenesis]. Activity of specific mitochondrial enzymes was studied in rat liver during 2-acetylamine fluorene or diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocancerogenesis. The results of enzymatic activities studied correlated with morphological changes in cancerogenesis. Alterations in activity of monoamine oxidase, adenylate cyclase and adenosine triphosphatase depended on the step of cancerogenesis. Activity of adenylate cyclase in cell membranes decreased gradually during the impairment. Change in activity of the enzymes, observed at the step of enhanced liver cell proliferation, proceeded at further steps of cancerogenesis. The data obtained suggest that alterations in activity of mitochondrial enzymes are related to modified metabolism observed in the impaired cells.


[Effect of phosphatidylserine on formation and lysis of fibrin]. Phosphatidyl serine inhibited non-enzymatic step of fibrin formation (selfassociation of monomeric fibrin). But phosphatidyl serine did not affect the factor XIII activity, the rate of fibrin clot retraction and its tolerance to plasmin. Activity of plasmin was not altered in presence of phosphatidyl serine but influence of slowly acting antiplasmin on plasmin was slightly limited by the lipoid. Due to this phenomenon phosphatidyl serine caused the activation of fibrinolysis in native system (blood plasma). The data obtained support the earlier advanced assumptions on inhibition of thrombin-fibrinogene reaction by phosphatidyl serine.


[Concentration and composition of cerebral gangliosides in Down's disease]. Content and composition of gangliosides were studied in brain white and grey substances of patients with mongolism. Content of gangliosides, which are typical components of plasmatic membranes of nervous cells, was decreased in brain grey substance of the patients as compared with control group, whereas content of the lipids was increased in white substance. Differentiation of neurones appears to be inhibited in mongolism. Content of disialoganglioside GDIa exceeded the content of other gangliosides in brain white and grey substances in normal state; content of GMI, GTI, GDIb was also increased. Composition of gangliosides from brain of the patients with not distinctly altered as compared with that of children of control group.


[Bronchial adenoma with uncommon growth (author's transl)]. Report on a bronchial adenoma in the right lobus inferior pulmonalis (autopsy: histological bronchial adenoma from carcinoid type) of uncommon size and with growth till now not described. The tumor was diagnosed clinically and histologically 4 years before death of the patient, but was not operated. The tumor has continuously infiltrated the left atrium cordis via a vena pulmonalis. This case is stressing the decisive importance of the early diagnosis of bronchial adenoma.


[Atrial septal defect in the aged (author's transl)]. The natural history of congenital heart disease in older patients will become increasingly difficult to delineate, since many of uncomplicated defects were repaired early in life. Therefore the frequency of clinical and hemodynamic progress in non-operated patients with atrial septal defects seems to be of great interest. We are able to compare 27 patients aged more than 60 years with a group between 40 and 59 years. In 80 out of 103 patients totally, the clinical findings could be completed with catheterization data. The progress of deterioration with age in spite of intensive medical care could be demonstrated by mostly statistical significant signs of greater right-ventricular overload in the Ecg, cardiac arrhythmias--usually atrial fibrillation--changes in the X-ray findings and increasing pulmonary hypertension.


[Determining the average posteruptive age of teeth from the results of cross-sectional studies (author's transl)]. If results of cross-sectional studies must be used as a basis for setting up models of development of caries in permanent teeth, then the average rather than individual posteruptive age of teeth has to be resorted to. Data available for this purpose had been obtained from a total of 54,000 children living in two G.D.R. cities, namely, Plauen and Karl-Marx-Stadt, as well as from two surveys made in 1959 and 1971, respectively. Calculation of the average posteruptive age of teeth assumes good knowledge of the distribution of dates of eruption in a population. Of the three types of distribution considered, namely, normal, lognormal, and log-logistic distribution, the log-logistic model proved to be superior to others because of better adaptation to the data available. The method of calculating the posteruptive age of teeth is described and illustrated by use of a number of examples. Since one of the two surveys (namely that which was made in Karl-Marx-Stadt in 1971) was made after twelve years' drinking water fluoridation, it was possible to study the effect of fluoridation upon the eruptive behavior of permanent teeth. The results of this study confirmed those obtained during previous investigations.


Reconstructive procedures in the management of occlusive arterial disease. The various currently applicable reconstructive procedures in the management of occlusive arterial disease have been presented along with specific techniques and observations as to proper utilization of them clinically.


[Polarization-optical examinations of fissure contents (author's transl)]. The fissure contents of human premolars and molars were examined by a polarization-optical method, and the results obtained were compared with those achieved by light microscopy. A striking feature in this connection was the predominant isotropy of orange-colored fissure contents, which is not consistent with previous polarization-optical results obtained for the dental cuticle. Fissure contents usually showed smaller-area changes in color than did the dental enamels. Fissure contents transparent in thin ground sections were usually characterized by anisotropy. Polarization-optically, orange-colored contents of particularly narrow and deep fissures showed a different behavior than the whitishyellow, materia-alba-like superficial fissure contents, which suggests differences in crystallization structure.


[Results of surgical treatment of benign and malignant parotid tumors (author's transl)]. Of the total of 241 parotid tumors surgically treated between 1956 and 1975 at the Clinic of Otorhinolaryngology, Karl Marx University at Leipzig, 190 were of benign and 51, of malignant character. Patients of advanced age showed preferential development of parotid tumors. In more than ninety percent of the cases, the results of sialography were in agreement with surgical results. Surgical removal of the entire parotid gland was performed with the exception of those cases where the tumor showed good encapsulation and was confirmed to the pars superficialis of the parotid gland. Three cases of complete, permanent facial palsy resulted from surgical treatment of 190 cases of benign parotid tumors. The prognosis of malignant parotid tumors is extremely bad, and it is characterized by a proportion of successful surgical operations of only 26.5 percent.


[Immunostaging (author's transl)].

[Immunostaging (author's transl)]. This survey covers the problems of immunologic monitoring of patients and the spectrum of methods of diagnosing various types of immunopathological reactions.


[The use of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and its clinical aspects]. 11,8% (354 patients) of 3000 laparoscopies were performed because of suspected ectopic pregnancy (E.P.). In 23,4% of the diagnostic laparoscopy the diagnosis was confirmed. The rate of E.P. without bleeding was 11,8%. Laparoscopy is considered to be the method of choice to diagnose as well as to exclude E.P.


The effect of X-irradiation on the sodium-potassium-activated adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase) activity in the epithelium of the rat lens. A histochemical and biochemical study. The epithelial Na-K-ATPase activity of the rat lens was studied after X-irradiation at intervals of three to ninety days. The enzyme was demonstrated histochemically by light microscopy and it was measured biochemically by a fluorometric method. Neither histochemical nor biochemical changes of Na-K-ATPase content of the lens epithelium were observed during the development of cataract. In whole-mount preparations the enzyme activity was localized in the cell membranes. However, one month after radiation a few peripheral cells had in addition a precipitated over the whole cell. The unaltered Na-K-ATPase content in the epithelium suggests that the hydration of the lens after X-irradiation is primarily caused by changes in the passive permeability properties of the cell membranes and not by a decreased capacity of the activity cation pump.


Purification and characterization of an anti-inflammatory factor (AIF) from bovine serum. An anti-inflammatory factor (AIF) was highly purified from normal bovine serum. The purified AIF was a polysaccharide which was formed from a low molecular substance Pro-AIF by macromolecularization. AIF showed potent inhibitory activities against carrageenin induced edema in rats and PMN-leucocyte chemotaxis. It showed no inhibition in cutaneous reaction with serotonin, bradykinin or a mediator releaser compound 48/80. No inhibition was also observed in thermally induced pain, reversed passive Arthus reaction and adjuvant polyarthritis in rats. With these results, the role of AIF in inflammation was discussed.


Effect of ACP (pyridoxine-2-oxoglutarate) on CCl4 intoxication and in streptozotocin-induced ketosis in rat. The protective effect of pyridoxine-2-oxoglutarate (ACP) was studied on CCl4-intoxicated rats. A sensitive improvement of hepatic conditions was shown in ACP-treated rats as compared with untreated ones and rats treated with 2-oxoglutarate and pyridoxine. Serum GOT, GPT, OCT activities, composition of serum proteins, liver mitochondria respiratory control index and liver microsomes oxidizing activity were tested. The antiketotic properties of ACP were also demonstrated in Streptozotocin treated rats.


