[Incomplete membrane stenoses of the duodenum (author's transl)]. A report in 2 children with incomplete membrane stenoses of the duodenum and further abnormalities in the gastrointestinal tract, the urogenital region and on the skeleton. In the first case ileus symptoms existed in early infancy following operated anal atresia. A duodenal diverticulum near the papilla was found with reflux of contrast medium in the biliary and pancreatic tracts. In the second case the clinical symptoms were limited; however, the x-ray findings of an intraduodenal pseudodiverticulum were impressive. Both patients were operated successfully by removal of the incomplete duodenal membrane. Both cases clearly showed the great variability in clinical symptoms with etiologically similar disease patterns and typical x-ray signs.


[Tubular colon duplication (author's transl)]. Report on two patients with tubular colon duplication and severe further abnormalities in the urogenital system in particular in the sense of double abnormalities. In addition omphalocele was present in the first child, and vertebra-rib abnormalities in the second child; hence the children were to be classified as according to Kottra and Dodds. No disturbances in early pregnancy could be established in either case. Surgery was performed. The second case and its surgical treatment is concurrently reported as a presentation in "Zeitschrift für Kinderchirurgie" by Priv.-Doz. Dr. med. v.d.Oelsnitz.


[Technique of the introduction of duodenal sounds in children (author's transl)]. Duodenal Sounds, provided they are sufficiently rigid, can be introduced actively with simultaneous x-ray control. Good sedation promotes rapid passage; further important aids are: appropriate positioning of the patient, instillation of air, and palpation. In recent years, intravenous administration of diazepam and metoclopramid has proved successful as premedication. The described procedure reduces the strain on the children and the amount of time required by the medical staff.


[Studies on the influence of various mathematical formulations on the determination of the proportion of fat in relation to bodyweight by means of skin fold measurements (author's transl)]. The paper reports on investigations on the influence of various mathematical formulations on the determination of the proportion of fat in relation to body-weight by means of skin fold measurements. For this purpose, the various equations derived from Archimedes' law, as well as the densities of various body fractions as determined by different authors, are discussed. This is followed by a discussion of the deliberations on the methods to be employed for estimating the density of the body by means of skin fold measurements. The various formulations differ from each other mainly by the location and number of measuring points. It was shown by means of comparative studies that for children aged between 9 and 16, independent of their sex, it will be sufficient to employ two skin folds (triceps and scapula). The existence of a very close correlation between the measured data of these points of measurement was found when using different calipers and the relevant conversion factors. In this manner it becomes possible to use a nomogram which has already been determined by Parízková and which was converted into a matrix for easier calculation. The determination of the relative proportion of fat'via skin fold measurements cannot replace the determination of individual body density by weighing under water. However, in mass examinations it is very well suited for differentiating between various groups of children (e.g. overweight, underweight, trained, and untrained) in respect of their relative proportion of fat.


[Silence in children with oncologic diseases (author's transl)]. Silence is one of the dominant features in the behavior of fatally ill children and of the adults who care for these children. Silence signals the effectiveness of taboos that are still present in society, hospital personnel as well as in parents and children.


[Pulmonary sequestration (author's transl)]. Pulmonary sequestration is a relatively rare condition in which a part of lung tissue has no or only a secondary connection with the tracheobronchial tree. Blood supply comes from the aorta in anomalous branches. Sequestrations may be intra- or extralobar. Gerle et al. include both types in the general term congenital bronchopulmonary foregut malformation. Two surgically confirmed observations of bilateral intralobar pulmonary sequestrations are reported. The clinical features are recurrent respiratory infections with cough, fever and purulent sputum. X-rays only show nonspecific alterations. Chronic changes in the lower lobes should draw attention to pulmonary sequestration. Thoracic aortography is the procedure of choice in establishing the diagnosis and should always be carried out preoperatively. Segmental resection or lobectomy is the indicated treatment.


