Peripheral human T cells sensitized in mixed leukocyte culture synthesize and express Ia-like antigens. We have studied the modulation of Ia-like antigens on the surface membrane of human T cells responding in a one-way mixed leukocyte culture. A heterologous antiserum, (anti-p23,30), which is specific to HLA-D-related antigens and which is unreactive with normal peripheral T cells or thymocytes, was found to bind significantly to all T cells transformed in mixed leukocyte culture (MLC) as determined by indirect immunofluorescence on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter 1. Furthermore, cytotoxic T cells responsible for cell-mediated lympholysis were shown to react with anti-p23,30, whereas their unactivated progenitors did not. Immunoprecipitation and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of a radioactive 29,000 and 34,000 dalton complex from MLC-primed T cells labeled with [35S]methionine indicated that allosensitized T cells synthesized these HLA-D-related antigens.


Cross-reactive cytotoxic responses. H-2 restricted are more specific than anti-H-2 responses. Cross-reactive T-cell cytotoxicity is seen when cytotoxic responses are generated in mixed lymphocyte cultures either between mouse strans which differ at the major histocompatibility complex, H-2, or between H-2b mutant strains and the strain from which they were derived. This cross-reactivity can be measured with [51Cr] labeled target cells from a number of different H-2 haplotypes, and the pattern of cross-reaction indicates that the target antigens are unlikely to be any of the serologically defined public specificities. In contrast, the specificity of H-2 restricted cytotoxic responses, such as that to the male-specific antigen, H-Y, is exquisite, and male cells from strains of mice carrying H-2 haplotypes other than the responder have never been found to act as appropriate targets. The contrast between the specificity of anti-H-2 and H-2 restricted responses may argue for a greater idiotypic homogeneity of the cells makiing H-2 restricted responses, and the greater specificity of these responses may be necessary for their biological function.


The disturbance of oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria by the carcinogens 12-hydroxystearic acid and its methyl ester. In a search to determine common molecular features in potential carcinogenic dietary fatty acids, Swern et al. (1970) found that 12-hydroxystearic acid and its methyl ester were carcinogenic. This was surprising to Swern et al. (1970) and Van Duuren et al. (1972), as it was not readily apparent how such agents could be converted to alkylating agents. We have observed that the carcinogens 12-hydroxystearic acid and its methyl ester disrupted oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria. The in vitro mitochondrial effects induced by the agents included: a) uncoupled respiration, b) ATPase activity, c) energized volume changes linked either to respiration or ATP. Mitochondria mediated the enzymic conversion of the ester to the acid. Conversion was retarded by the thiol reagent showdomycin. These data in conjuction with our previous reports dealing with other carcinogens and their derivatives contribute to an experimental confluence between oxidative phosphorylation and chemical carcinogenesis.


Host antigen as the sulphated moiety of influenza virus haemagglutinin. Inorganic sulphate (35S) was incorporated into the haemagglutinin molecule of A/Memphis/1/71 (H3N2) influenza virus when a keratosulphate-like host antigen was also incorporated into the glycoproteins of virus grown in the chorioallantoic membrane of the embryonated hen's egg. Little or no 35S-sulphate was incorporated when this hose antigen was not present in the glycoproteins of virus grown in chick embryo kidney cells or in the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated duck eggs. The presence of the keratosulphate-like host antigen was required for the stability of the haemagglutinin molecule in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The haemagglutinin molecules from virus grown in hens' eggs were stable in SDS, whereas those from virus grown in duck eggs or in chick embryo kidney cells were not and could not be isolated on cellulose acetate. Chemical analysis showed that there were 87 glucosamine residues and three molecules of sulphate per haemagglutinin subunit as calculated for a trimer molecule having a mol. wt. of 200 000. There was one sulphate molecule per HA1 polypeptide chain and this was associated with the slowest migrating carbohydrate-protein complex of an HA1 tryptic digest separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.


The effect of a high level of dietary leucine on the niacin status of dogs. Two feeding trials were designed to precipitate niacin deficiency in puppies receiving low levels of niacin by adding 15 g/kg supplementary l-leucine to a diet containing 180 g/kg casein. We failed to produce such an effect and, as niacin levels were gradually reduced, the times at which control dogs became deficient (and then responded to injections of the vitamin) were not significantly different from those for dogs receiving the leucine supplement. Differences between the conditions of our experiments and of the experiment in which this effect was found are discussed. Two pairs of littermates in trial 2 died suddenly while apparently in fairly good condition, but revealing fatty livers and/or changes in heart muscle on autopsy. Similar observations have been reported by others using purified diets with dogs over long periods; there is no certain explanation.


Early effects of vitamin A toxicity on hepatic glycolysis in rat. Vitamin A toxicity, caused by oral administration of 30,000 IU of vitamin A (retinyl palmitate) to young rats (70 to 90 g) once daily for 2 days, increased the levels of lipids, glycogen, and citrate in the liver. Furthermore, hypervitaminosis A decreased the activities of two key hepatic glycolytic enzymes, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase, without affecting those of hexokinase and glucokinase. It is suggested, therefore, that in addition to the increased activities of key gluconeogenic enzymes, reported earlier, a marked decrease in the activities of phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase and elevated level of citrate in the liver could account for the enhanced gluconeogenesis in hypervitaminosis A.


Neonatal islet cell transplantation in the diabetic rat: effect on the renal complications. PVG/C rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin and after 1 mth received a single intraperitoneal transplant of isogeneic collagenase digested pancreatic tissue. Renal changes have been studied in transplanted and control diabetic rats using light and electron microscopy and immunological techniques. Following transplantation, renal lesions did not increase in severity and progressive basement membrane thickening was prevented. Ultrastructurally many glomeruli showed a significant reduction in the mesangial matrix and the tubular and mesangial cell changes reverted to normal. Immunofluorescent studies demonstrated a similar reduction in the glomerular deposits of IgG. Possibilities for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in human patients are discussed.


Ultrastructure of the skin of patients treated with sodium aurothiomalate. Skin biopsies from cases of rheumatoid arthritis treated with sodium aurothiomalate were examined with the electron microscope. Intralysosomal gold deposits were found in the macrophages of both normal-looking skin and from areas of erythematous rash that had developed as a toxic manifestation of gold therapy. The main difference between affected and normal-looking skin was the presence of numerous mast cells in the former. It is hence suggested that the dermatologic side-effects of gold are probably mediated by the release of vasoactive substances from mast cells and that vigorous administration of antihistamines to neutralise the liberated products of mast cells or an agent that interferes with degranulation of mast cells might have a palliative effect on the skin rash that sometimes develops during chrysotherapy.


Prolactin in umbilical cord blood and the respiratory distress syndrome. Prolactin was measured in umbilical cord serum obtained from 77 newborn infants of gestational age 28 to 40 weeks. A positive correlation with gestational age was demonstrated. Between 30 and 36 weeks of gestation the elevation of the regression line of the concentration of cord PRL versus gestation age was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) for those infants who developed respiratory distress syndrome compared to the regression line for infants who did not develop RDS. Between 32 and 33.5 weeks, the mean +/- SEM cord PRL concentration in infants who developed RDS (101.7 +/- 9.5 ng/ml) was significantly less (P less than 0.025) than the PRL concentration in those who did not develop RDS (161.8 +/- 18.9 ng/ml). Cord PRL did not correlate with cord cortisol or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations. Cord growth hormone concentrations did not show any relationship to the occurrence of RDS. Serum PRL was not suppressed in a further 114 infants whose mothers were treated prenatally with betamethasone. These findings raise the possibility of a role of PRL in fetal lung maturation.


Hypomorphic variant of C3, arthritis, and chronic glomerulonephritis. Decreased synthesis (hypomorphism) of the fast variant of the third component of complement was detected in three generations of a family in which the propositus has an immune complex-type glomerulonephritis, arthritis, and a false positive test for syphilis. An affected sibling has bursitis, hematuria, and proteinuria. Decreased serum C3 protein was detected in three of four and decreased C3H50 in four of four family members with this hypomorphic variant (C3f). This is the first association between C3f and immune complex-type disease.


Histological analysis of cat muscle spindles following direct observation of the effects of stimulating dynamic and static motor axons. 1. Eleven cat tenuissimus spindles have been analysed mainly by cutting serial, transverse, 1 micrometer thick sections following direct observation of the effects of dynamic motor (gamma or beta) stimulation. 2. Histological results from these spindles were also used to interpret the effects of static fusimotor stimulation of other spindles. 3. Dynamic motor stimulation usually produced contractions seen as convergent movements of sarcomeres in single bag fibres, identified as bag1 fibres for reasons given in the text. 4. In one spindle a single dynamic axon produced a translational movement in one pole of a bag1 fibre and a convergent movement in each pole of a bag2 fibre, together with movements in other unidentified (presumably chain) fibres. Subsequent analysis showed that besides innervating both bag fibres the axon also supplied two chain fibres. 5. Contrary to expectation, motor endings on the bag1 fibres seldom occurred at the sites of convergent movement. Only two cases of coincidence occurred among sixteen foci and twenty-one motor endings; otherwise focus and nearest ending were separated by distances of 0.85--2.5 mm. 6. Most of the convergent movements of sarcomeres observed in bag1 fibres occurred in a region of the pole that is ultrastructurally distinct from the region where most of the motor endings were located. The possible relevance of this to the production of contractions in the bag1 fibre is discussed. 7. Convergent movement foci in bag2 fibres produced by the stimulation of static axons occurred largely within the same regions of the pole as the motor endings were located, though, whereas foci were observed in both intra- and extracapsular regions, most of the endings were intracapsular.


Inhibition of four human serine proteases by substituted benzamidines. A series of substituted benzamidines has been examined for their inhibitory activity against the human serine proteases--trypsin, thrombin, plasmin, and C1s, a subunit of the first component of complement. The inhibition constants obtained for each enzyme were correlated with physical-chemical properties of the substituent group using the quantitative structure-activity relationship approach. This analysis indicated that plasmin and C1s are very similar in their interactions with substituted benzamidines. The binding of benzamidines in both enzymes was affected by electron donation from the substituent and its hydrophobicity. Thrombin-benzamidine interaction was affected only by the hydrophobicity of the substituent. Trypsin displayed a complex interaction with substituted benzamidines, and interaction was dependent on molar refractivity and molecular weight. Certain substituents deviated significantly from the interactions predicted by the analysis. These compounds, the (m- and p-amidinophenyl)pyruvic acids, when analyzed by computer modeling, suggested that direct interaction between the substituent and the enzyme surface is important in assessing the effect of substituent groups on inhibitory activity.