[Use of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity skin test and in vitro assays of lymphocyte function to tumour associated antigen in patients with lung cancer (author's transl)]. Twenty one patients with lung cancer and twelve patients with unspecified lung disease were evaluated by means of delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity skin tests with tumour associated antigen. Nine of these patients with lung cancer and seven healthy persons were evaluated by in vitro assays of lymphocyte function to tumour associated antigen (TAA) from "Cancerotest Dessau". We did not find a statistically significant lymphocyte transformation to the testing concentration of TAA. For the same patients with lung cancer and controls we found statistically significant results of the mean lymphocyte transformation to phytohemagglutinin. It has been shown that the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity skin tests demonstrated "false positive" reactions to TAA. It is possible that this is an expression of the irritative effects of TAA. It is estimated that the application of the antigens in this form presented and in this chosen examination conditions, does not allow for definite diagnostic assessment to be expected.


[Possibilities of differentiated stimulation of B- and T-cells (author's transl)]. With the aid of the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) using different T and B cell mitogens it is possible functionally to examine and differentiate various subpopulations of lymphocytes in man. Normal values of clinically healthy persons were evaluated. The T cell type reactive to Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) has been found most frequently in the blood (mean transformation rate 79%), less frequently in the spleen and very seldom in the thymus. In 3 patients with infectious mononucleosis a B lymphocyte subpopulation stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was demonstrable in their peripheral blood, being nearly absent in normal persons, but clearly evident in the spleen of splenectomized patients and of 57 Bl-mice. Peripheral leucocytes of healthy persons, however, were able to be transformed into either blast cells by anti-isiotypic immunoglobulin sera or plasma-cell-like cells, while chronic lymphocytic leucamia lymphocytes of several patients reacted in a different way--may be, because of a different degree of insufficiency of these cells. For clinical use it should be possible by means of the LTT to evaluate changes in T and B cell transformation caused by disease or by treatment. This could be useful for differential therapy.


[Serum antigammaglobulin antibodies in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix (author's transl)]. Agar immunoprecipitation with homologous and heterologous IgG aggregates and hemagglutination with sensitized sheep red blood cells showed that high percentage of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix have antigammaglobulin antibodies in their blood serum. In order to confirm the Ig type of the studied antibodies, sera of cancer patients were fractionated by gel filtration on Sephadex G200 by pH = 4.0. The positive hemagglutination and precipitation activities of the first gel filtration peaks (comprising the 19 S macroglobulin) as the lack of such activity after treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol confirmed the antibodies to be of IgM type.


[Decrease of the immunodefence by halothane (author's transl)]. From thirty-two operated patients, narcotized with halothane, the PHA-stimulated rates of blastic transformation of cultivated lymphocytes were determined before and after the surgical operation. There was demonstrated a decrease of ability of the stimulation during 6--7 days. The maximum of this reaction was reached after 48 hours. We suppose that doses of halothane are inducing a decrease of immunodefence.


The influence of the non-specific desensitization on the formazan activity of granulocytes in children with an infectious form of the bronchial asthma. The authors applied a bacterial vaccine subcutaneously and pernasally in 42 children with infectious allergic, bronchial asthma. After having applied the vaccine for 6 weeks there has been found a distinct improvement of all values of the N. B. T. reduction test, in particular after subcutaneous injections. The authors attribute these results to a recovery or to a decrease of the activity of inflammation foci.


Risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction. One hundred patients admitted to the hospital with acute myocardial infarction who lived 10 days and agreed to enroll were studied. Data from the history, hospital course and a 24 hour Holter electrocardiographic recording were related to cardiac mortality in the 6 months after enrollment. Fifteen cardiac deaths occurred during this period; 12 of these were sudden. The univariates with the strongest association with mortality were (in descending order): blood urea nitrogen level, serum creatinine level, serum uric acid level, enlarged heart 2 weeks after infarction, ventricular tachycardia 2 weeks after infarction, peak creatine kinase level and left ventricular failure in the coronary care unit. The odds of dying if one of these factors was present rather than absent ranged from 3.6 to 11.5. Groups with two or these univariates had up to 20 times the odds of dying in 6 months. A period of greately enhanced risk for cardiac death persists for about 6 months after acute myocardial infarction. Relatively simple clinical variables can identify the groups at highest and lowest risk. This information is useful for designing management strategies.


Clinicopathologic analysis of cardiac dysfunction in 52 patients with sickle cell anemia. Clinical studies have long suggested the presence of a specific cardiomyopathy in sickle cell anemia secondary to intracoronary thrombosis and subsequent infarction. Fifty-two autopsy patients were studied (48 with SS hemoglobin, 4 with S-C or S-Thal hemoglobin) to ascertain the range of cardiac pathologic abnormalities associated with this disease. The average age was 17 years (range 1 month to 48 years). Renal failure and infection were the most common causes of death; the former was a more common cause in adults than in children. Right and left ventricular hypertrophy and dilatation were the most common abnormal pathologic findings. No evidence of recent or remote myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis or arteritis was noted in any patient. Eight patients who were studied with postmortem coronary arteriograms exhibited markedly increased coronary arterial caliber with no evidence of atherosclerosis. Seventeen of the 52 patients studied had clinical evidence of congestive heart failure before death. Of these 17 patients, 7 had moderate to severe left ventricular hypertrophy associated with chronic renal failure and hypertension, 2 had right ventricular hypertrophy with organized pulmonary thrombosis, 2 had rheumatic mitral valve disease and 2 died during the second trimester of pregnancy. Two of the 17 patients thought to have pulmonary edema before death in fact had aspiration pneumonia and hemorrhagic pneumonitis, respectively. The data suggest that cardiac dysfunction in sickle cell anemia can usually be explained by the adverse effect of coexisting disease on the diminished cardiac reserve of chronic anemia. The data do not support the concept of a specific "sickle cell cardiomyopathy".


Shunt flow and pulmonary hemodynamics during labor and delivery in the Eisenmenger syndrome. The Eisenmenger syndrome carries a high mortality rate in a women during delivery and the immediate postpartum period. It has been suggested that marked changes in shunt flow and pulmonary hemodynamics may be responsible. These functions were studied under various physiologic and pharmacologic conditions during labor and delivery in a patient with the Eisenmenger syndrome. Uterine contractions were associated with a decrease in the ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow (Qp/Qs) from 1.58 to 1.05. The Qp/Qs ratio also decreased (to 0.83) when forceps were applied during uterine contractions. Epidural anesthesia, oxytocin and the supine position did not adversely affect pulmonary hemodynamics or shunt flow. On the basis of these results, if pregnancy cannot be terminated in a patient with the Eisenmenger syndrome, it is recommended that the patient be given high concentration of oxygen and epidural anesthesia and that serial arterial blood gas determinations be performed to detect changes in shunt flow.


A pyridoxine-dependent behavioral disorder unmasked by isoniazid. A 3-year-old girl had behavioral deterioration, with hyperkinesis, irritability, and sleeping difficulties after the therapeutic administration of isoniazid. The administration of pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine hydrochloride led to a disappearance of symptoms. After discontinuing isoniazid therapy a similar pattern of behavior was noted that was controlled by pyridoxine. A placebo had no effect, but niacinamide was as effective as pyridoxine. Periodic withdrawal of pyridoxine was associated with return of the hyperkinesis. The level of pyridoxal in the blood was normal during the periods of relapse. Metabolic studies suggested a block in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism. The patient has been followed for six years and has required pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine to control her behavior.


Preadolescent and adolescent endocrinology: physiology and physiopathology. II. Hormonal changes during abnormal pubertal development. Based on the knowledge of the physiology of regulation of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids, basal levels of these hormones might be indicative of the etiologic factors of abnormal pubertal development. In addition, stimulatory tests may help in the diagnosis of such conditions. It is interesting that the pubertal maturation of the adrenal cortex is independent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The role of the adrenal cortex for the pubertal development remains questionable: adrenal androgens are low in isosexual precocious puberty, low in delayed adolescence, and normal in hyper- or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The importance of this role is doubled in congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia. When the disease is untreated, although adrenal androgens in excess advance bone age and hypothalamic maturation, girls remain prepubertal. When the therapeutic control is good, normal puberty occurs. The action of the adrenal androgens on growth and puberty remains to be determined.


The spontaneous occurrence of progressive synergistic bacterial gangrene on the abdominal wall. Two cases of the spontaneous occurrence of progressive synergistic bacterial gangrene are described. The ability of disease to progress after the initiating bacterial agents are eradicated is commented on.


Panniculectomy and abdominoplasty.