[The fetal hydantoin syndrome (author's transl)]. Two siblings have various congenital malformations due to the teratogenic effect of anticonvulsant drugs. Their mother has a 14-year history of continuous anticonvulsant medication. The malformations noted in the older girl are less and in the 8 years younger sister more extensively developed as well as in the fetal hydantoin syndrome. The causes of different severity of the fetal hydantoin syndrome in two sisters are discussed.


[Endocrinological aspects of ketotic hypoglycemia and adrenal calcification (author's transl)]. Case report on a 2 6/12 years old girl with bilateral adrenal calcifications and ketotic hypoglycemia. Adrenal function tests showed a normal response of the adrenal cortex but signs of adrenal medullary insufficiency. Urinary adrenaline in samples before and after insulin did not increase significantly and plasma adrenaline was undetectable during hypoglycemia. We suggest, that the absence of adrenaline, caused by perinatal adrenal hemorrhagia, is one of the possible pathogenetic keys of ketotic hypoglycemia and examinations on this disease should always include the search for adrenal calcifications.


[Phenumopericardium and pneumomediastinum depend upon bronchial foreign body (author's transl)]. A case with pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum produced by a bronchial foreign body (pieces of a nut) is reported. The pathomechanism is discussed: In state of check valve the bronchial foreign body produces an interstitial emphysema by rupture of the alveolar membranes in the overinflated lung. The interstitial air travels along the sheaths of the pulmonary blood vessels to the root of the lung, to mediastinum, and to pericardium. In state of stop valve, depending on the inflammatory swelling of the mucosa, the affected lung becomes atelectatic. After removing the foreign body air passage will be free. Other therapeutic measures are not necessary.


[The importance of linear fractures of the skull in infancy (author's transl)]. The importance of 33 infants with linear fractures of the skull caused by minor head injuries were studied. 32 of them were conscious and without neurological deficit. In 9 infants we noted transient focal pathological EEG changes. In 23 infants focal EEG findings due to functional disorders of the brain could not be demonstrated. But the considerable clinical importance of the linear fractures of the skull consists of the intracranial complications provoked by the anatomical specificities. This is demonstrated by an 8 months old infant, who developed an epidural hematoma after a minor head injury.


Accessory splenectomy in management of recurrent idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Residual splenic tissue can occasionally be responsible for recurrent idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after splenectomy. Although this is an uncommon phenomenon, we have identified six such patients at the Mayo Clinic in the last 40 years, and a review of the literature revealed nine others. Only 4 of the 15 patients with sufficient follow-up were significantly improved after splenectomy, 1 requiring less medication to control his thrombocytopenia. The presence of residual splenic material is suggested by the absence of Howell-Jolly bodies in the peripheral smear and confirmed by technetium-99m scanning. Accessory splenectomy should be considered as an adjunct to the control of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in previously splenectomized patients but with the realization that remission or improvement in the clinical course may occur in only about one-half of such patients.


Behavior alterations in tree shrews (Tupaia glis, Diard 1820) induced by Borna disease virus. Intracerebral injection of Borna disease virus in tree shrews led to a persistent infection that sometimes resulted in clinical symptoms and/or specific alterations in the animals' behavior. Whereas infective virus in the brain and in the serum antibodies were always present after infection, only some of the animals showed signs of clinical disease and behavior changes. Animals kept in pairs showed especially obvious behavior alterations expressed as an exaggeration of all the components of normal social behavior. The division of the roles between males and females was seriously disturbed. The breeding behavior of females was especially impaired, although no stress factors were given and the animals were obviously in good physical condition. Some females that were maintained solitarily showed considerably exaggerated spontaneous locomotor activities (hyperactivity) 4 weeks after infection, followed by a phase of clinical neurologic symptoms (decline phase), spatial and temporal disorientation, and alterations in comfort behavior. Following a slow recovery the animals remained unusually docile and were much less timid than before infection. A recurrence of the clinical illness is possible, as shown by the occurrence of a second decline phase. All the behavior alterations can be interpreted as a disturbance in the balance of approach and avoidance. In paired animals this imbalance results in interference with normal sociosexual behavior. These alterations indicate that BD preferentially involves the limbic system, an interpretation supported by the results of neuropathologic investigations.