Trichloroacetamidines, a new class of positive inotropic agents. A series of trichloroacetamidine derivatives, obtained by addition of amines to trichloroacetonitrile, was evaluated for positive inotropic activity on isolated cat heart papillary muscles. Increased contractility, not antagonized by beta-adrenergic blockade with sotalol or reserpine pretreatment, was observed in this assay with a variety of N-substituted trichloroacetamidine derivatives. More extensive pharmacological studies with the 3-indolylmethyl analogue 2 showed that this amidine in dogs, 5 mg/kg iv, produced a positive inotropic effect more pronounced than that of ouabain, 50 microgram/kg iv. Several of the trichloroacetamidines were found to be inhibitors of guinea pig kidney and calf heart Na-K-dependent ATPase and to have specificity for these enzymes different from that of ouabain. Bacterial mutagenic activity was observed with three members, 2,3, and 12, of the series.


The absence of back pain in classical ankylosing spondylitis. Despite the early description of painless spinal ankylosis, the existence of a clinical subset of ankylosing spondylitis with silent axial disease has largely been overlooked. Of 45 patients who met Rome diagnostic criteria for ankylosing spondylitis, five denied ever having back pain either as an initial symptom or during the subsequent course of their illness. All had decreased lumbar spine motion and bilateral radiographic sacroiliitis of at least grade III severity. Chest expansion was decreased in four, and radiographic involvement of the cervical and lumbar spine was observed in three and two patients, respectively. There were no differences observed in sex or race distribution, or frequencies of peripheral arthritis, heel pain, acute uveitis, genito-urinary infection or HLA-B27 positivity when these patients were compared with the remaining patients with back pain. These patients support the existence of a "latent" form of ankylosing spondylitis with silent axial disease.


Evidence of phospholipids and mucopolysaccharides in the cystic fluid from a patient with generalized tissue calcification. Analyses of the cystic fluid from a patient with massive tissue calcification showed a significant amount of acid mucopolysaccharides (mainly hyaluronic acid) and phospholipid-polypeptide complexes. The possible role of those molecules in this type of calcinosis is discussed.


The occurrence in mice of facial and mandibular abscesses associated with Staphylococcus aureus. Swellings affecting the face and jaws of a strain of outbred BSVS mice are described. The swellings consisted of multiple abscesses which were most commonly associated with the mandible. Staphylococcus aureus of a single phage type was isolated from the abscesses. It is suggested that the organisms gained entry through the oral mucosa.


[Solar acne].

[Solar acne]. Acne solaris a form of acne that appears and relapses after sun exposure, is almost always itchy and is preferably localized on the upper anterior chest, the deltoid regions and the shoulders. The use of greasy or oily sun protectors helps in the obstructions of the follicular openings, which is seen in the tissue sections, presumably initiated by sun irradiation causing initially hyperkeratosis. The essential lesion is a small hemispheric or conic erythematous papule which may show a yellow point in its top. True comedos are not seen and compression after punction provokes the appearance of a yellow mass-essentially keratinic and sebaceous. The usual treatment of acne vulgaris is useful specially if a topical corticosteroid is associated. The systemic use of corticosteroids usually worsens the disease.


[The nitro-blue-tetrazolium test in acne vulgaris (9-12-77)]. 41 patients with different AV stages were studied with the quantitative NAT test. In those cases where there was an inflammatory process (stages III and IV) it was positive, while in was negative. The authors consider the relation between this test and the positive Lymphoblastic Transformation Test to PA, which makes evident a coordinate action of the immune specific system and the granulocytic one. This facts show that AV at the inflammatory stage is an immunologic systemic process and not only a local one.


[A cyst of the spleen in a patient with schistosomiasis. Its detection by laparoscopy (author's transl)]. The authors report the observation of a 23 years old man, who presented an urinary schistosomiasis (S. haematobium) and an intestinal schistosomiasis (S. mansoni). Important abdominal pains, and an enormous splenomegaly compressing stomach and colon, lead to a laparoscopy, which gave evidence of a big liquid cyst of the spleen. Its exeresis brought recovery.


The ratio of de novo unbalanced translocation to 47, trisomy 21 Down syndrome. A new method for human mutation surveillance and an apparent recent change in mutation rate resulting in human interchange trisomies in one jurisdiction. The Down syndrome phenotype may be associated with, among other genotypes, an unbalanced Robertsonian translocation producing an "interchange trisomy" with 46 chromosomes, or 47, trisomy 21. Translocations, like specificlocus point mutations, result from a direct change in structural chromosome elements. In contrast 47, trisomy 21 results from meiotic non-disjunction. Mutation rates for interchange trisomies may be followed indirectly by determining the ratio of instances of Down syndrome associated with a new translocation mutation to those produced by 47, trisomy 21, which accounts for the bulk of the Down syndrome phenotype. This genotypic ratio can be analyzed in data from cytogenetic laboratories, clinics, and chromosome registries and does not depend upon intensive chromosome screening of newborn populations. A similar approach can be adopted to follow trends in Patau syndrome. The genotypic ratio, stratified by maternal age, may in addition, provide a sentinel index for changes in human specific-locus mutations and perhaps other adverse health consequences. Analysis of data from the New York State-North-eastern chromosome registry revealed a two- to three-fold increase in the genotypic ratio for both Down syndrome and Patau syndrome for individuals born in 1973, 1974 and 1975 compared to those born in earlier years.


Cilia with defective radial spokes: a cause of human respiratory disease. We studied the fine structure of respiratory-tract cilia in three siblings with chronic respiratory disease, comparing them with those from a patient with Kartagener's syndrome who had dynein-deficient cilia and with control patients who had chronic bronchitis or chronic sinusitis. Electron microscopy of the siblings revealed a new abnormality in the ciliary axoneme--namely, lack of the radial spokes. Their cilia showed an eccentric central pair of tubules but otherwise had a normal central sheath, outer-doublet microtubules, nexin links and dynein arms. The cilia were immotile. Mucociliary clearance was completely lacking in the three siblings and in the patient with Kartagener's syndrome, but was normal in their parents and unaffected siblings. Sperm from the male sibling showed identical structural abnormalities and were immotile. We consider the radial spoke defect to be the congenital anomaly responsible for dysfunction of the mucociliary clearance mechanism in these three patients and of the immotile sperm in one of the them. This defect is apparently another cause of the "immotilecilia syndrome."


[The superior facet syndrome--report of three cases and a review of the literature (author's transl)]. Within the past 6 months we paid special attention to the superior facet syndrome on examining the patients with lumbar pain at the outpatient clinic. Out of 264 patients who complained of lumbago or sciatica, this syndrome was suspected in three patients and verified in all of them by operation. Neurologically it was difficult to differentiate this syndrome from disc protrusion or other related conditions. On the other hand, plain roentgenographic examinations were valuable: horizontal portion of the superior facet was larger and thicker than normal so that the a-p view of the lumbar spine showed a large bulbous processes joining in the frontal plane, and a narrowing of the interlaminal spaces was seen in some case. A differential diagnosis between this syndrome and the major type of lumbar canal stenosis can be made by means of dynamic myelography. Although the myelography with watersoluble contrast medium reveals nerve roots better than Myodil myelography, identification of the nerve roots at the lateral recesses is not necessarily easy, and the final diagnosis has to be made at operation.


Chromosome studies of embryos from induced abortions in pregnant women age 35 and over. Chromosome studies of embryos were done in  abortions induced at the early stage of pregnancy in women 35 years of age and older who had no signs of threatened or spontaneous abortions and were considered to have oocytes of an advanced age. Karyotypes were successfully determined in 256 cases and the results were as follows: a) 2 of 123 cases in 35- to 39-year-old women showed an incidence of chromosomal anomalies as high as 1.6%; 7 of 117 cases in 40- to 44-year-old mothers an incidence of 6.0%; and 4 of 16 mothers in the 45- to 49-year-old age group an incidence of 25.0%; b) all chromosomal anomalies were trisomies, mainly trisomy 21 and 18. These results suggest that the incidence of chromosomal anomalies increases in older pregnant women, especially in premenopausal pregnancies, and that non-disjunction may occur during meiosis.


Unruptured interstitial pregnancy. Diagnosis and treatment. Symptoms and signs of interstitial pregnancy cannot be differentiated from symptoms and signs of other ectopic pregnancies. Unruptured interstitial gestations are usually diagnosed incidental to the work-up of a suspected ectopic gestation. Unlike some teaching, a characteristic pelvic mass was palpable in 3 of 4 cases. Incomplete induced abortion helped in diagnosing 2 cases. Ultrasound and laparoscopy will aid in establishing the correct diagnosis.


Echocardiography in infants and children. Echocardiography is a well established, non-invasive diagnostic technique that has assumed a prominent place in the armamentarium of the pediatric cardiologist. The principles and techniques of echocardiography are explained. In addition, the measurements and interpretation are described, as well as the deductive approach that leads to a specific diagnosis. The purpose of this discussion is to provide the pediatrician with an understanding of the appropriate application, value, and limitation of the echocardiogram.


Genetic emergencies in pediatrics.

Genetic emergencies in pediatrics. Genetic emergencies like other medical emergencies require immediate intervention to alter the outcome of the condition in the patient and its effect upon the family. The representative conditions of myelomeningocele, Down's syndrome, cleft lip and palate and adrenogenital syndrome serve to illustrate the need  for rapid and comprehensive intervention. Recognition that an emergency exists when a child with a birth defect is born and responsive thoughtful action including family counseling can significantly alter the life of the patient and his family.