Panniculectomy and abdominoplasty. The series involved 123 patients who had 126 excisions of the abdominal wall. In 84 patients, a large pannus of fatty tissue and skin was excised to expedite the approach to intra-abdominal disease or the repair of hernias. In 39 patients, the operation was an abdominoplasty done to improve the appearance of the abdomen or to excise relaxed or redundant tissues. Complications were minimal. The experience suggests that the surgeon should consider and utilize techniques to improve the general function and appearance of the abdominal wall and yet not compromise the treatment of the patient's major problem.


Importance of bicarbonate in bile salt independent fraction of bile flow. The bile salt independent fraction (BSIF) of canalicular bile flow from the isolated rat liver perfused with bicarbonate-free perfusate is 50% of that from the liver perfused with bicarbonate-containing perfusate. HCO3-excretion is nearly eliminated and Na+ and Cl- excretion is reduced 50%. Replacement of HCO3- into perfusate increased bile flow by 0.3 microliter/g.min without changing bile acid excretion rate. 5.5-Dimethyl-2,4-oxazolidinedione (DMO) produced a similar effect. DMO was passively distributed between bile and plasma. The data indicate that a bicarbonate transport mechanism is responsible for production of up to 50% of the BSIF. Another weak acid, N-5[5-(2-methoxyethoxy)-2-pyrimidinyl]sulfamoylbenzene (glymidine), was rapidly excreted into bile and increased bile flow by over 2.0 microliter/g.min. Glymidine is probably excreted by an independent organic anion transport mechanism, and any effect on the bicarbonate transport mechanism is obscured. Canaliculus-enriched hepatocyte membrane fractions contained no HCO3-stimulated ATPase activity. Either this enzyme is unimportant in hepatocyte bicarbonate transport or transport occurs across membranes other than the bile canalicular membrane.


Insulin binding and glucose metabolism in adipocytes of streptozotocin-diabetic rats. To investigate the mechanism of the cellular insulin insensitivity of diabetic rats, insulin binding, glucose transport, and glucose oxidation were studied in adipocytes from streptozotocin-diabetic rats. Increased insulin binding was found in cells from diabetic rats, and this was due to an increased number of insulin receptors rather than a change in receptor affinity. Basal and insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation was decreased in adipocytes from diabetic rats when the data are expressed in absolute terms or as percent increased above basal. Although the absolute rate of basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport was decreased in adipocytes from diabetic rats, the percent increase above basal of insulin-stimulated glucose transport was not decreased. In conclusion, although the cellular insulin insensitivity exists in adipocytes from diabetic rats, the number of insulin receptors was increased, coupling between insulin receptors and the glucose transport system is intact in adipocytes from diabetic rats, and a defect in intracellular glucose metabolism rather than glucose transport plays a major role in the insulin insensitivity of adipocytes from diabetic rats.


Glucocorticoids and regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity in rat brown adipose tissue. Studied were performed to examine the factors that might regulate phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity in rat brown adipose tissue (BAT) and to determine the role played by glucocorticoids in regulating this enzyme. Comparison was made to white adipose tissue (WAT) where PEPCK activity is known to be glucocorticoid regulated. PEPCK activity in BAT did not respond to adrenalectomy or dexamethasone, whereas WAT activity was increased and decreased, respectively, by these maneuvers. Three conditions were found in which BAT PEPCK activity was stimulated: 1) fasting, 2) feeding a high-fat/low-carbohydrate diet, and 3) during the neonatal period. In each case glucocorticoid treatment prevented the stimulation in PEPCK activity and restored the enzyme to base-line levels. In conditions 1 and 2, enzyme activity was also stimulated in WAT, but in contradistinction to BAT, glucocorticoid administration reduced activity to low levels significantly below base-line activity. Two conditions were found which suppressed PEPCK activity in BAT: exposure to a cold environment and feeding a high-protein/low-fat diet. WAT PEPCK was unaltered by exposure to cold. Thus, differences in PEPCK regulation between BAT and WAT were demonstrated, and the response to glucocorticoids was unique in BAT.


Endotoxin and myocardial failure: role of the myofibril and venous return. The effects of gramnegative endotoxin-induced myocardial failure in the pentobarbital-anesthetized dog were examined by monitoring its influence on cardiac myofibrillar ATPase activity. Myofibrils were isolated from endo- and epicardial portions of the left ventricular wall. ATPase activities were determined in animals treated with 4 mg/kg endotoxin and monitored 5 h, in animals monitored for 5 h without endotoxin (controls), and in animals implanted with a unilateral femoral shunt and given endotoxin. No differences were seen in the activities between the endo- and epicardial portions of any preparation. Activity was significantly depressed in endotoxemic animals. Increasing venous return by 313 +/- 71 ml/min significantly increased coronary flow by reducing coronary vascular resistance and prevented any observed depression of myofibrillar ATPase activity. In in vitro studies, adding endotoxin directly to a myofibril preparation did not modify normal activity. It appears that the mechanical and myofibrillar dysfunctions are due to the action of endotoxin at sites not associated with the actomyosin ATPase, but may be due to the production of an intermediary agent in concert with a decreased venous return.


Ventricular morphology and pumping ability of exercised spontaneously hypertensive rats. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and two strains of normotensive Wistar rats were subjected to a 5 day/wk swimming program to determine whether the heart of the SHR could respond to an additional stimulus to cardiac growth. Swimming was tolerated well by all rats. Although body weight of the exercised groups was not significantly reduced, both the right and left ventricular weights of all exercised groups were increased. Left ventricular circumference and chamber volume were increased without a change in free wall thickness in all exercised groups. Ventricular performance was assessed by peak cardiac output and stroke volume attained during rapid intravenous volume loading, both before and after autonomic inhibition. After combined cholinergic and beta-adrenergic inhibition, all exercised rats had slower heart rates and higher peak stroke volume than respectively sedentary controls. Thus, exercised SHR had the same alterations in cardiac mass and performance as exercised normotensive rats. Despite the initial presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, the SHR responded appropriately to an additional stimulus for adaptive cardiac growth.


Nonreversed valve-stripped vein graft.

Nonreversed valve-stripped vein graft. A technic using nonreversed saphenous vein for arterial graft after eversion valvectomy is described. The nonreversed vein graft can be used advantageously in femoropopliteal, composite, aortopopliteal, tibial, small artery aneurysmal, and aortorenal arterial grafts.


Comparative clinical pharmacokinetics of tubocurarine, gallamine, alcuronium and pancuronium. Data about plasma concentration, renal and biliary elimination of tubocurarine, gallamine, alcuronium and pancuronium are taken from the literature for synoptical pharmacokinetic analysis. All plasma concentration curves can be described by triexponential functions according to an open three-compartment pharmacokinetic model in line, the elements of which are an application and measuring compartment, a pharmacologically specific compartment and a non-specific one. The corresponding results for all drugs represent the same range and there is no substantial basis for a further differentiation of clinically significant drug specific characteristics, neither regarding the time course of neuromuscular blockade nor the excretory or metabolic disposition. Thus no particular advantage or disadvantage of any drug can be stated from the kinetic or metabolic point of view and especially none seems to have a striking advantage in patients with impaired renal function. Drug specific peculiarities are more likely to be found in the field of side effects.


Kinetics of intercompartmental disposition and excretion of tubocurarine, gallamine, alcuronium and pancuronium in patients with normal and impaired renal function. Pharmacokinetic data of tubocurarine, gallamine, alcuronium and pancuronium in patients with normal and without renal function are taken from the literature. They are adapted to an open three compartment pharmacokinetic model, and the proportional intercompartmental distribution is calculated as a function of time from 1 min to 8 h. All drugs show similar kinetic properties: During the first 10 min rapid disappearance from compartment 1 results in saturation of compartment 2. Maximum saturation of compartment 3 is achieved after 1 to 2 h followed by a gradual disappearance of the relaxants from the whole system. 20-25% of the dose undergo sequestration apart from intercompartment equilibrium. In normal individuals sequestration is observed after 2 to 3 h whereas in anuric patients it is already demonstrated during the first hour. Intercompartmental redistribution is the basic principle governing the pharmacodynamic profile of all of the four drugs if given in clinical dosage.


[On the connections between the rami communicantes of the sympathicus and the rami posteriores of the loin nerves (author's transl)]. The existence of anastomoses between the Rami communicantes of the Truncus sympathicus and the Rami posteriores of the loin nerve in man has been confirmed macroscopically and microscopically in 50% of the cases. This is followed by a discussion of the causality of pains in the loin region.