Role of adenine in pathogenesis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections of tracheal epithelium. Adenine sulfate and several related compounds were evaluated for their ability to retard the cytotoxic effect which normally accompanies M. pneumoniae infections of hamster tracheal explants. Adenine sulfate, at the 0.01 mM level, was found to exert a significant protective effect. Little or no ciliostasis or loss of cell viability was detectable when organ cultures were infected with 10(7) CFU of virulent M. pneumoniae in the presence of the adenine supplement. Mycoplasmas grew in broth and on plastic surfaces in the presence of adenine, and no significant diminution of growth rate or cell yield was detectable. Organisms adhered to the tracheal epithelial surface regardless of the presence or absence of adenine. When explants were incubated in the presence of 14C-(8)-adenine, rinsed, and then infected with M. pneumoniae, the adenine label could be recovered from the mycoplasmas 20 h after the infection. These data are compatible with the known nucleic acid requirement of mycoplasmas and with a model which ascribes a role for purine/pyrimidine competition and/or depletion in the infective process.


[Effect of elevated temperature on the morphology of a chemostat culture of Candida utilis yeasts and on their content of nucleic acids]. The effect of elevated temperature (40 degrees C) on a chemostat culture of Candida utilis was studied at different rates of dilution, D = 0.1 and 0.3 hr-1. The cells in the fermenter being in the stationary state at the optimum temperature of 30 degrees C were gradually washed-out 5 hours after the action of this temperature, and the population consisted of non-divided cells. In the majority of such "double" cells, the nucleus was contained in both the parent and the daughter parts. The content of RNA decreased by 31%, that of DNA, by 20%, and that of protein, by 13% (per 1 mg of biomass).


Physician responsibility for the cost of unnecessary medical services. Most diagnostic and therapeutic services are ordered by physicians, but physicians practicing under fee-for-service conditions have few incentives to contain the costs of medical care. Without such incentives, effective cost control through mechanisms such as Professional Standards Review Organizations have been disappointing. Several legal approaches might be used to increase physicians' responsibility for the cost of unnecessary services--expansion of tort law, implied contact, redesign of insurance mechanisms, equitable estoppel and informed consent. However, increasing physician responsibility will require uniform but flexible definitions of medical necessity, reliable means for predeterming the need for services and effective penalties or incentives. We propose a peer-review system that would incorporate the sharing of financial risk among physician, hospital, insurer and patient in the fee-for-service sector.


[RNA biosynthesis and regulation of protein biosynthesis in the liver of chicks with experimental coccidiosis]. The aim of this work was to investigate the interrelationship between RNA biosynthesis and that of protein in chick liver during experimental coccidiosis induced by E. tenella. The peculiarity of this model is that in the course of this disease protein synthesis is significantly intensified inspite of the fact that the rate of the biosynthesis is rather high under normal conditions. It has been shown that 4 to 6 days after infection incorporation of labeled amino acids into proteins from chick liver subcellular fractions is greatly increased. The most pronounced changes are in ribosomal and mitochondrial fractions as well as in the postribosomal supernatant. At the same time the specific radioactivity of serum albumin excreted by liver was increased by factor 3. These changes in protein biosynthesis are associated with a significant increase of both the content and intensity of biosynthesis of high molecular weight precursors of rRNA as well as with those of mature 18S rRNA. The amount of 28S rRNA and mRNA per cell is practically without any changes whereas the mRNA turnover is somewhat more extensive. The selective accumulation of 18S rRNA is suggested to be responsible for the intensification of protein biosynthesis.


[Use of echography as a diagnostic aid in pediatric abdominal pathology]. Echotomography was used in the diagnosis of abdominal disease in children. The results obtained were compared with those given by conventional methods. The soundness of echotomography in the location and indication of the size and structure of lesions was demonstrated in a series of 20 cases.