Bulbospinal tryptaminergic neurones. A search for the role of bulbospinal tryptaminergic neurones in the control of sympathetic activity. 1. The possible role of bulbospinal tryptaminergic neurones in the control of sympathetic activity has been investigated in anaesthetised cats. 2. Depletion of spinal cord stores of 5-hydroxytryptamine was achieved by systemic administration of p-chlorophenylalanine or by intraspinal microinjections of 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine. 3. Blood pressure was little changed by these treatments, neither was the pattern of ongoing activity in sympathetic nerves (arterial pulse rhythmicity and respiratory modulation), the influence of pulmonary afferent nerves on this activity (determined by an airway occlusion technique), the sympatho-inhibitory influence of the carotid sinus baroreceptors, nor the sympatho-inhibitory or -excitatory influences of somatic afferent nerves. 4. Since both p-chlorophenylalanine and 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine treatment caused extensive disruption of the bulbospinal tryptaminergic neurones, it was concluded that these play no significant role in the mediation of the responses tested in anaesthetised cats in the present study.


Problems in the rehabilitation of the physically disabled in rural areas of India. Some 550 disabled patients were examined by a rehabilitation team by organizing a rural camp at Meerut. This rehabilitation team consisted of orthopaedic surgeons, doctors, a prosthetist, an orthotist, a medical social worker and other skilled workers. Out of the 550 disabled patients, 271 were amputees, and 184 cases had poliomyelitis. Males predominated by 4:1. Disability was most common up to the age of 30 years. Of the 271 amputees, 146 were of upper limb while 125 were of lower limb. Only 86 lower limb amputees were suitable for fitting a prosthesis, while 39 others needed surgery of physiotherapy. Only 87 of the 184 polio cases were found suitable for appliances, the remainder needing surgery or physiotherapy. Ways of reducing the numbers of disabled were examined and improved rehabilitation procedures suggested.


Moulded supportive seating for the disabled. In severe cases of physical disability intimate supportive seating may be required to provide maximum comfort, a good position for functional activities, improved respiration, relief of localized pressure, control of spasm, protection, or improved management. A service for providing such seating has been developed at Chailey Heritage. The seat is vacuum-formed from thermoplastic materials, having a soft non-absorbent foam for the linear and a hard semi-rigid outer shell. A mould is obtained by casting the patient using the vacuum consolidation technique and by recording the resulting impression using plaster-of-Paris. Nearly 200 seats have been made using the technique with a high rate of success.


The Orlau swivel walker.

The Orlau swivel walker. A new design of swivel walker for the severely disabled is described which has advantages over previous types. Increased rigidity improves the confidence of apprehensive patients, greater strength gives better reliability for those with good ambulation function and a novel construction gives more opportunity for independent transfer into and out of the orthosis, besides easing the burden of those caring for users of swivel walkers.


The use of lumbosacral corsets prescribed for low back pain. Two hundred and one randomly selected patients (109 women and 92 men) fitted with their first lumbosacral corset because of low back pain were interviewed 3.5--4.5 years later. Two-thirds of the patients were 41--70 years when fitted with the corset. Barely three-quarters of them wore the corset regularly immediately after prescription. One-fifth became symptom-free within the period covered by the study. Of those who still had symptoms at the time of the interview, two-thirds (about half of the original material) were still wearing a corset. Of these two-thirds, about half wore the corset at least once a week. The women doing heavy work and female pensioners tended to use their corsets more frequently. The frequency with which the corsets were used was not influenced by the clinical diagnosis or the type of corset used. As many as 89 per cent of the patients reported that they used the corset because it supported their back or because it not only gave such support, but also relief from the pain. Thirty-seven of 96 non-users reported that the corset did not fit well but only 7 that they did not benefit from the use of the corset. A better follow-up of users would surely increase the frequency with which such corsets are used to the advantage of the patients.


The value of flexor hinge hand splints.

The value of flexor hinge hand splints. Functional hand splints have been in use in a number of spinal injury units in the USA since the early 1950s. The splints are designed to provide a pinch-grip either by harnessing wrist dorsiflexion or by external power. Such devices are little used in the United Kingdom. This paper describes the results of late provision of 62 such splints in a Disabled Living Unit. A proportion of tetraplegic patients found such splints of considerable functional value. It is estimated that some 30--60 patients each year would benefit from them if appropriate facilities for early fitting were available.


[Glucoamylase immobilized on AE-cellulose]. Glucoamylase from Endomycopsis species 20-9 was immobilized on AE-cellulose by covalent binding with the use of glutaraldehyde. The activity of immobilized preparations was measured as a function of pH, buffer concentration, temperature and immobilization time. The most active preparations of immobilized glucoamylase were obtained in 0.2 M Na-phosphate buffer, pH 5.0--7.0 at 4--20 degrees C for 4--24 hrs. In the presence of substrate--starch the activity of immobilized glucoamylase increased almost two-fold whereas glucose had no effect of this kind.


[Preventive effect of inhibitors of catecholamine synthesis, serotonin and adrenoblockaders on anovulatory syndrome development in neonatally androgenized rats. 2]. Administration to female rats of 250 micrograms of testosterone propionate (TSP) on the 3rd day of postnatal life led to reduction of estradiol, progesterone, and, to a lesser degree, of lutropin in the blood plasma of these animals at the age of 3 months. There was an increase of the lutropin content in the adenohypophysis and of luliberin in the hypothalamus. Combined with TSP administration of alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, p-chlorphenylalanine or droperidol promoted preservation of cyclic changes in the hypothalamic gonadotropin activity and partially prevented disturbances of estradiol and progesteron secretion caused by neonatal androgenization. The mechanisms of participation of biogenic monoamines in sex differentiation of the hypothalamus are discussed.


Reductant-dependent electron distribution among redox sites of laccase. Rhus laccase (monophenol monooxygenase, monophenol,dihydroxyphenylalanine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) an O2/H2O oxidoreductase containing four copper ions bound to three redox sites (type 1, type 2, and type 3 Cu pair), was titrated anaerobically with several reductants having various chemical and thermodynamic properties. The distribution of electron equivalents among the redox sites was found to be reductant dependent. When the data for titration by various reductants of the type 3 site were plotted against those of the type 1 site according to the Nernst formalism, the slope n varied from 2.0 to 1.0. The redox potential of the reductant's first oxidation step is qualitatively correlated with the value of n and is suggested as the factor that modulates the electron distribution. Such a behavior implies a nonequilibrium situation. A very good simulation of the data was provided by an analysis assuming a formally variable cooperativity between the two type 3 copper ions. This apparent variability is suggested to result from a process whereby sufficiently strong reductants induce a transition of the type 3 site from a cooperative two-electron acceptor to a pair of independent one-electron acceptors. This uncoupled state of the type 3 site is considered metastable. Other possible models were also investigated. Summarizing the available data, we conclude that the two-electron accepting behavior of the 330-nm chromophore is the exception rather than the rule.


Nerve growth factor: a protease that can activate plasminogen. The single, highly stable form of mouse submandibular gland nerve growth factor (NGF), prepared as described by Young et al. [(1978) Biochemistry 17, 1490--1498] is a protease of restricted specificity that can convert plasminogen to plasmin. In the absence of plasminogen, NGF is not fibrinolytic, nor does it hydrolyze casein at a measurable rate. Treatment of NGF with diisopropyl fluorophosphate inhibits its ability to activate plasminogen as well as its capacity to hydrolyze certain synthetic arginine esters. These results indicate that NGF is a member of the class of serine proteases. Since NGF is known to be secreted at high concentrations in mouse saliva, it may serve to activate plasminogen (with subsequent fibrinolysis) somewhere in the alimentary tract. Plasminogen activation is the only known action of NGF upon a biologically important non-neural substrate.


Non-specific neural stimuli and metabolic rhythms in rats. Ten rats housed in individual metabolism cages in a room next to a teaching laboratory showed rhythmic fluctuations in urination and defaecation. Sectral analysis of the data indicates a weekly rhythm which is attributed to the lack of neural stimuli at the weekend. Regression analysis using a weekly cycle illustrates this effect.


Influence of D-penicillamine on the formation of elastin and its cross-links. The amount of insoluble elastin and its content of desmosine cross-links were investigated in aortas of chick embryos, to which D-penicillamine was administered on the 6th or 14th--16th day of incubation. D-Penicillamine was shown to alter the formation and maturation of elastin. Using lower doses (less than 50 mg) the weight of pooled aortic elastin is higher as compared with controls (related to 1 mg of elastin or to total weight of elastin). Increased isodesmosine:desmosine ratio in these samples indicates that this elastin is very young. On the other hand, a high dose of D-penicillamine (100 mg) decreased the content of elastin and also of its desmosine cross-links. The authors explain their findings by counteraction of two factors due to administration of penicillamine: the increased solubility of "insoluble elastin", and the decreased cross-link formation.


Cardiopulmonary effects of intravenous fluid overload: radiologic manifestations. Large volumes of normal saline were infused intravenously in 6 dogs until obvious pulmonary edema was observed radiographically. Following volume overload, statistically significant increases occurred in the size of the heart, left atrium, pulmonary arteries and veins, and systemic veins, without the development of congestive heart failure (CHF). The left ventricular end-diastolic pressure remained normal, and cardiac output and stroke volume increased. The results suggest that, in the absence of left ventricular failure, acute volume overload may simulate the radiographic changes produced by CHF. Pulmonary edema may have occurred at least partly from a marked decrease in serum colloid osmotic pressure.


The effect of dehydration on the side effects of metrizamide myelography. The effect of dehydration on the incidence of side effects from metrizamide myelography was studied. One hundred consecutive patients scheduled for myelography fasted overnight and were then randomly divided into two groups. Group I received 2 liters of fluid intravenously just prior to myelography; Group II did not. Both groups were studied in the standard manner, using 170 mg l/ml of metrizamide. Side effects were recorded 24 and 48 hours after the procedure. Headaches, vomiting, and some other side effects were less common and less severe in the hydrated group. Clear liquids given orally or intravenous fluids are recommended prior to myelography to minimize side effects.


Thallium-201: quantitation of right ventricular hypertrophy in chronically hypoxic rats. Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups. Ten were kept in room air and 10 in hypobaric hypoxia (air at 380 mm Hg). After two weeks all were injected intravenously with 50 muCi of 201Tl and sacrificed. The right and left ventricles were separated, weighed, and measured for radioactivity in a gamma well counter. Left and right ventricular mass ratios (MR) correlated with 201Tl radioactivity ratios (TAR) in both control and hypoxic rats: r = 0.962 where MR = 0.863 TAR + 0.27. Myocardial 201Tl uptake reflects and quantitates normal and abnormal ventricular mass, the abnormal mass in this model consisting of right ventricular hypertrophy associated with hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.