Increased survival with new techniques in treatment of gastroschisis. Since the opening of the Neonatology Unit, we have become the referral center for our area for problems in the newborn. In the past three years, we have treated five full-term and two premature infants with gastroschisis. There was one death in a premature infant. With an aggressive therapeutic approach and a new surgical technique, we have achieved an overall survival rate of greater than 85%. Primary closure was possible in three patients, with the remaining four being trreated in two stages. A modification of the Schuster silastic bag closure was first accomplished in those patients treated in two stages. Definitive surgical correction was completed within eight days of birgh in all seven patients. No ventral hernias or wound infections occurred using the new technique. Careful preoperative transport and management, judicious anesthesia, antibiotics, ventilatory support, and parenteral hyperalimentation when necessary, have all contributed to our increased survival rate and decreased morbidity.


[Some atypical forms of eczema in children (author's transl)]. Among 466 children under the age of 12 years who presented with eczema in a 5-year period, 68 p. 100 were atopic. 136 had various atypical signs of atopy. 44 suffered from pityriasis alba of sufficient intensity to justify referral for this reason; 10 had the typical features of seborrhoeic dermatitis of infants. 27 suffered from "forefoot" eczema ("juvenile plantar dermatosis"). The course and characteristics of this condition are discussed and compared with the series recently described in the West of Scotland. Our cases were exactly similar except for an aggravation in the summer months and the fact that our cases responded poorly to topical corticosteroids alone though improved with coal tar. Atopy and contact sensitivity to shoe materials are rare in both groups. We feel that this may be classified as "frictional" dermatitis and agree with our Scottish colleagues that the introduction of nylon socks during the last ten years may be important.


[Effect of proteolytic enzymes on antibiotic distribution when the preparations are administered by different routes]. The effect of proteolytic enzymes, such as terrilitine and chymotripsin on pharmacokinetics of morphocycline and streptomycin in rats after their administration by various routes was studied comparatively. The oral use of the enzymes or their introduction directly into the duodenum simultaneously or 30 minutes before the antibiotic administration did not increase the morphocycline and streptomycin levels in the biosubstrates tested. A tendency to a decrease in the serum and organ levels of the antibiotics in animals when used orally in combination with the enzymes was noted. When the drugs were administered intramuscularly, the morphocycline serum and organ levels in the rats increased insignificantly, while the streptomycin levels increased significantly. Administration of formalin as a stressor had an analogous effect which provided a supposition of a possibility of non-specific effect of the enzymes of distribution of the antibiotics on intramuscular injection of the enzymes in large doses having a local irritating effect.


[Avian anti-müllerian hormone and testosterone (author's transl)]. The twofold question has been examined whether testosterone would cause regression of the müllerian ducts and whether this androgen would be secreted by the testes of the chick embryo. Neither did müllerian ducts from 8-day-old male embryos regress when cultured in vitro in a 10 microliter volume of a muM testosterone suspension nor could testosterone synthesis from 14C-labelled progesterone or dehydroepiandrosterone be established. Thus, it seems difficult to maintain, that testosterone could be identical with the anti-müllerian hormone. Transfilter experiments show that the active principle has a molecular weight greater than 1000, therefore, that it cannot be a steroid. As a working hypothesis, it is suggested that it is a polypeptide.


Oral zinc therapy of acne. Absorption and clinical effect. In a double-blind controlled comparison that lasted eight weeks, tablets of zinc sulfate monohydrate, 411 mg total daily dosage, and a lactose placebo were administered orally to 22 male subjects with moderate acne. At the same time, levels of zinc were determined in serum and urine. There were no statistically significant differences in the lesion counts (papules, pustules, open comedones, and closed comedones) in the zinc-treated and lactose-treated cases, despite evidence in serum and urine of absorption of zinc. The data from this study indicate that oral zinc therapy has no early clinical effect on male patients with moderate acne.


A reexamination of the potential comedogenicity of sulfur. The present study was designed to reexamine the question of the potential comedogenicity of topical sulfur. Studies were done by two different investigators in two separate institutions with groups of 12 and 40 subjects, respectively. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the occluded test sites before and after a six-week period of treatment. Each subject received a patch test of 5% sulfur in either an octoxynol 9 (Triton X-100) or a carbomer 934P (Carbopol 934P) vehicle and one of two controls consisting of the Triton X-100 vehicle or a dry patch test. We conclude that no trend or correlation was noted between the presence or absence of sulfur in the formulation and the appearance of comedones. The Triton X-100 vehicle itself appeared to be comedogenic under the experimental conditions.


Pityriasis rubra pilaris responding to aminonicotinamide. A 32-year-old man with pityriasis rubra pilaris diagnosed by clinical appearance and histologic examination was treated with 1% aminonicotinamide cream applied once daily. Improvement was noted within four days, and almost complete clearing occurred after two weeks of therapy. No side-effects were noted.


Phenytoin hypersensitivity reaction.

Phenytoin hypersensitivity reaction. A clinically characteristic hypersensitivity reaction to phenytoin occurred in two patients three to four weeks after they started phenytoin therapy. It consisted of a characteristic rash, fever, tender generalized lymphadenopathy, leukocytosis with atypical lymphocytes, and eosinophilia. One patient had liver function abnormalities suggestive of hepatitis, as have most previously reported cases. The rash was pruritic and generalized; it consisted of irregular, ill-defined macular erythema in patches with superimposed follicular papules and massive edema of the face and periorbital region. Facial edema is characteristic of this syndrome. In one case the rash progressed to include follicular pustules and resolved with superficial desquamation. Histopathologic specimens from both cases showed a dense, superficial lymphohistiocytic infiltrate in the dermis and epidermal spongiosis. Intraepidermal pustules were present in one patient. The importance of recognizing this syndrome is stressed because it is potentially fatal.


Further similarities between Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides. Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides, both malignant Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, although characterized as specific entities, show a close relationship. This is based on striking similarities not only uith respect to morphological, cytophotometrical, cytogenetical and immunological findings, but also with respect to a typical common reaction pattern to photochemotherapy.


On the propionibacteria in the pilosebaceous ducts of uninvolved skin of acne patients. In 24 persons with a severe inflammatory acne and 48 control subjects, bacteria were sampled from the sebaceous gland exretory ducts with the glass sampling head method according to Holland et al. After anaerobic culture bacterial counts were performed. The total numbers of P. acnes and the frequency of detection of P. granulosum were determined. The bacterial counts of P. acnes were almost idendical in the two collectives. P. granulosum was detected at a significantly higher frequence in the acne patients than in the control subjects. It can be assumed on the basis of the results that an increase in the bacterial counts of P. acnes is not to be regarded as a pathogenetic factor in the inflammatory acne of older patients. On the other hand, they suggest that P. granulosum may have an appreciable role in acne.


Bone and joint changes in lower limb amputees. A clinical and radiological survey of bone and joint changes in 42 lower limb amputees is reported. There was a significant increase in osteoarthrosis in the knee of the unamputated legs compared with the amputated side. The amputated side characteristically showed osteoporosis. Comparing the prevalence of osteoarthrosis in this study with figures in the population, it is more likely that the osteoporosis of the amputated limb had a protective effect on that side than that mechanical factors produced more osteoarthrosis on the contralateral side. Backache occurred in about half the patients, and was severe in 19%. It did not appear to be related to disc degeneration, but scoliosis was observed in 64% of patients.


Small spinal fractures in back pain patients. Small fractures in the posterior elements of the spine were identified by stereoscopic radiography in 7 patients suffering from back pain. The clinical data on these 7 patients are presented.


Cholestatic hepatitis after administration of furan derivatives. A patient developed cholestatic hepatitis while being treated with nitrofurantoin. A second episode of jaundice followed the intravaginal administration of a mixture of furazolidone and nifuroxime. It is important to consider possible cross-sensitivity of chemically related compounds even when they are administered by different routes.


Sclerosing peritonitis and propranolol.

Sclerosing peritonitis and propranolol. Sclerosing peritonitis developed in a 43-year-old man with angina pectoris who had been receiving the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol. The patient had abdominal and back pain, weight loss, a midabdominal fullness, ascites, and evidence of partial small bowel obstruction. At surgery, the small bowel was distended and encased by dense fibrous tissue. Infectious and neoplastic causes of fibrosing peritoneal inflammation were excluded. The patient described in this report illustrates several features commonly experienced by individuals who developed sclerosing peritonitis associated with beta-adrenergic receptor blockade therapy. To my knowledge, the development of ascites and considerable ascitic fluid leukocytosis have not been described previously with this disorder.