[Glutamic acid gamma-ethyl ester in high doses in the treatment of high blood ammonia levels in severe hepatic failure]. The AA. administered i.v. large doses of gamma-ethylester of glutamic acid to 22 patients affected with severe liver failure associated to mental and neuromuscolar abnormalities as tremors, confusion, restlesness which have been duly recorded for the purpose of this evaluation. The average daily dose was 36.3 gm and the treatment lasted as an average 9.5 days. The peripheral venous blood ammonia was checked, at the beginning and at the end of the treatment, in all the patients and in some, at random, the following parameters were determined: pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, TCO2, oxygen saturation on arterial blood. The treatment caused a statistically remarkable decrease of blood ammonia in 21 of 22 patients. The mental and neuromuscolar abnormalities too showed a statistically important downward trend vs. the basal values. The acid-base balance did not record any remarkable variation. The AA. judge as absolutely positive the trial carried out with gamma-ethylester of glutamic acid. The large doses used caused clear-cut and dramatic improvements and were estremely well tolerated.


Serum carcinoembryonic antigens in patients with carcinoma of the cervix. Serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were measured by a radioimmunoassay technique. The mean CEA level for 80 controls was 2.03 ng/ml with a standard deviation of 0.49 ng/ml. Hence, the upper limit of normal for serum CEA levels was considered to be 3.01 ng/ml, ie, two standard deviations above the mean. Serum CEA levels were measured in 86 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma, Stages 0 through IV. Thirty-five of the 74 patients with invasive cervical carcinoma were CEA-positive (serum levels above normal); patients with cervical dysplasia or carcinoma in situ were all CEA-negative. Study of the distribution of these patients together with the extent of their disease leads to the following conclusions: a) determination of serum CEA levels cannot serve as a test for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer or precancerous lesions; b) in patients with clinical Stage I or II cervical cancer, an elevated serum CEA level indicates a greater likelihood of parametrial invasion or lymph node metastasis; c) in patients with treated carcinoma of the cervix, continued normal levels of serum CEA affirm continued absence of the disease, whereas development of an elevated level is highly suspicious of occult residual or recurrent cancer. The authors urge periodic determinations of serum CEA levels in patients with treated cervical cancer.


Borderline microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. This study identifies borderline microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix as a subgroup of microinvasive carcinoma. We define borderline microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix as the infiltration of neoplastic squamous epithelial cells into the stroma where the depth of infiltration is 1 mm or less from the basement membrane of the epithelial surface immediately adjacent to the site of infiltration without capillary-like or lymphatic-like space involvement. In a 20-year review of cervical neoplasia in our institution, 29 cases of borderline microinvasion were identified. None of these 29 patients had recurrent carcinoma. Of our in situ carcinomas, 4.8% were found to be borderline lesions on review. Of our cases initially interpreted as microinvasion, 27.1% were, in fact, borderline lesions. There are better data to establish the criteria for borderline microinvasive carcinoma than there are to establish the absolute depths of invasion that would be unequivocally acceptable as "microinvasion." Borderline microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix is a lesion which is not metastatic and can be treated by nonradical methods.


Prenatally diagnosed blocked atrial premature beats. A case of persistent severe bradycardia in labor, diagnosed as blocked atrial premature beats, is presented. Simultaneous recording of fetal heart rate (FHR) and fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) during labor established an accurate diagnosis of an innocent fetal sinus bradycardia and differentiated it from fetal distress. This method should be applied in all cases of persistent fetal dysrhythmia, in order to differentiate it from hypoxic distress, and thus enable the obstetrician to avoid unnecessary cesarean sections.