[The use of a hinge distraction apparatus after arthrolysis and arthroplasty (author's transl)]. The authors describe a hinge distraction apparatus which allows physiological movement of joints following surgical procedures such as arthrolysis or arthroplasty. The apparatus maintains some space between the bone ends and provides lateral stability. It is based on the principles of external fixation. The apparatus has been used for ankles, knees, and elbows. Thirty-eight patients were operated on. The technique is fully described. The results on experimental work in the dog are given. At the ankle, the authors have shown that the use of the apparatus allows the formation of fibrous tissue between the bone ends. The indications and results obtained at the level of the knee and elbow are discussed.


[Hemimelica epiphysialis dysplasia (author's transl)]. Hemimelica Epiphysialis Dysplasia is a rare osteochondrodystrophy producing cartilaginous epiphysial hypertrophy with hemimelic topography involving preferentialy the lower limb. Lesions are generally medialy situated (medial condyle of the femur, medial malleolus talus, tarsal scaphoid and first metatarsal bone). 8 cases of patients are discussed with a follow up of 4 years. The evolution is to a massive ossification of the hypertrophic cartilaginous areas. The issue is a fast arthrosic degeneration of the involved joints (mainly the ankle, more rarely the knee). The surgical procedures are often unsuccessful.


[Ectopic bone formation in neurological lesions (author's transl)]. The authors have operated on seventy instances of para-articular ectopic bone formation in fifty patients. Seventeen were paraplegic or tetraplegic, thirty were the result of trauma, two resulted from meningitis and one was a sequel of burns. The ectopic bone was located at the hip (thirty-three cases), the elbow (twenty-three cases), the knee (twelve cases) and the shoulder (two cases). The clinical, radiological and pathological features are reviewed. Several hypotheses on the mechanism of ectopic bone formation are put forward. The surgical procedures have included arthrolysis, arthrodesis, wide resection of the epiphysis, and total prostheses. There were ten recurrences. The authors conclude that the most extensive lesions occur in paraplegia and when the bone formation is situated at the hip.


[The treatment of diaphyso-epiphyseal tumours by local resection with the preservation of joint movement. A report of four cases (author's transl)]. Four cases of epiphyseal tumours were treated by the authors by local resection. In two cases, there was a giant-cell tumour of the lower end of the femur, in one case a giant-cell tumour of the lower end of the radius and in one case a juxta-cortical sarcoma of the lower end of the radius. In the two cases involving the knees, resection preserved the articular surface and the subchondral bone. Reconstruction was achieved by a cortical autograft. In all cases, painless joint movement was preserved with satisfactory muscle power.


[Upper brachial plexus palsy. Seven cases treated by muscle transplantation (author's transl)]. Seven cases of upper brachial plexus palsy, have been treated by associated transplantation of pectoralis major for flexion, and of teres major and latissimus dorsi for external rotation. Operation was performed eighteen months at least after injury, during which period rehabilitation was necessary to prevent atrophy of the pectoralis major and contracture in internal rotation. The strength of flexion was improved by alterations of the original Clark's operation. The whole muscle was transplanted: its humeral tendon was fixed to the coracoid process; its thoracic extremity lengthened by an aponevrotic flap from rectus anterior was pulled through a posterior anti-brachial incision, holding the arm in anteposition and the forearm in supination. A strong tension was obtained in this way. Transplantation of teres major and latissimus dorsi tendons behind the humerus was done in the same stage. Results are in favor of these improvements: all seven patients, including two hard-workers, obtained a strong and large flexion. The useful part of external rotation was restored. All went back to their former occupations.


[Reconstructive surgery of the thumb after traumatic amputation (author's transl)]. The authors analysed the results of two series of patients treated either by lengthening (16 cases) or digital pollicization (45 cases). The conclusions about the indications for the two techniques are as follows: When the amputation is proximal and the sole lesion, pollicization of the ring finger is preferred. In distal amputations in children, pollicization is still indicated, but in adults, lengthening, with a pedicle island-flap to give sensation is preferable. In amputations of the thumb associated with lesions of other digits, pollicization is not feasible; in these cases, the authors recommend a toe transplant using micro-surgical technique.


[The medius gluteus with 1-legged stance. Geometric variations on the theme of femoral and pelvic osteotomies]. The work of Pauwels has supplied evidence of the pressure applied to the hip by the contraction of the gluteus medius as its acts to maintain the pelvis in equilibrium when weight is born on one limb. The force exerted by the gluteus medius is greater the larger the distance separating the gluteus medius from the centre of the femoral head compared with the distance separating the femoral head from the centre of gravity. It is this force that mechanical procedures such as osteotomy of the femur or pelvis attempt to diminish. A study was made in depth of the variations in the activity of the gluteus medius with regard to various parameters including not only the gluteus medius distance (parameter of Pauwels) but also of the direction of the muscle and the angle formed by the cephalo-trochanteric line below and the iliac wing above the ilio-trochanteric angle. Using routine radiographs to act as a geometric model, a method was devised based on a combination of geometric construction, an experimental study and trigonometric calculation. Curves have been established determining the value of the force exerted by the gluteus medius in relation to the ilio-trochanteric angle. The smallest force exerted by the gluteus medius corresponds to the lower pole of the curve and arises when the cephalo-trochanteric line is perpendicular to the direction of the muscle; the force is greatest in the highest and lowest positions of the tip of the great trochanter, that is to say on either side of the lower pole of the curve. Since the position of the greater trochanter is, in practice, always lower, it can be said that, as a general rule, angulation into varus diminishes the tension of the gluteus medius whilst angulation into valgus increases it. However, contrary to current opinion, the effect produced on the force applied by the gluteus medius is not proportional to the ammount of varisization. The effectiveness of a varisization is greater the more the hip is in valgus and there is a critical zone with increasing varus where the effect becomes minimal. Displacement of the femoral shaft (McMurray's operation) has little effect. In Chiari's operation, diminution of the ilio-trochanteric angle and shortening of the medial lever with lengthening of the lateral lever by medial transposition of the point of application of the femoral head diminishes the force required of the gluteus medius very effectively. In particular, the effect of Chiari's operation is greater when the hip is displaced or there is coxa valga. The method described allows a precise calculation to be made on a tracing of the patient's radiograph of the effect to the proposed operation on the force required by the gluteus medius. The different parameters could be applied to a computer and thus allows statistical definition of anthropometric date concerning the force of contraction of the gluteus medius.


[The measurement of the tibial tuberosity. Patella groove distanced technique and results (author's transl)]. The line between the summit of the tibial tuberosity and the bottom of the trochlea groove as seen on a radiograph taken with the knee in 30 degrees of flexion and neutral rotation is indicative of the valgus position of the quadriceps mechanism at the moment of engatement of the patella in the groove. The authors stress the technical requirements to obtain the radiograph which permits this measurement. Measurement of a group of normal knees and of two groups of knees presenting with known patello-femoral pathology (lateral patello-femoral arthrosis and current dislocation of the patella) are given. In the study of distrubance of the patello-femoral articulation, this measurement provides information of theoretical and therapeutic interest.


[The fixation of madreporic total hip prosthesis; an experimental study (author's transl)]. The author has designed a new type of total hip prosthesis described as "madreporic" because its surface is rough and resembles some kinds of coral. This type of implant, which does not require cement, was tested on dogs. The bone-prosthesis junction was assessed using light and electron microscopy. Radio-spectrography and micro-radiography showed that osteogenesis occurred in the roughened surface of the implant leading to an early, strong and long-standing fixation. The prosthesis was inserted in two hundred patients. Five were removed after septic complications and one after premature death. The fixation with new bone to the surface of the metal was confirmed.


[Spine deformity in Marfan's syndrome in childhood (author's transl)]. The authors have studied twenty cases of spine deformity in children suffering from Marfan's syndrome. They describe the main features of the disease and point out the difficulty of accurate diagnosis in children with minor involvement. The deformities are those of a dysplastic scoliosis as shown by the frequency of vertebral inversion on the lateral view: dorso-lumbar kyphosis, decreased lumbar lordosis. The treatment should be surgical because of the danger of a fatal outcome without treatment. The incidence of non-union is high and the authors recommend systematic revision of the fusion double curve scolioses with a moderate kyphosis. In cases of severe kyphosis, the addition of anterior grafting is recommended.


[The incidence of progressive scoliosis and kyphosis after fractures and dislocations of the spine in children (author's transl)]. The authors have observed forty-two cases of fractures and dislocations of the spine in children. In twenty-eight cases there was a complete spinal cord lesion and in four cases a partial cord lesion with some recovery. Ten children had no neurological lesion. Fifteen progressive kyphoses and twenty-two progressive scolioses were noted and analysed. The kyphotic deformities were more severe at cervical levels and seem to be aggravated by laminectomies. They were stabilised at the time of bone maturity. To prevent this deformity, the authors recommend long-term plaster cast immobilisation associated with posterior fusion. In scoliotic deformities, the authors distinguish those due to neurological involvement and those arising at the level of the fracture due to disturbance of vertebral growth. Indications for treatment are discussed in relation to the age of the patient and the level of the fracture.


[Non-articular fractures of the proximal tibia (author's transl)]. The authors have made a detailed study of the bony architecture of the upper tibial metaphysis and epiphysis. They describe a number of types of extra-articular fracture of the upper end of the tibia according to their mechanical etiology (direct injury or strain). Forty five such fractures are reviewed. Forty percent of the fractures were compound and vascular complications occurred in three cases. Two patients died from embolism and one required early amputation. Twenty seven patients were treated conservatively and eighteen surgically. After an analysis of the results, the authors note that bonyunion is particularly slow in this type of fracture. They conclude that surgical treatment gives better results, especially with the use of epiphyseal plates.


[Cylindrical osteotomy of the upper end of the tibia [author's transl)]. The authors describe a modification of the original technique of Blaimont and Maquet. Cylindrical osteotomy allows correction of deformity in the frontal plane (genu varum or valgum) with forward displacement of the tibial tuberosity. The technique and instruments are described. The osteotomy is fixed by screws and joint mobilisation is begun after two weeks. Thirty patients have been operated on. The results are described as satisfactory.