[Endocrine cells in cancer of the ampulla of Vater]. Histochemical examinations of 28 cancers of Vater's papilla detected argirophilic cells in 7 (25%) and argentaffinic cells in 3 (10.8%) tumors. Neoplastic endocrine cells occurred most frequently in structures of the highly differentiated papillary and tubular adenocarcinoma. The analysis of the qualitative composition of mucus produced by these tumors showed the likelihood of detection of endocrine cells in cancer of Vater's papilla to increase with higher secretion of acid mucopolysaccharides and to decrease with a higher portion of sulphomucines in them. The occurrence of impregnated endocrine cells and non-sulphated acid mucopolysaccharides in cancers of Vater's papilla appears to indicate the differentiation of the tumor tissue in the direction of the intestinal epithelium. The regular participation of argentaffinic and argirophilic cells in the development of intestinal tumors, in particular, cancer of Vater's papilla is in favour of the entodermal origin of endocrine cells of the gastrointestinal tract.


[State of renal structure and function in nephrotoxic nephritis treated with uroplasmin]. The experiments were carried out in 14 rabbits in which nephritis Masugi was reproduced. At 15 days of the disease treatment with uroplasmine was started for 7 animals. Proliferative-membranous changes and deposition of fibrin-positive substances in lumens of the capillaries and capsules of the glomeruli, along basal membranes and within cells were found in glomeruli of untreated animals. The structural changes in the kidneys were accompanied by a significant and prolonged decrease in their partial functions. Administration of uroplasmine produced a rapid and stable restoration of both structure and function of the kidneys. It is suggested that uroplasmine not only eliminates the damages caused by the action of thrombin but also inhibits the immune process. On the basis of the experimental data, an immuno-coagulation theory of the pathogenesis of nephritis Masugi is suggested.


Increased pulmonary arteriovenous shunting in humans following blood transfusion. Relation to screen filtration pressure of transfused blood and prevention by Dacron wool (Swank) filtration. Transfusion through standard filters to dogs of stored blood containing microaggregates results in an increase in pulmonary arteriovenous shunting (Qs/Qt) and a decreased diffusion capacity of the lung for O2. These effects are due to microemboli that pass the filters and are prevented by use of Dacron wool (Swank) micropore transfusion filters. It was the purpose of this study to determine whether alterations in pulmonary shunting occur in humans following transfusions of stored blood through standard transfusion filters. In eight patients transfused over 20% of blood volumes through standard filters, Qs/Qt and alveolar-arterial O2 tension differences increased significantly. These changes did not occur in patients transfused comparable amounts of blood through Dacron wool (Swank) filters or in patients transfused less than 20% of blood volumes. A direct correlation was found between the absolute percent change in Qs/Qt and the quantity of microaggregates passing the filter and present in the transfused blood. It is concluded that removal from stored blood of microaggregates by administration of the blood through effective micropore transfusion filters prevents an increase in Qs/Qt caused by administration of such material.


Popliteal artery aneurysms. Past and present. Popliteal artery aneurysms have had an important historic role in the development of modern vascular surgery. Early methods of surgical therapy for these aneurysms are detailed in this report for a persepctive. Clinical aspects of surgical diagnosis and treatment of 35 popliteal artery aneurysms in 26 patients are also reviewed. Such aneurysms often present with varied symptoms and should be considered a treacherous disease entity since limb loss occurs in a considerable number of patients. Coexisting disease frequently complicates both the intraoperative and postoperative course of these patients. In this series of popliteal aneurysms, excision and venous autograft interposition offered the most successful operative therapy.


[Subcellular reaction to cerebral hypoxia]. Compensatory-adaptive reaction of the brain to hypoxia depends on destructive and reparative processes developing in neuronal and glial elements. A drastic tension and reconstruction of the energy apparatus--mitochondria occurs, as well as reversible disturbances in informative connections between the nucleus and cytoplasm and between nerve fibers and synapses. As a result, structural-functional activity of organells decreases along with changes in metabolic processes. Destructive processes in oligodendroglia, at all stages of the experiment, are more pronounced than in neurons. Preliminary injection of hydroxybutyric acid to the animals preserves the cellular energy potential under hypoxia, that is evident from the lack of severe alterations in mitochondria and other organells. Mechanisms of the adaptive-compensatory reaction in cortical neurons under hypoxia are connected with tension and reconstruction of all organells of the brain cellular elements and with biochemical shifts of lactate dehydrogenase enzymes.


Comparison of the neuropsychological deficits associated with early and advanced Huntington's disease. Patients with "recently" diagnosed Huntington's Disease (RHD) were compared on a neuropsychological test battery to patients who have had the disease three to 15 years (AHD) and to intact controls. While the patients with HD showed general nonfocal deficits on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Wechsler Memory Scale, and tests of short-term memory and verbal fluency, the patients with RHD had focal deficits that stressed their memory deficits. The patients with RHD had IQs within the normal range, but their memory quotients, their performance on short-term memory tests, and their ability to search and retrieve from long-term memory were severely imparied. These results suggest that the cognitive deficits of patients with HD do not develop uniformally; memory disorders are early focal signs that precede the patients' more widespread intellectual deterioration.


[Use of hydrogen peroxide is combination with drug cocktails in the treatment of thrombophlebitis and its sequelae and of in the treatment of varicose ulcer]. An association of hydrogen peroxide and drug cocktails was given interarterially and by slow arterial in 19 cases of lower extremity phlebopathy. Repair of ulcer lesions, even those of considerable extent, was achieved in a relatively short space of time, together with the disappearance of marked regression of subjective symptoms and local oedema.


Erythrocyte membrane studies in familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis. A study of RBC membrane functions was performed in four patients suffering from familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis who had permanent muscular weakness. Electrophoretograms of membrane proteins, cell deformability, calcium-promoted potassium efflux, calcium-ATPase activity, and endogeneous phosphorylation of membrane proteins were all within the normal range. These results are compared with similar studies performed in myotonic and Duchenne-type dystrophies, in which abnormalities in the RBC membrane have been described. The results do not support the theory of RBC involvement in hypokalemic periodic paralysis. However, this does not imply that the muscle cell membrane is not involved in the underlying pathological processes in this disorder.


Characterization of the mutant-unc D-gene product in a strain of Escherichia coli K12. An altered beta-subunit of the magnesium ion-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase. Membranes from a mutant strain of Escherichia coli K12 carrying the uncD409 allele were washed in low-ionic-strength buffers in the presence or absence of the proteinase inhibitor p-aminobenzamidine. Unlike membranes from a normal strain, those from strain AN463 (uncD409) did not become proton-permeable, as judged by NADH-induced atebrinfluorescence quenching, when the membranes were washed in the absence of p-aminobenzamide. Furthermore, ATP-dependent atebrin-fluorscence quenching in such washed membranes could not be reconstituted by the addition of solubilized Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase preparations. The examination by two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the polypeptide composition of the washed membranes from strain AN463 (uncD409) indicated the presence of a polypeptide of similar molecular weight to the normal beta-subunit of the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase, but with an altered isoelectric point. Both the normal and abnormal beta-subunits were identified in membranes prepared from a partial diploid strain carrying both the unc+ and uncD409 alleles. It is concluded that the uncD gene codes for the beta-subunit of the Mg2+-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase.


Dissociation kinetics of tetra-S-carbamidomethylated plasmin-modified human somatotropin. The dissociation of tetra-S-carbamidomethylated, plasmin-modified human somatotropin at 25 +/- 2 degrees C has been found to be a slow, exergonic equilibrium reaction; an equilibrium constant of 1.77 mol/L and a standard free energy of dissociation of -340 cal/mol have been calculated. The major products of the dissociation have been shown to consist of a monomeric form of the 51-residue carboxyl-terminal fragment and a trimeric form of the 134-residue amino-terminal fragment. The carboxyl-terminal fragment appears to be a random coil, while the amino-terminal fragment retains a considerable degree of secondary and tertiary structures.