The response of Suffolk lambs to an escalating experimental infection with Dictyocaulus filaria. Infection of Suffolk lambs with Dictyocaulus filaria larvae beginning at two months of age with one larva per day, six days per week, and doubling every four weeks to reach a final infection rate of 64 larvae per day gave rise to a pattern of larval excretion in the faeces which approximated to that seen in naturally infected Suffolk lambs in Midlothian in 1974. Several of the lambs were still infected with adult D filaria and were excreting larvae in their faeces 28 weeks after the infection began. However, when some of the lambs were challenged at this time, those which had received the previous escalating infection were resistant to the challenge infection.


A critique of some of the current concepts on the immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The interaction of polycations produced during tissue damage and C-reactive protein, and the enzymatic degradation of complement components may be positive mechanisms augmenting immune-complex/complement damage, while reduced phagocytosis and reduced chemotaxis may be negative mechanisms. In cell-mediated immunity, systems consisting of C-reactive protein, proteases, prostaglandins and immune complexes are all potentially capable of negative feedback control.


[Subcutaneous silicone gel prosthese (author's transl)]. The use of silicone implants to correct an acquired or congenital abnormality of the face involves the use of:--blocks of foam, though these retract and the volume implanted must therefore be overestimated.--compact blocks of elastomer, which tend to migrate and to produce inaesthetic bumps with disturbances in the vascularisation of the skin. The authors therefore had the idea of making "to measure" implants similar to breast implants: envelope of silicone elastomer enclosing a gel of chosen viscosity, absorbing forces applied to the envelope and therefore tending to prevent migration of the implant. The latter has dacron patches to facilitate its adherence to deep layers. This description of manufacturing methods and operative techniques, despite a short follow-up, reports encouraging results from which it is possible to determine the indications of this type of procedure.


Alloantigen-induced enhancement and suppression of human cytotoxic lymphocyte responses to autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines. In vitro sensitization of human lymphocytes to autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) has been shown to give rise to cytotoxic lymphocytes capable of lysing autologous as well as allogeneic LCL cells. However, allogeneic LCL cells were found to be markedly less effective than autologous LCL cells in terms of generating lymphocytes capable of lysing autologous LCL cells. The addition of allogeneic LCL cells or allogeneic normal lymphocytes to a mixture of responding lymphocytes and X-irradiated autologous LCL cells suppressed the generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes against autologous LCL cells. Furthermore, suppressor T cells generated in allogeneic mixed leucocyte culture (MLC) and supernatants from MLC likewise decreased the generation of cytotoxic lymphocytes to X-irradiated autologous LCL cells. In contrast to the findings that alloantigens suppress the generation of cytotoxicity of X-irradiated autologous LCL cells, which ordinarily induce strong cytotoxic responses, were the findings that allogeneic stimulating cells and supernatants from MLC enhanced cytotoxic responses to autologous ultraviolet light or extensively heat-treated LCL cells that induce weaker cytotoxic responses. The possible mechanisms whereby alloantigens enhance or suppress cytotoxic responses to autologous abnormal cells and the implications of these findings are discussed.


Work and disability at the age of 30 years. A sociomedical study of a birth-cohort from Bergen. III. Disability as related to medical, psychological and educational background. This article deals with occupational disability at the age of 30 years, seen the light of medical, psychological and educational background. The study is based on a cohort of 1570 persons, all live births in 1940 of mothers then residing in Bergen. This birth-cohort was followed-up in the compulsory school system at age 14 years, and again at age 30 years, concluding at 1st June 1971. Only those of the cohort residing in Norway on 1st June 1971, a total of 1331 persons, are included in the present analysis. The diagnoses discussed are based on data obtained from disability pension case records, from the National Insurance Institution files and from the Public Welfare office files. Results of medical and psychological examinations made on a stratified random sample of the cohort are also used. Thirty-seven persons (2.8%) of the total of 1331 were found to be disabled according to the criteria set for this study. The prevailing primary diagnosis was mental disorder, as 25 of the disabled had this diagnosis, oligophrenia being dominant. The former pupils in the different types of compulsory school attended at age 14 years show a frequency of disability at age 30 years as follows: junior high school 0.8%, continuation school 1.3%, elementary school classes for slow learners 10.7%, special schools for the educable mentally retarded 32.7%, and receiving services for the mentally retarded, 97.0%.


Immediate and late results of aortic valve replacement with the Björk-Shiley tilting disc valve. Single aortic valve replacement was performed in 110 patients at Ullevål Hospital, Oslo, between 1971 and 1976. The follow-up period was 1 to 6 years (mean 31 months). The early postoperative mortality was 6.3% and the late mortality 8.2%. Postoperatively 44% of the surviving patients were in the N.Y.H.A. functional class I and 55% in class II, while 71% of the patients were in class III or IV pre-operatively. Objective evidence of improvement was shown by reduction in mean heart volume from 610 ml/m2 pre-operatively to 512 ml/m2 postoperatively (p less than 0.001). Electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, measured as the combined voltage of Smax and Rmax in V1 to V6, were 56mV pre-operatively and 42 mV postoperatively (p less than 0.001). Myocardial failure was the main cause of death postoperatively. Sudden death occurred in 5 of the 9 patients in the late mortality group. Old age at the time of operation (65 to 71 years) was not associated with increased risk of death and complications, while alcoholism did increase the mortality rate.


Tubal patency: hysterosalpingography compared with laparoscopy. Laparoscopy was done about three months after hysterosalpingography (HSG) in 121 patients complaining of infertility. Normal patency was found with both technics in 71 patients (58.6%). In 23 of the 97 patients with a normal HSG, however, peritubal or tubal disease was observed at the time of laparoscopy (false-negative results, 19%). Twenty-four tubal obstructions (19.8%) were detected by HSG (16 distal and eight proximal) but five distal and four proximal obstructions were not confirmed by laparoscopy (false-positive results, 7.4%). In addition, laparoscopic evaluation demonstrated endometriosis in 31 cases, polycystic ovaries in six, and uterine fibroids in five.


Pathogenesis of aortoduodenal fistula: experimental and clinical correlates. An aortoduodenal fistula (ADF) is believed to stem from erosion of a rigid prosthesis into the fixed retroperitoneal duodenum. Experimental and clinical data do not support a mechanical etiology, but indicate that the pathogenesis is an unrecognized graft infection with pseudoaneurysm formation. A 5 cm segment of Dacron was interposed in the infrarenal aortas of 24 dogs that were divided into four groups of six animals each. In group 1 (control) the duodenum was fixed by sutures to the proximal anastomosis of the Dacron graft. At 6 weeks' follow-up, no ADFs or deaths had occurred among this group. In group 2 the duodenum was fixed to the aortoprosthetic anastomosis and the dogs received an intravenous infusion of 10(8) S. aureus; two of these dogs developed ADF (P less than 0.01). In group 3 the duodenum was incorporated as a patch on the anterior aspect of the aortoprosthetic suture line, creating a false aneurysm; three of these animals died as a result of ADF. A false aneurysm was created in group 4 dogs, as in group 3, but in addition, 10(8) S. aureus was administered intravenously; here five to six animals developed ADF. Clinical and bacteriological evidence of graft infection was present in seven of 11 patients with ADF who were seen over an 18 year period. Five had pseudoaneurysm formation at the proximal anastomosis. Operation was performed in eight patients; three had closure of the aortic leak and repair of the duodenum with omentum interposition. All resulted in recurrent fistula and delayed hemorrhage. Simple graft excision in two patients without reconstitution of peripheral circulation resulted in lower extremity gangrene. The three survivors had graft excision and axillofemoral bypass. These data suggest that the etiology of ADF is primary low-grade infection. Successful operation necessitates excision of the graft, duodenal closure, and an extraanatomical axillofemoral bypass graft.


Our fibrinolytic potential.

Our fibrinolytic potential. Several methods of determining fibrinolytic activity were explored. The methods which gave the most satisfactory appraisal of the amount of fibrinolysin administered were as follows: euglobulin fraction on a prepared fibrin clot; euglobulin fraction method on benzoylarginine methyl ester; whole blood clot spontaneous lysis method. At present, the first of these three methods is the technique of choice. A preparation devised to observe the lysis of blood clots in vivo under the action of human fibrinolysin is described. In this preparation the successful lysis of fresh blood clots produced experimentally in segments of autogenous veins anastomosed to arteries was observed. The administration of plasmin by aerosol was followed by an increased lytic activity of the plasma of premature infants. Six patients in whom the clinical diagnosis of pulmonary hyaline membrane was made recovered completely after the treatment with human plasmin by aerosol. Forty-three percent of the children with the same diagnosis in whom plasmin was not used died (control subjects). Large doses of human fibrinolysin administered by the intravenous route prevented the formation of peritoneal adhesions in 100% of the animals treated. Adhesions developed in all of the dogs in which the intraperitoneal route was used. Fibrinolytic activity in the peripheral blood was increased considerably in all of the animals in which adhesions did not develop. No hemorrhagic phenomena other than slight oozing of the wounds were observed.


Improved synthesis of 16alpha-hydroxylated androgens: intermediates of estriol formation in pregnancy. 16alpha-Hydroxyandrostenedione (16alpha-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione), 16alpha-hydroxytestosterone (16alpha,17beta-dihydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) and 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone 3-sulfate (3beta, 16alpha-dihydroxyandrost-5-en-17-one 3-monosulfate) were synthesized by a new chemical approach with much improved yield. 16alpha-Bromoandrostendione was converted to the hydrazone of 16alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione which gave 16alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione on acid hydrolysis in total 63% yield. Oxidation of 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone with Jones' reagent also selectively afforded 16alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione. 16alpha-Hydroxytestosterone was observed by selective reduction of 16alpha-hydroxyandrostenedione with sodium borohydride. Reaction of 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone with chlorosulfonic acid in pyridine selectively gave the 3-monosulfate. The structure of the sulfate was deduced from its solvolysis to the starting material, and its acetylation and subsequent solvolysis to 16alpha-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone 16-acetate. All procedures are suitable for large scale synthesis without the use of microorganisms.


[Physiological polymorphism in a population of the common frog. I. The polymorphism of a population of the common frog for the trait of muscle tissue heat resistance]. A study was made of heat resistance (36+/-0.2 degrees C) of m. interphalangealis of the third finger of a hind extremity in animals of one population of Rana temporaria L. living on the boundary between Leningrad region and Pskov region. Within this population, the existence of three groups of individuals differing in heat resistance levels of their m. interphalangealis is postulated. This conclusion is based on the distribution curve of heat resistance values and on the application of the probit-method. The distribution of the frequency of occurrence of individuals in these three groups follows Hardy-Weinberg's equation.


[Physiological polymorphism of a population of the common frog. II. The polymorphism of the type of muscle tissue heat resistance in stress]. A study was made of the dynamics in the heat resistance of m. interphalangealis of individual grass frogs under stress. The response of muscle tissue to injury can be differentiated into three types according to the initial heat resistance level: increase, decrease and phase change of the resistance. The pattern of response of muscle tissue of individual frogs to stress is one of manifestationss of physiological polymorphism of the population.


[Effect of the central cholinolytic, cyclosil, on the ultrastructure and functional characteristics of rat liver mitochondria]. The influence of central cholinolytic cyclosil on the oxidative phosphorilation, ATPase activity and ultrastructure of hepatic mitochondria has been studied. The increased effectivity of mitochondrial macroergic compounds formation in the presence of cyclosil (0.04 mg/ml) was noticed. The oxygen consumption rate of these particles did not change. These findings and the electron microscopic observations on mitochondrial swelling in the presence of the cholinolytic agent suggest that cyclosil enchances the degree of mitochondrial energization.


[Electrophoretic studies of acid mucopolysaccharides in skin, prekeratin of hair follicles and in keratoses of wool]. Mucopolysaccharide complex isolated from skin, prekeratin of hair follicles and keratoses of wool by paper electrophoresis was separated into chondroitin sulphate and hyaluronic acid. The content of chondroitin sulphate in all the objects under investigation except for gamma-keratosis is higher than that of hyaluronic acid. The highest level of chondroitin-sulphuric acid is observed in the matrix of prekeratin of hair follicles and cuticule of wood fibre, i. e. beta-keratosis.


[Low temperature effects on sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane permeability for Ca2+]. The effect of rapid freezing down to--196 degree C was studied as applied to the functional activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes Ca2+-pump. It is found that the SR Ca-transport system is damaged under the effect of low temperatures: the transport activity of Ca ions across the reticulum membrane is reduced simultaneously with a slight increase in the ATPase activity. The rate of Ca ions accumulation by SR  vesicles decreases and the magnitude of Ca: ATP ratio is reduced. The damage of the SR membrane Ca-transport system after freezing is related to an increase in the rate of the accumulated Ca2+ rapid leak from the vesicles through the system of active transport at the moment of ATPase "work" and to an increase in the rate of passive diffusion.


Togavirus-like particles in renal epithelium of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Virus-like particles, about 45 nm in diameter, were present in renal epithelium (tubules and podocytes) of 12 patients with confirmed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in 2 patients with probable SLE. They were not detected in renal biopsies from non-SLE patients. Morphologically, they suggest togavirus-like particles.


[Effect of substances inhibiting the ion transport on Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPase activity of synaptic plasma membranes]. The Mg2+, Ca2+-ATPase activity of plasma membranes in bull brain synaptosomas was studied as affected by ruthenium red, hexamine cobalt, aminazine, verapamyl, melipramin, lanthanum acetate and oligomycin. Lanthanum acetate in a concentration of 5.10(-5)M is shown to inhibit completely the enzyme activity. Ruthenium red and hexamine cobalt in a concentration of 10(-4) inhibit this ATPase activity by 50-60%. Melipramin, aminazine, verapamyl in concentrations of 10(-6)-10(-4)M and oligomycin in a concentration of 0.01-5 microgram/ml have no effect on the enzyme activity.


[Ultrastructural morphometric analysis of normally loaded human myocardial left ventricles from young and old patients (author's transl)]. An ultrastructural and morphometric analysis was performed on human myocardial left ventricle, obtained during surgical heart operations on normally loaded ventricles. The diagnoses of the patients were a) Persistant foramen ovale b) Atrial septal defect stage (I.-II) c) Mitral stenosis (stage III.-IV.). The median values of left ventricular pressure were not pathologically elevated. The patients were divided in 2 groups, the younger one ranging from 5-15 years, the older from 42-78 years. It was shown that the volume density of the interstitial tissue does not differ with the aging process. The number of the nuclei per test area of the heart muscle cells decreased within age (P less than 0.001). This finding suggests a decreasing process in the number of the heart muscle cells and an increase in size of the individual myocardial cell. Increase in the volume density of myofibrils was demonstrated at electron microscopical level with aging (P less than 0.02). The volume density of mitochondria is the same in both groups, whereas the volume density of the remaining cytoplasm (without myofibrils and mitochondria) decreases (P less than 0.05). The numberical density of the mitochondria increased in the older patient group (P less than 0.001).


[Ultrastructural morphometric analysis of hypertrophied human myocardial left ventricles (author's transl)]. Biopsies of hypertrophied human myocardial left ventricles were investigated morphometrically. The diagnoses of the patients were stenosis of the aortic valve, aortic insufficiency or a combination of both lesions. The results were compared with those from normally loaded human left ventricles. There are no differences on light microscopical level between the volume densities of interstitial tissue and of heart muscle cells in the three groups of patients. A significant diminution of the volume density of the nuclei (P less than 0.001) and the number of nuclei per test area (P less than 0.001) when compared with normal groups suggests an increase in volume of the single heart muscle cell. The ultrastructural study shows marked increase in volume density of myofibrils (P less than 0.0001), with accompanying decrease in the volume densities of mitochondria (P less than 0.0001) and the remaining cytoplasm (P less than 0.001). A gross decrease in the surface area of mitochondria (P less than 0.001) and of cristae mitochondriales (P less than 0.0001) is found. The morphological equivalents of this result are numerous stages of mithochondrial destruction including cristolysis. All myocardial weights were beyond the "critical heart weight".


The relaxation of sarcomeres in ischemic injury of myocardium. Polarization-microscopic and micrometric investigations of the myocardium during infarction at autopsy and in experimental ischemic conditions, has shown that one of the earliest and most typical morphological signs of ischemic myocardium is sarcomere relaxation. The latter is expressed by the loss of contractility of muscle cells in life time and in strongly frozen corpses, and due to the effects of fixatives. Increase of the percentage of relaxed sarcomeres parallels the duration of experimental ischemia and the time after myocardial infarction. This allows the indirect calculation of irreversible cell change.


The regional registry of gastro-intestinal cancer North Baden (2.2 million inhabitants). The advantages of a population-based registry are discussed. It is shown that a registry for gastro-intestinal cancer in a district with expert medical care based upon histo-pathological diagnosis, has the principal advantage that it limits the sites of material collection to a few effective contributors, thus providing highly accurate data. The disadvantage of collecting data by two separate steps should be tolerated. The geographic situation and the organization of the regional registry for gastro-intestinal cancer in North Baden are described and the incidences for these cancers for the years 1971-1975 are given for the population of 2.2 million.


[Incidence and post-mortem frequency of malignant tumors of the stomach, colon, rectum, and lung (author's transl)]. A method for determining the incidence of malignancies of the stomach, colon, rectum, and lungs has been based on the frequency of the tumors in the autopsy material of the Institute of Pathology of the University of Heidelberg for the period 1900 to 1975. The main goal of this model is time independent selection of autopsy material indicated by an almost constant pattern for sex, average age at death, number of inhabitants, and number of autopsies. There is a relationship between incidence and autopsy frequency only when coding the diagnoses independently of their contributions to the cause of death. The results show a nearly constant incidence of stomach cancer, a steady incidence of colon and rectal cancer which, however, differs for men and women, and a large increase in the incidence of lung cancer.


Extent and level of fascial involvement in 100 cases with nodular fasciitis. Nodular fasciitis (NF) shows a cellular proliferation which leads to widening of the fascia. Frequently unilateral or more often bilateral disruption of the fascia, with an infiltrative pattern is present. Subcutaneous fascia and surrounding fat are involved. Superficially the cellular proliferation may extend into dermal connective tissue. Deeper muscular tissue may be involved, with transitional forms or purely intramuscular changes, compatible with proliferative myositis. Proliferative myositis is considered to be a deep-seated variant of NF with muscular involvement. Intramuscular myxoma may be thought of as an intramuscular and mucoid variant of NF. A bilateral infiltrative pattern was most frequently found at all levels; in cases with muscular involvement it was always present.


[The so-called cardiac myxoma. Histological, electron microscopical, immunofluorescence, and biochemical investigations in 3 cases (author's transl)]. Three cardiac Myxomas were studied by light-, immuno-fluorescence and electron microscopy. Acid mucopolysaccharides of the tumour were isolated chromatographically. The surfaces of the "myxomas" were papillary in two cases and smooth in one. The smooth surfaced tumour recurred six months after primary resection; histological specimens were more cellular than those of the papillary tumors and showed nuclear polymorphism and mitoses. The cells of two papillary tumours were identified as endocardial by electron microscopy, however, the cells of the smooth surfaced tumour were typical myofibroblasts. In both types of "myxomas" the cells were rich on cytoplasmic filament that contained acto-myosin. Biochemical investigation failed to reveal any difference between the acid mucopolysaccharide pattern of the two tumour types; isolated mucopolysaccharides being typical for embryonal mesenchymal tissue. The authors agree with Albertini (1963), that "cardiac myxoma" is a misnomer for two different typical endocardial tumours: a true endothelioma and a "special fibroma" (myofibroma or myofibrosarcoma).


Ultrastructural aspects of bubble formation in human fatal accidents after exposure to compressed air. Electron microscopic investigations were performed on samples of human tissue obtained from subjects following fatal decompression sickness, associated with hyperbaric air-therapy. Intra- and extracellular gas bubbles of varying size were identified throughout the entire body. Each bubble was covered by an osmiophilic non-homogeneous coat of cloudy and flocculent material, native to its specific locality. This envelope measured from 30 to 560 Angstroem-units in thickness. Association of this covering with an electrokinetic zonal activity, detected biophysically by Lee and Hairston (1971) is assumed. We consider this surface coat prevents nitrogen from being eliminated via the blood-lung barrier.