Intermediate states of subfragment 1 and actosubfragment 1 ATPase: reevaluation of the mechanism. The kinetics of the increase in protein fluorescence following the addition of ATP to subfragment-1 (SF-1) and acto-SF-1 have been reinvestigated. The concentration dependence of the rate obtained with SF-1 did not fit a hyperbola and at high ATP concentration, approximately 40% of the signal amplitude was lost due to a fast phase at the beginning of the transient (20 degrees C). At lower temperature (less than or equal to 10 degrees C) the fluorescence transient was biphasic, with a fast phase observed at high ATP concentration. These results indicate that there are two steps in the SF-1 pathway in which there is a change in protein fluorescence. Measurements of ATP binding and hydrolysis by chemical quench-flow methods indicate that the rate of ATP binding is correlated with the fast fluorescence step and hydrolysis is correlated with the slow fluorescence change. The SF-1 mechanism can thus be described as: (formula: see text) where M represents SF-1 and states of enhanced fluorescence are given by M (16%) and M (36% enhancement, relative to SF-1). Step 1 is a rapid equilibrium with K1 approximately 10(3) M-1. Tight binding of ATP occurs in step 2 and the loss of signal amplitude requires k2 greater than or approximately 1500--2000 s-1. The maximum observed fluorescence rate defines the rate of hydrolysis, k3 + k-3 = 125 s-1 (20 degrees C, 0.1 M KCl, pH 7.0). The steps in the mechanism correspond to the Bagshaw--Trentham scheme, with the important difference that the assignment of rate constant is altered. Formation of the acto-SF-1 complex gave a fluorescence enhancement of approximately 14% relative to SF-1. Dissociation of acto-SF-1 by ATP produced a 20--22% enhancement in fluorescence. There was no detectable fluorescence change during dissociation as evidenced by a lag in the fluorescence transient which corresponded to the kinetics of dissociation. The fluorescence change occurred at the same maximum rate as for SF-1 but there was no loss in signal amplitude at high ATP concentration. The kinetics of the fluorescence change corresponded to the rate of ATP hydrolysis, whereas tight ATP binding occurred at a much faster rate in approximate agreement with the rate of dissociation. Thus the fluorescence change in the acto-SF-1 pathway corresponds to step 3 in the SF-1 mechanism. The complete scheme can be described as follows: (formula: see text) where AM represents acto-SF-1. The tight binding step in the SF-1 pathway (k2) is sufficiently fast so that a similar step (k2') in the acto-SF-1 pathway could precede dissociation but the AM-ATP intermediate has not been detected. Following hydrolysis on the free SF-1, actin recombines with M.ADP.Pi or possibly with a second SF-1 product intermediate as proposed by Chock et al. (1976) and the fluorescence returns to the original AM level with product release.


The oxidation of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids by isolated rat liver mitochondria as a function of substrate concentration. 1. The oxidation of linoleate by rat-liver mitochondria has been studied as a function of substrate concentration. The oxidation of other long-chain unsaturated fatty acids shows similar characteristics. 2. At low concentrations, linoleate is readily oxidized in the absence of carnitine. Its rate of activation by the intramitochondrial acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.2) and subsequent oxidation is limited by the availability of intra-mitochondrial ATP. 3. A gradual increase of the linoleate concentration leads to (i) a strong depression of the rate of linoleate oxidation, and (ii) uncoupling of respiratory-chain phosphorylation together with induction of a mitochondrial ATPase activity. At still higher linoleate concentrations this ATPase activity is lowered rather than further stimulated and, concomitantly, the rate of linoleate oxidation increases again. 4. Evidence is presented that the inhibition by linoleate of the ATPase activity occurs at the level of the ATPase complex itself. This oligomycin-like effect of linoleate allows intramitochondrial linoleate activation to take place at the expense of ATP derived from substrate-level phosphorylation. 5. At very high concentrations of linoleate, its detergent action predominates and causes a complete inhibition of respiration as well as an extensive stimulation of an oligomycin-insensitive, Mg2+-dependent ATPase activity. 6. Measurement of the binding of radioactively labelled linoleate by isolated mitochondria shows that, at a given ratio of linoleate to mitochondrial protein, the ratio of bound to added linoleate is dependent on the concentration of the mitochondria.


A method using fibrin-fixed Blue Dextran for determining the plasmin and plasmin inhibitor activities in human plasma. The fibrinolytic activity of plasmin was determined by incubating with fibrin-fixed Blue Dextran as a substrate, the Blue Dextran released being proportional to the plasmin activity. The applicability of this method for rapid and accurate evaluation of fibrinolytic activity was demonstrated by dose-response curves with purified plasmin, plasmin generated by urokinase in human plasma and euglobulin. The method can also be used to determined plasmin inhibitors in plasma.


Enzymatic hydrolysis of enterochelin and its iron complex in Escherichia Coli K-12. Properties of enterochelin esterase. Properties of the enzyme which hydrolyses enterochelin (a cyclic trimer of 2,3-dihydroxy-N-benzoyl-L-serine) to 2,3-dihydroxybenzoylserine have been investigated with a view to resolving discrepancies between earlier reports. Enterochelin esterase, previously reported to consists of two components (O'Brien, I.G., Cox, G.B. and Gibson, F. (1971) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 237, 537-549), has been shown to be fully active in the absence of the so-called A component. The hydrolase described previously (Bryce, G.F. and Brot, N. (1972) Biochemistry 11, 1708-1715) as being able to break down enterochelin but not its iron complex, ferric-enterochelin, appears to be identical with the B component of enterochelin esterase. The single component enterochelin esterase corresponding to what was previously described as component B, hydrolyses both enterochelin and ferric-enterochelin. Under the assay conditions used, enterochelin is hydrolysed 2.5 times faster than the complex. Enzymatic activity is inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and is lost rapidly at 37 degrees C. Activity is stabilized in the presence of ferric-enterochelin, enterochelin, dithiothreitol or certain protein fractions.


Neoantigenic expression in enzyme-inhibitor complexes. A means to demonstrate activation of enzyme systems. Human thrombin-antithrombin III and plasmin-antiplasmin, two enzyme-inhibitor complexes composed of four different molecules, contain antigenic structures not present in the parent molecules, which can be directly quantitated in plasma with the use of non-cross-reacting antisera. It is anticipated that this neonatigenic expression is a more general phenomenon, which could provide a simple means of measuring activation of enzyme systems in biological fluids.


Purification of a soluble ATPase from rat liver mitochondria by AMP-Sepharose affinity chromatography. ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity was shown in the soluble fraction of rat liver micochondria. Two molecular forms (ATPase 1 and 2) were isolated. ATPase 1 has already been studied. The present paper deals with the purification method of ATPase 2 which was achieved by the following steps: (NH4)2SO4 precipitation. DEAE-cellulose chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography, Sephadex G100 filtration and AMP-Sepharose affinity chromatography. The purified protein was characterized by bidimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weight evaluated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephadex G100 gel filtration was found to be 61 500 +/- 3000.


Allosteric effects of some antifibrinolytic amino acids on the catalytic activity of human plasmin. The effects of L-lysine, 6-aminohexanoic acid, and trans-4-aminomethylcy-clohexane-1-carboxylic acid on the catalytic activity of plasmin (EC 3.4.21.7) have been investigated. The kinetics of the plasmin-catlysed hydrolysis of alpha-N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester in the presence of these compounds have been studied at a number of different concentrations of the three modifiers. They each exert two effects on the reaction, an activation and an inhibition, the concentration dependencies of which are markedly different. They must therefore arise from two different interactions between plasmin and the modifier. The inhibition is competitive, so that it most probably results from direct interaction at the catalytic site. The activation is kinetically non-competitive. The experimental observations seem to be explained best by assuming that L-lysine and certain analogous compounds function as both allosteric modifiers and competitive inhibitors of plasmin.


Preparation and some properties of homogeneous Neurospora crassa assimilatory NADPH-nitrite reductase. The Neurospora crassa assimilatory NADPH-nitrite reductase (NAD(P)H: nitrite oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.6.4), which catalyzes the NADPH-dependent formation of ammonia from nitrite, has been purified to homogeneity as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific activity of the purified enzyme is 26.9 mumol nitrite reduced/min per mg protein, which corresponds to a turnover number of 7800 min(-1). The enzyme also has associated NADH-nitrite reductase, NADPH-hydroxylamine reductase and NADH-hydroxylamine reductase activities. The stoichiometry of 3 mol NADPH oxidized per mol nitrite reduced and ammonia formed has been confirmed. The visible absorption spectrum of the nitrite reductase reveals maxima at 280,390 (Soret) and 580 (alpha) nm. The latter bands are indicative of the occurrence of siroheme as a prosthetic group. The A280nm/A390nm ratio of 7.0 and the Soret/alpha ratio of 3.8 are compatible with values reported for other purified siroheme-containing enzymes. These results are discussed in terms of the comparative biochemistry of various enzymes involved in nitrite, hydroxylamine and sulfite metabolism in Neurospora crassa and other organisms.


Steady-state kinetics of laccasse from Rhus vernicifera. The steady-state kinetics of laccasse (monophenol, dihydroxyphenylalanine: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) from the lacquer tree Rhus vernicifera is investigated using the respirograph method to produce Lineweaver-Burk plots of oxygen consumption rate against oxygen concentration. A ping-pong mechanisms is established. The kinetic constants obtained according to the model is in close agreement with the corresponding values obtained from earlier studies on the transient reactions between the reduced enzyme and oxygen (Andréasson, L.E., Brändén, R. and Reinhammar, B. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 438, 370--379) and between the oxidized enzyme and reducing substrates (Andréasson, L.E. and Reinhammar, B. (1976) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 445, 579--597).