Pressure-flow relationships and pathological changes during renal preservation. The renal pedicle of one kidney from each of four dogs was ligated for one hour. The contralateral kidney served as a control. Both kidneys were removed and perfused using the "Belzer" technique. Pressure-flow relationships were determined and biopsy samples taken. The vasculature was then injected with silicone rubber. Perfusion resistance, vascular filling with silicone rubber and observations made by electron microscopy were compared.


Aberrant subclavian artery (arteria lusoria): sex differences in the prevalence of various forms of the malformation. Evaluation of 1378 observations. 43 original and 1335 previously published observations of aberrant subclavian artery (A. lusoria) were analyzed. The sex distribution varied for different types of the malformation: females predominated over males in instances of right aberrant subclavian artery and if pre-stenotic A. lusoria was combined with coarctation of the aorta. Male predominance was found in cases of combination of post-stenotic A. lusoria with coarctation and of aberrant left subclavian artery. An equal sex distribution was observed for A. lusoria combined with interruption of the aortic arch. Clinical, pathological and embryological aspects of the condition are discussed.


Psammoma bodies in meningioma. Appearance by scanning electron microscopy. Psammoma bodies from eight memingiomas have been examined by both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The bodies are primarily composed of calcium apatite which is deposited within a nidus of tightly laminated collagen fibers.


Eosinophilic pancreatitis in the newborn infant of a diabetic mother. The authors have studied the pancreas of a premature female infant born to a diabetic mother. The findings included a peri-insular eosinophilic leucocyte infiltration, macropolinesia and a marked increase in B cells. In the exocrime parenchyma small B cells aggregates were also observed. B cells contained voluminous hypercromatic muclei and degranulated cytoplasm. Morphometric data demonstrated an increase in islet tissue. These morphological findings are indicative of excessive insulin secretion. The presence of eosinophilic leucocytes in pancreatic tissue and the pathogenic mechanism involved are discussed.


Sternberg-Reed cells with intracytoplasmic lymphocytes. Phagocytosis or emperipolesis? Phagocytosis by Sternberg-Reed cells is a rare phenomenon. A case of nodular sclerosis type of Hodgkin's disease with large numbers of apparently vital lymphocytes in the cytoplasm of the Sternberg-Reed cells is described in this paper. The question whether this feature is the result of phagocytosis or emperipolesis is discussed.


Increased aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in hepatic microsomes from streptozotocin-diabetic female rats. In streptozotocin-induced diabetic male rats, hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity was depressed to less than control values, but was increased in microsomes from diabetic female rats. Insulin treatment of diabetic animals returned the altered AHH activity to control values in both sexes of rats. 2. Hepatic microsomal AHH activity was increased over control values in both sexes of diabetic mice. 3. Protection of female rats from the diabetogenic effects of streptozotocin by nicotinamide pretreatment also prevented the increase in AHH activity observed in unprotected animals. 4. Treatment of control and diabetic female rats with 3-methylcholanthrene resulted in larger increases in hepatic AHH activity in control animals, but similar increases in cytochrome P-448 content occurred in both treatment groups. 5. Differential stimulatory or inhibitory effects on AHH activity were observed after the addition of SKF 525-A, metyrapone, and rotenone to hepatic microsomes in vitro from control and diabetic female rats. However, similar stimulatory responses in AHH activity were observed after addition of alpha-naphthoflavone to microsomes from both treatment groups.


[Determination of the sensitivity of mycobacteria to pyrazinamide and nicotinamide (author's transl)]. Since pyrazinamide (PZA) has had a come-back in therapy of tuberculosis a simple and reliable method for sensitivity tests has been necessary. A comparison of resistance tests to PZA in acid Löwenstein-Jensen-medium and in fluid medium with those to nicotinamide (NSA) showed a clear superiority of the NSA method, recommended by BRANDER. Also in routine sensitivity tests the use of NSA instead of PZA has stood the test. Another advantage of the method is the possibility to integrate it in the simplified proportion method without any additional work.


[Sociologic studies in acne vulgaris. 1. Disease significance of acne vulgaris]. A questionnaire was presented to 2009 18--19 year old military recruitment candidates which enabled assessment of antipathy towards patients with severe acne vulgaris, the occupational handicap associated with severe acne and subjective inhibitions in acne patients. In addition, these persons were examined clinically with regard to presence of acne vulgaris. Finally, the level of education of the persons questioned was determined. The investigations show that severe acne has an appreciable disease rating. This results from antipathy of other people, the occupational inpediment and the psychological inhibitions of the acne patient. This disease rating appears to be objectively greater the lower the level of education of the acne patient. The disease rating does not appear to be entirely clear to the acne patient with a low level of education.


The change in carcinogenic effectiveness of some cyclic nitrosamines at different doses. The carcinogenic effectiveness in rats of three cyclic nitrosamines administered at two doses separated by a factor of five has been studied. All three compounds showed a response at the lower dose quite different from that at the higher dose. One, 2,6-dimethyl-dinitrosopiperazine, was only a little less effective at the lower dose than at the higher dose, giving 100% nasal turbinate tumors, but only 33% esophageal tumors, compared with 100% esophageal tumors at the higher dose. 3,4-Dichloronitrosopiperidine gave 100% incidence of esophageal tumors at the higher dose. At the lower dose, survival of the rats was very much better, some living 80 weeks, and, in addition to the esophagus, there were tumors of several organs including forestomach, tongue, and nasal turbinates. On the other hand, 2,6-dimethylnitrosomorpholine was a very much weaker carcinogen at the lower than at the higher dose, only six animals dying with tumors, compared with 100% incidence at the higher dose. However, the pattern of mortality of rats given the lower dose of dimethylnitrosomorpholine was similar to that of rats given the lower dose of dichloronitrosopiperidine.


Nitrate nitrogen levels in drinking water of urban areas with high- and low-risk populations for stomach cancer: an environmental epidemiology study. A correlation study between mean nitrate nitrogen levels (ppm) in drinking water samples (N = 1389) of Chilean urban areas and age-adjusted death rates per 100 000 population from stomach cancer, by province or region and sex, was made. Drinking water samples from all provinces (N = 25) had a weighed mean of 1.446 ppm (S.E.M. 0.068) with a range of 0.00--30.00 ppm. Nitrate nigrogen levels showed a positive but not significant association with male death rates. The correlation coefficient was +0.0335. Similarly, such levels did exhibit a positive but not significant correlation with female death rates (r = +0.0486). When NO3-N levels and male (r = +0.1367) or female (r = +0.1143) death rates were studied, by region, positive but insignificant correlations were detected. Using Cochran's approximation, mean nitrate nitrogen levels in drinking water samples from six provinces with 50% of the Chilean population (period 1953--55 versus 1973--75), showed a decrease from 1.835 to 1.291 ppm, but there was no significant difference (t = 1.32) between the two values, except in samples from Santiago Province (t = 2.11, P less than 0.05). Provinces (south central area) showing the highest gastric cancer mortality rates in the world for females (up to 40.8/100,000), and ranking second for males (up to 84.1/100,000), exhibited a very low mean level (0.825 ppm).


[Change of toxicity and carcinogenicity of n-methyl-n-nitrosobenzylamine in rats by methylsubstitution at the c-atoms adjacent to nitrogen (author's transl)]. Substitution with a methyl group at the C-atoms adjacent to nitrogen of N-nitroso-N-methylbenzylamine (NMBA) results in a considerable reduction LD 50: N-nitroso-N-methylbenzylamine : 18 mg/kg (Druckrey et al., 1967) N-nitroso-N-methyl-(1-phenyl)-ethylamine (I) : 600 mg/kg N-nitroso-N-methyl-2-(2-phenyl)-propylamine (II) : 2100 mg/kg N-nitroso-N-ethyl-benzylamine (III) : 250 mg/kg Substitution with a methyl group at the methylene of the moiety of NMBA (NMPEA I) reduces also the carcinogenic activity, but it produces in all animals carcinomas of the oesophagus and the pharynx; the replacement of both H-atoms by methyl groups (NMPPA, II) causes under the condition chosen no development of tumors, because for the activation step no proton is available. The exchange of N-methyl by N-ethyl of NMBA (NEBA, III) however produces no change in the carcinogenicity.


The fine structure of monoclonal Hodgkin cells cultured in diffusion chambers. Pleural effusion cells from two patients with stage IV Hodgkin's disease have been cultured continuously in diffusion chambers in mice and studied by electron microscopy after a culture period exceeding 100 days. Cell identity and monoclonal growth in culture has been documented by marker chromosomes (Hossfeld and Schmidt, 1978). These cultured cells grow in close connection, projecting pseudopode-like processes into the intercellular spaces. Most nuclei are lobulated. They always are of low electron density with a norrow rim of condensed chromatin confined to the nuclear membrane. One large prominent nucleolus and up to four smaller nucleoli are found. Nuclear pockets in case 1 and deep cytoplasmic invaginations into the nuclear area in both cases frequently occur. In the cytoplasm, besides microtubuli and fibrils, the Golgi apparatus and mitochondria are the predominant organelles. Most mitochondria appear to be dilated containing fragmented cristae. Free ribosomes and polysomal aggregates are randomly distributed. The ratio nucleoplasm:cytoplasm, on the average, is 0.7 in both cases and the cell diameters lie distinctly above those of lymphocytes. At the electron microscope level these cultured monoclonal cells of Hodgkin's disease are not distinguishable from those described in genuine Hodgkin material. Their probable origin and apparent relation to true histiocytic lymphoma cells will be discussed.


Effect of splenectomy on B- and T-lymphocytes and a benzpyrene-induced murine sarcoma. The investigation of 400 adult mice had the objective to find out 1. The influence of splenectomy on genesis and growth of a benzpyrene-induced sarcoma and 2. The behavior of B- and T-lymphocytes under the influence of splenectomy. 1. A significantly lower number of tumors developed in splenectomized animals (28.5%) as compared to controls (49.5%). 2. A significant decrease of B-lymphocytes and an increase in T cells after splenectomy were found in the peripheral blood. 3. The examination of the tumor marginal zone showed a decreased number of B-lymphocytes and an increase of T-lymphocytes, while the total count of round cells remained unchanged. These results are discussed and compared with results of other authors.


Release of glycolytic enzymes from cultivated tumor cells. Several types of cultured cells release glycolytic enzymes into their suspending medium. This effect is most obvious with tumor cells, especially with their ascites forms. Erythrocytes do not release glycolytic enzymes. The total extracellular phosphoglucose isomerase activity consists of two components. One part is dissolved in the medium, the other one is sedimentable at 150 X g together with the cells. The latter seems to be localized at the cell surface. At densities of about 10(6) cells/ml maximum activity in the medium is reached within 5--10 min. After that no further release of enzyme activity can be observed. Serum reduces the rate of enzyme release considerably. This effect can be reversed by washing with protein free media. Treatment with trypsin leads to high extracellular phosphoglucose isomerase activities of the cells which originally show low external enzyme activity. Erythrocytes do not show any effect with trypsin, ascites tumor cells do not alter their high extracellular enzyme activity. At a density of 10(5) cells/ml, Yoshida acites tumor cells, cultured in vitro, release about 12% of originally intracellular phosphoglucose isomerase activity by 5 elutions with fresh medium. The process of enzyme release shows a certain selectivity in respect to different glycolytic enzymes. Aldolase exhibits the highest activity in the medium in relation to its homogenate activity.


Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia in cancer patients with bone marrow infiltration. Eight patients suffering from wide-spread malignancies presented with a severe microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia (MHA) without gross evidence for coagulation abnormalities. The common feature in these patients was bone marrow infiltration with malignant cells, suggesting a pathogenic link between bone marrow carcinosis and red cell destruction. Furthermore, it is concluded that MHA is a rare complication of malignancy and a terminal syndrome rather than an early manifestation of the disease.


In vitro studies of human breast carcinoma cells obtained by aspiration biopsy. Cells from 14 human breast carcinoma were obtained by aspiration biopsy and used for in vitro cultivation. Growth could be observed in three cultures, which were derived from solid, partly adenoid growing tumors with metastases in the axillary nodes. The growth started after 2--6 days in culture and lasted 2--4 weeks. No permanent line could be established.


The ultrastructural differentiation of synaptic sites in the inner plexiform layer of a teleostean retina. The differentiation of axon terminals in the retina inner plexiform layer was studied by electron microscopy, with special reference to synaptic junctions, number and size of synaptic vesicles, dense core vesicles, biogenic amines and ATPase. Five types of synaptic junctions were found, including a ribbon type. They appear on different days of embryonic life and show different patterns of increase. The ultrastructural differentiation of the most frequent type is described in detail. The numbers of synaptic vesicles indicate the existence of three types of axon terminals which appear on different days. These and other data lead to the following model: The contacts between amacrine cells are the first to appear, followed by amacrine--bipolar cell contacts and amacrine--ganglion cell contacts. The latter are the most frequent ones and increase immediately after having appeared, while amacrine--bipolar cell contacts increase only some days later, which is also the case for bipolar--amacrine cell contacts. Biogenic amines and cytochemically detectable ATPase appear along with the formation of synaptic sites.


[Experimental studies of the distribution of intravenously injected iodine-labeled cytonal (diethylstilbestrol diphosphate)]. After intravenous injection the distribution of iodine-labelled diethylstilbestral-diphosphate (cytonal) was investigated in various organs of the rat. For this purpose the concentration of activity in the organs of the animals were established by measurements of specimens in the bore-hole counter and scintigrams were made by means of a small animal scanner. The result was an unequivocal temporary dependence of the enrichment of the substance in the organs. The greatest enrichment was found 10 minutes after injection in the liver, then followed blood, kidneys, adrenal glands, seminal vesicles, prostate, abdominal wall and the fatty tissue surrounding the prostate. The blood activity relatively decreased. 7 days after injection an unambiguously higher activity was to be proved in the liver, kidney, adrenal gland than in the blood, whereas the enrichment of iodine-labelled diethylstilbestraldiphosphate in prostate, seminal vesicle, fatty and muscular tissue was always below the enrichment of the blood. But in every case the relation of organ activity to blood activity changed in favour of the organ activity, also with regard to the prostate. 10 minutes after injection the concentration of the activity of the seminal vesicle was somewhat higher than that one of the prostate, but in the further course it was below the concentration of the activity of the prostate. During the first two hours the fatty tissue surrounding the prostate showed a clearly and after the third day a slightly lower activity concentration than the prostate. On the basis of this distribution of the activity for the scintigraphy of the prostate above all a temporary interval of about 10 minutes to 3 hours after the injection of labelled cytonal is involved. The results cause us to perform investigations in men concerning the pharmacokinetics and the possibility of using radioactively labelled cytonal.


[Several epidemiologic features of the spread of chickenpox and herpes zoster]. Epidemiological and statistical data of herpes zoster and chickenpox by such indices as morbidity level, periodicity and month-by-month changes in the incidence of these diseases were compared. The study included 2345 herpes zoster and 11116 chickenpox cases in the course of 5 years (1972--1976). In comparison with herpes zoster, the intensity of chickenpox spread among the population was on the average 4.7 times greater. Of the total number of chickenpox cases the percentage of herpes zoster contituted 21.0. Chickenpox morbidity had marked seasonal cyclic nature with the amplitude of seasonal variations of about 8; as to herpes zoster--there was no annual or seasonal cyclicity. Thus, in the development of chickenpox and herpes zoster epidemic process there was revealed a peculiar tendency inherent to each of these infections; no common epidemiological and statistical regularities in the spread intensity, annual periodicity and seasonal cyclicity were detected.


[Several principles for epidemiologic evaluation of individual regions of the Trans-Caucasian plains-piedmont natural focus of plague]. The authors analyse many-year data concerning the epizootological study of seven landscape-geographical regions of the Eastern Transcaucasus differing by natural conditions and the enzootic intensity. Quantitative assessment of natural nidality determined by the level (norm) of many-year indices calculated for the years of 1955--1974 are presented for each region. Flea vectors were more numerous in localities of stable enzootic manifestation; also the numbers of Meriones erythrourus (carrier rodent) was more stable than in the regions of temporary occurrence of the causative agent and those free of plague. Many-year level of the flea (X. conformis) abundance index equal to one served as the threshold value determining the territory enzooticity.


Submitochondrial localization and function of alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase in maize seedlings. Alkaline inorganic pyrophosphatase and Mg-ATPase are localized within the mitoplast of maize seeding mitochondria. NaF inhibited the PPase activity, whereas oligomycin and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide inhibited the Mg-ATPase activity. The mitoplast preparation synthesized PPi from Pi under conditions excluding hydrolysis of endogenous ATP. PPi synthesis was inhibited by ADP, antimycin A, NaCN and 2,4- dinitrophenol but not by oligomycin. It is suggested that PPi synthesis in the maize seedling mitochondria proceeds at the expense of the energy of electron transport chain and is independent of the ATP synthesis.


A study on the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on so-called cervical ripening. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) is now used for a dynamic test of placental function by many obstetricians. While practicing this test, the authors found that DHAS markedly promoted so-called "cervical ripening". To study this problem, DHAS of 50 or 100 mg in multiple doses were injected into 132 Japanese pregnant women in their 38th--42nd week of gestation. The change in Bishop score was carefully recorded. Bishop score in the injected groups of primiparae (100 mg) began to rise much sooner than the control groups (p less than 0.01 on seventh day and 14th day). However, such significant difference in the rise of Bishop score was not noted in the multiparae and primiparae with 50 mg. Although the rise of score is not significant, the duration (day) from injection to delivery was shorter in the injected group than the control group (t=2.1529, p less than 0.05 in primiparae with 50 mg, t=3.8829, p less than 0.01 with 100 mg, t=2.1029, p less than 0.05 in multiparae with 50 mg). In some of these cases, labor began or delivery was finished within 24 hrs. Among the factors of Bishop score, mainly the effacement, consistency and dilatation of the cervix were remarkably improved by DHAS injection (p less than 0.01 and less than 0.05). Side effects of any type were not seen in the mothers and foetuses. As a conclusion, DHAS injection in considered to produce favorable conditions for delivery in women with "unripe cervix" by softening the soft birth canal. Furthermore, it is suggested that DHAS might play an important role in triggering labor.


Assessment of lung function on healthy children using an electronic spirometer and an air-flowmeter before and after inhalation of an adrenergic receptor stimulant. VC measured with a Monaghan electronic spirometer equipped with a backflow valve is significantly lower (about 4%) than when measured with the same spirometer without such a valve. The measurements of FEV1.0 were not influenced by the valve. 73 healthy children were investigated with the Monaghan spirometer equipped with the backflow valve and normal reference data were established. The results were very similar to those obtained in an investigation of healthy children with the same spirometer about one year earlier. Reference data on children for a simple flow meter, Airflometer (Glaxo Ltd.), are given. The data correlated very highly to the FEV1.0 values obtained by the Monaghan spirometer. After inhalation of salbutamol healthy children had a small and significant increase of FEV1.0 and of the Airflometer value but not of VC. The deviations of the differences were small. A 6% increase of VC and 10% increase of FEV1.0 were taken as normal upper limits after inhalation of salbutamol. Corresponding increase of the Airflometer values was 15 arbitrary units for children with body heights 116--145 cm and 21 units for children with body heights 146--175 cm.


The interaction between manganese and ethanol in rats. The effects of manganese and ethanol interaction on some chemical constituents of the liver and serum of rats were investigated in order to assess the influence of these substances in inducing susceptibility to manganese poisoning. Manganese and ethanol alone or in combination were administered to the rats as drinking solutions for a period of 30 days. Both the chemicals had a synergistic effect in altering the activity of SDH and ATPase in the liver of rats. The combined treatment also produced significant increase in the activity of adenosine deaminase and alpha-amylase in the liver and serum respectively. Furthermore, the accumulation of manganese in the liver and the increase in the calcium content of the serum were significantly greater after combined ethanol and manganese administration--than either of them alone. These alterations indicate that the toxic effects of manganese are enhanced when the metal and ethanol interact in the biological system.