Effects of cocultivation with transformed cells on surface proteins of normal cells. Virally transformed fibroblasts do not have on their surface a major protein (large external transformation-sensitive, LETS) which is present in normal cells. Cocultivation of the transformed cells with normal cells whose surface proteins have been prelabelled induces an accelerated release of the LETS protein from the normal cells. We have investigated various conditions which affect this phenomenon. Our results show that alteration of cell surface proteins by cocultivation with the transformed cells is time and dose-dependent and requires cell contact. Serum was depleted at least 99% of plasminogen by affinity chromatography and used in the cocultivation experiments. It was found that activation of plasminogen was not required for the accelerated turnover of the LETS protein. Other diffusible proteases are also unlikely to be involved. The possibility that transformed cells have a membrane bound activity is discussed. The role of plasminogen activation was also tested for its relevance in transformation related proteolysis, growth and morphology of cells.


Cytochemical localization of adenylate cyclase and of calcium ion, magnesium ion-activated ATPases in the dense tubular system of human blood platelets. Cytochemical techniques have been employed to study the localization of adenylate cyclase and (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-stimulated ATPase activities in platelets after fixation. Biochemical analysis of adenylate cyclase demonstrated a 70% reduction in activity in homogenates from fixed cells, but the residual activity could be stimulated 10--20 times by prostaglandin E1 (1 micrometer) under the same incubation conditions as employed in the cytochemical studies (e.g. media containing 2 mM lead nitrate and 10 mM NaF). Adenylate cyclase activity employing 5'-adenylyl-imiodiphosphate (AMP-P(NH)P) as substrate was found to be associated with the dense tubular system (smooth endoplasmic reticulum) in intact fixed platelets, and was apparent only when the cells were incubated with prostaglandin E1. Less activity was found along the membranes of the surface connected open canalicular system and occasionally at the outer cell surface. Enzymatic activity was blocked by the adenylate cyclase inhibitor 9-(tetrahydro-2-furyl) adenine and was not due to AMP-P(NH)P phosphohydrolase activity. The low adenylate cyclase activity in the surface membranes may be due to enzyme inactivation as a result of fixation, since a surface membrane fraction obtained by the glycerol lysis technique from unfixed cells had an adenylate cyclase specific activity equivalent to that in the microsomal membrane fraction. (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-stimulated ATPase activity was found associated with the membranes of the surface connected open canalicular system in unfixed cells. After brief fixation (5--15 min) with glutaradehyde, strong (Ca2+ + Mg2+)ATPase activity became apparent in the dense tubular system. Longer periods of fixation inactivated enzymatic activity. Addition of Ca2+ (1.0 mM) to incubation medium with low Mg2+ (0.2 mM), or increasing Mg2+ to 4.0 mM, in both cases strongly stimulated enzyme activity. The ATPase activity in the platelet membranes was not inhibited by ouabain. It is suggested that the Ca2+-stimulated ATPase and adenylate cyclase activities in the dense tubules may possibly be involved in regulation of intracellular Ca2+ transport.


Animal model of depression. III. Mechanism of action of tetrabenazine. A study was undertaken to gain an understanding of the biochemical mechanism whereby tetrabenazine (TBZ) produces a sedative effect on the locomotor activity of rats. Rats injected with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP, 30 mg/kg), the immediate precursor of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), showed the characteristic bison appearance, pitosis, and catalepsy normally observed after injecting TBZ (30 mg/kg). The treatment of rats with low doses of L-5-HTP (9 mg/kg) plus TBZ (2 mg/kg) significantly decreased locomotor activity, whereas low doses of either one of these drugs given alone had no significant effect on locomotor activity. The level of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) was elevated in the brain of rats sacrificed 3 hr after treatment with low doses of either L-5-HTP or TBZ alone. Treatment of rats with p-chlorophenylalanine to inhibit the synthesis of 5-HT had an inhibitory effect on the duration of sedation following an injection of TBZ (30 mg/kg). The results of the biochemical and pharmacological studies as reflected by changes in locomotor activity were interpreted to indicate that the sedative action of TBZ was due to an excess of functional 5-HT.


The response of the circular muscle layer of the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens to transmural electrical stimulation. 1 Four preparations are described for the isolation of the response of the circular muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens. These are the ;Furchgott' strip, the ;Vane' strip, the chain preparation and the perfused preparation.2 The four preparations were stimulated transmurally with pulses of supramaximal voltage. The threshold pulse width to which the strips and the perfused preparation responded was 0.025 ms and the maximum responses occurred at 0.1 ms. The threshold frequency was 2 Hz for strip and perfused preparations, the maxima being 20 or 50 Hz for strip preparations and 100 Hz for perfused preparations. The effect of varying the number of pulses per train was also investigated on the perfused vas. Responses occurred to train lengths of 8, 16, 32, 128 pulses, the maximum response being given at 128 pulses at 100 Hz; 256 pulses per train did not produce a further increase in response. The perfused preparation exhibited an after-response at certain frequencies and train lengths.3 Tetrodotoxin and the local anaesthetics, procaine and lignocaine, reversibly abolished the responses of strip and perfused preparations to transmural stimulation.4 The response to intramural nerve fibre stimulation was abolished by guanethidine or bethanidine; this abolition was reversed by dexamphetamine. Noradrenaline contracted strip preparations of circular muscle and raised the pressure in perfused preparations; noradrenaline was competitively antagonized by thymoxamine. The major part of the motor innervation of the circular layer seems to be noradrenergic.


Anatomic and pharmacologic differences between two types of aversive midbrain stimulation. Chronic stimulating electrodes were implanted into two separate midbrain sites in rats. One site was the dorsal central gray area (DCG), where electrical stimulation produced frantic, escape-seeking behavior which grossly appeared fear-like and/or pain-like. The other site was in the ventral reticular formation (VRF), where stimulation produced a stereotyped circling response. Stimulation at both sites was aversive in that these animals would bar press for escape in a decremental bar-pressing paradigm. In this paradigm, each bar press decremented the current by five per cent of the initial current level. Following the acquisition of stable baseline decremental bar-pressing performance, animals were given injections of either the serotonin-depleting drug, para-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA), or the catecholamine-depleting drug, alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine (AMPT). Control animals received normal saline. Compared to saline control animals, PCPA-injected DCG-stimulated animals showed a marked increase in decremental bar pressing, whereas VRF-stimulated animals showed no change. AMPT-injected VRF-stimulated animals showed a marked decrease in decremental bar pressing, but the DCG-stimulated animals were not affected. These results suggest that escape behavior from electrical stimulation of midbrain sites is mediated by more than one neural system.


[Circadian rhythmus of the excretion of electrolytes and urinary proteins in rats]. Circadian rhythms in urinary water, sodium, potassium and proteins excretion are studied in 45 rats living alone in metabolism cages. Urines are collected during 4 consecutive 6 hours long periods during 2 consecutive days. Large circadian variations of these parameters (especially water and proteins excretion and urinary protein concentration) are described. The influence of feeding rhythms on the circadian urinary excretion rhythms is discussed. It is proposed that nightly renal hemodynamic changes (during meal digestion or with high renin plasma levels) can induce modifications in glomerular filtration rate and electrolytes and macromolecules transglomerular flow.


[Effect of DOPA and dopamine on the motility of isolated rat duodenum in vitro]. The motor effects of DOPA and Dopamine on the isolated rat duodenum in vitro have been studied by establishing successive dose- response curves. These effects are either excitatory or inhibitory according to the concentrations used. In every case they are of small amplitude. The inhibitory effects do not exist in the presence of alpha, and beta blocking agents. The excitatory effects are suppressed by using a serotoninergic blocking agent.


[Effect of isoprenaline, in mice anesthetized with pentobarbital, on the cerebral concentration of barbiturates and on the blood levels of free fatty acids]. In mice isoprenaline increases duration of pentobarbital narcosis without modification of cerebral levels. A correlation between duration of sleep and FFA seric levels increased by isoprenaline is demonstrated. This dual effect is suppressed by pindolol. These facts suggest that hepatic metabolism of pentobarbital is slowed by lipo-mobilisation.


[Monoaminergic and peptidergic innervation of rat median eminence, studied by a combination, in the same hypothalamus, of histofluorescent, immunocytochemical and radioautographic technics]. The application of a combined histofluorescence-immunocytochemical and radioautographic technique on the same rat hypothalamus has revealed : 1) a close correlation between the dopaminergic fibers and LH-RH containing axons all along the external layers of the ME, 2) a probable origin within the periventricular hypothalamus of some of the SRIF containing axons evidenced in the external zone of the ME, 3) the exclusive location within the internal ME of the axons originating within the supraoptic nuclei, 4) the ending within the external ME of the axons originating within the medial paraventricular nuclei.


[Implantation of a bio-artificial insulin distributor in dogs, using islets of Langerhans from different animal species]. In the diabetic dog, the implantation of a bioartificial insulin distributor (Biard) producted a temporary normoglycemia, using islets of Langerhans isolated from dog pancreas and cultured on the outer surface of the hollow fibers (XM 50). In a diabetic dog receiving the Biard using porcine isolated islets, the hyperglycemia was partially corrected during two days. In a diabetic dog due to implantation of human isolated islets the slight rise of insulin and human C-peptide is not accompanied by significant decrease in hyperglycemia. However, in another diabetic dog the Biard implantation of human islets provoked a significant increase of insulin and human C-peptide in the blood, with partial normalisation of hyperglycemia during two days.


[Effect of temperature on glucagon secretion in the presence of different concentrations of glucose]. Lowering the temperature from 37.5 degrees C to 28 degrees C does not alter the glucagon secretion by the isolated perfused rat pancreas in response to different glucose concentrations (0 g/l 1.5 g/l, 3 g/l and 5 g/l).


[Effect of nicotine on insulin secretion in the isolated perfused rat pancreas]. Insulin secretion induced by glucose (1.5 g/l) is changed by nicotine infusion; the recorded changes depend on the nicotine concentration uses. 1) At a low concentration (0.05 mM) nicotine provokes an immediate, progressively increasing and lasting stimulation of insulin secretion. This stimulation is inhibited by hexamethonium (0.1 mM) and atropine (0.3 micrometer). 2) At a high concentration (1 mM) nicotine has a triphasic effect on insulin secretion : brief decrease, peak of stimulation and prolonged decrease. Hexamethonium decreases the stimulation and suppresses the prolonged inhibition.


[Endogenous hyperlactatemia and insulin secretion]. In the normal anesthetized dog, the endogenous hyperlactatemia induced either by intense muscular work or by a high dose of phenformin (20 mg/kg subtucaneously) is followed by an increase in the pancreaticoduodenal insulin output. A previous perfusion of sodium dichloroacetate (50 mg/kg. h) opposes the hyperlactatemia, and reduces or suppresses the increase in insulin output.


[Role played by the adrenal cortex on the luteotrophic action of estrogens during the rat estrus cycle]. Estrogen-induced changes in peripheral blood progesterone concentration have been studied in dexamethasone (DEX) and metopyrone (MET) treated 4-day cyclic female rats. Estradiol benzoate (EB) was injected at 10--11 h on diestrus I and peripheral blood was collected at 16--17 h on diestrus II for progesterone radioimmunoassay. The EB induced-increase in blood progesterone concentration was more pronounced, compared to non-injected females in intact DEX-treated females and in adrenalectomized females treated or not with DEX than in their intact counterparts. The adrenal cortex was then supposed to inhibit the luteotrophic action of EB. When injected for 10--12 days, MET caused an increase in blood progesterone concentration compared to uninjected control animals. No cumulative effects of EB and MET were observed. These results are discussed in the light of knowledge, on the feed-back mechanisms which are involved in the action of estrogen on the pituitary-ovarian-adrenocortical system.


[Applications of electromyography in the study of changes in intestinal motility following surgery on the small intestine]. Changes in the intestinal motility were  studied in dogs after different surgical operations performed on the small bowel. Electrodes were implanted on the intestine and the electrical activity of the bowel was recorded after transection of the bowel and after jejunoileal shunt. The results showed that the transection of the bowel provoked a slowing of the propagation of the intestinal contractions. This phenomenon was particularly important at the level of the ileum. The jejunoileal shunt was followed by a strong increase of the level of the motor activity, probably related with an increase of the intraluminal content at the level of the ileum. These results gave an explanation for the slowing of the intestinal transit which is observed after some operations which involve a transection of the small bowel.


[Effects of small doses of gamma rays on gestation in mice]. Female mice were irradiated with 10 rads of 60Co gamma ray, 7 hours after mating. This low dose induces a decrease in implantation number, and alive foetus number and is followed by a lower number of corpora lutea. These results to seem to show an effect of gamma irradiation on ovary and embryonic development.


[Microrespirometric studies of seasonal variations on the oxygen consumption of the worker ants Dolichoderus quadripunctatus]. We have studied the variations of oxygen consumption of solitary workers, and grouping workers (10 and 20) of the ant Dolichoderus quadripunctatus in function of time, at constant temperature (25 degrees C). We have studied hibernating and active workers (summer activity). Our results shows that the oxygen consumption of summer workers, increase directly and regularly in function of time and social number. Hibernating workers shows a significant decrease in the level of respiratory rate when the ants are grouping (10--20 workers). Finally, we showed a strong grouping effect reducing the oxygen consumption of hibernating populations of the ant Dolichoderus quadripunctatus.


[Transmural potential and a profile of intestinal motility in dogs]. Relationships between motor patterns of the jejunum and transmural potential changes were studied in the dog chronically fitted with transparietal electrodes and with an intraluminal catheter. The transmural potential increases above 13 mV at the beginning of the irregular spiking activity of a myoelectric complex and reaches 6 mV at the end of  a phase of regular spiking activity. Oscillations of 3 mV are recorded during the phases of irregular spiking activity. A sustained increase of the potential occurred after feeding : 10 mV for a diet rich in protides and fat, 25 mV when glucides are predominant.


[Propagation of myoelectric complexes and intestinal resection in dogs]. The velocity of propagation of the myoelectric complexes was studied in dogs after a single and a double transection of the jejunum. Results were compared with those obtained when a 50 cm segment of the bowel was isolated or removed. After a single transection, the passage through the anastomosis occurred with a delay of 15 min. The delay at this level was more than doubled when a second transection was performed 50 cm aborally, the total delay being then 65 min for the passage through the two anastomoses. After removal or isolation of a 50 cm jejunal segment, the delay was reduced to 45 and 49 min respectively.


[Hypertension by nerve section in adrenalectomized, hypophysectomized, thyroidectomized and splanchnectomized dogs or in dogs with diabetes insipidus]. In the dog under anesthesia by pentobarbital, the acute hypertension by depressor buffer nerves section does not develop after adrenalectomy, hypophysectomy or thyroïdectomy. But this type of acute pressor response does appear normal in the dog parathyroïdectomized, splanchnicectomized or with hypothalamic diabetes insipidus.


[Effect of clonidine on three types of experimental hypertension and on plasma renin activity in dogs]. Intra-cisternal clonidine (3 microgram/kg) reduced hypertension and cardiac acceleration after defrenation in dogs, but did not act in intra-venous infusion (10 microgram/kg). The renin activity was not modified. Clonidine was always inactive on hypertension after stimulation of visceral afferences or after injection of potassium cyanidine. These results show that a central mechanism was implied in the anti-hypertensive action of clonidine.


[Histochemical and ultrastructural proofs of heart innervation of Protopterus annectens (Dipneust, fishes)]. The identification of an extrinsic cardiac innervation in Protopterus has been reported for the first time. It has been based on histological, histochemical and ultrastructural methods. The heart of Protopterus receives a rich cholinergic parasympathic innervation which ramifies in the atria and the ventricle. The induced fluorescence did'nt permit us to detect any mono-aminergic fibres ; meanwhile this method has enabled us to distinguish a particular type of cells containing catecholamines in the heart.


[Protein A research in 1200 strains of Staphylococcus (using a rapid detection technic by passive hemagglutination with glutaraldehyde treated erythrocytes]. The technique used was that of passive hemaglutination of red cells of sheep prepared with glutaraldehyde and sensitized by anti-erythrocyte antibodies. A protein-A was not found in S. epidermidis strains, but was present in 96.3 per cent of 689 strains of S. aureus from human, animal and food origins.


[Effect of estrus cycle, ovariectomy and lactation on variations of basal corticosterone levels or agression stress levels in rats]. In the Rat, the estrous cycle induces a rhythm of plasmatic corticosterone level : the fluctuations of basal or stress corticosteronemy are significantly superior during the periods of high estradiol secretion, proestrus and estrus, that during metaestrus and diestrus. Ovariectomy, performed at 60 days of age, is without effect on resting corticosteronemy, but reduces significantly the response to stress. Weaning unaffects the basal level of plasmatic corticosterone which remains comparable to diestrus level ; however, stress response decreased during lactation returns to normal level at the end of the first ovarian cycle (diestrus).