Maternal serum estrogen and progesterone concentrations preceding normal labor. Simultaneous measurement of serum concentrations of estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and progesterone were carried out in multiple serial blood samples obtained during the last 3-10 weeks of pregnancy, labor, and the immediate postpartum period in 5 normal women. Estrogen and progesterone levels showed a small, but statistically significant diurnal variation during pregnancy. They did not change during labor; however, with the exception of E1 levels, all declined following delivery. Individual patterns preceding labor, derived from calculated moving mean values, showed no consistent decline in progesterone levels nor a surge in E1 and E2 concentrations whereas estriol levels showed a steady rise starting 14-28 days prior to the onset of labor. Whether this E3 elevation reflects fetal maturation and/or plays a role in the triggering mechanism of labor is unknow. Failure to detect changes in E1, E2, and progesterone levels in the maternal peripheral circulation does not preclude the possibility that alterations of metabolism of these hormones in the fetal or uterine compartments might be involved in the initiation of human labor.


The morphology of the earliest invasive cell in low genital tract epidermoid neoplasia. The light and electron microscopic characteristics of the distinct eosinophilic microinvasive cell in the lower genital tract epidermoid neoplasia are described. The eosinophilic quality of the invasive cell is associated with an accumulation of contractive protein seen at the ultrastructural level. The presence of these differentiated cells near the basement membrane should be viewed with more concern as they contain the cytoplasmic machinery with which to invade.


Argon laser iridotomy in the treatment of patients with primary angle-closure or pupillary block glaucoma: a clinicopathologic study. A "pulsed" argon laser was successful in 48 of 64 (75%) attempted laser iridotomies. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy performed on specimens taken at varying intervals following laser treatment revealed progressive scarring of iris tissue. The complications appear minimal at this time, but longer follow-up is required before it can be stated that laser and surgical peripheral iridectomies are comparable. However, the laser's simplicity and ease of administration appear to warrant its continued use at this time.


Cryopreservation of the infective larvae of the common nematodes of ruminants. Exsheathed infective larvae (L 3) of 19 species of nematodes were tested for infectivity in either sheep or cattle after they had been frozen in 0,9% NaCl solution, stored for a relatively short time in the gas phase of liquid nitrogen and subsequently thawed. In addition, 13 of these species were tested after similar storage for up to 18 months. In sheep, Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus axei, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Nematodirus spathiger and Oesophagostomum columbianum were viable after 2 years of cryopreservation, a mean of greater than 90% of the L 3 being alive when thawed after this period. Similar results were obtained with Chabertia ovina L 3 after 18 months and with Marshallagia marshalli, Trichostrongylus falculatus and Dictyocaulus filaria, after a short period of freezing. On the other hand, Gaigeria pachyscelis and Strongyloides papillosus survived freezing for up to 7 months but neither was viable at the end of this period, nor was exsheathed G. pachyscelis viable without freezing. Most of these infestations were established by inoculating the infective larvae into the abomasum and/or duodenum. M. marshalli, T. falculatus and C. ovina also proved infective after oral dosing. D. filaria, the only other species tested by this route, was not infective when dosed per os after thawing. The infective larvae of the bovine nematodes, Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Nematodirus helvetianus, Oesophagostomum radiatum, Cooperia pectinata and Cooperia punctata survived freezing for a mean of 26 months, greater than 90% being alive on thawing, but infectivity was generally lower than with the same genera in sheep. Even when not frozen, exsheathed Bunostomum phlebotomum was non-infective. When Cooperia spp. after thawing were tested for infectivity by the oral route, more worms developed in one calf infested orally than in another infested by inoculation into the duodenum. Ova of H. contortus, M. marshalli, O. circumcincta, T. colubriformis, T. falculatus, N. spathiger, C. ovina, H. placei, O. ostertagi, Cooperia spp. and N. helvetianus were recovered from the faeces of animals infested with cryopreserved L 3. No ova of O. columbianum or O. radiatum were recovered from faeces, because differential larval counts were performed before they were patent. Nevertheless, gravid females were obtained post-mortem. Frozen L 3 of N. helvetianus were used to re-establish a pure strain in calves, 2,3 million ova being recovered from infestations with 10 670 L 3 frozen for 26 months. The infectivity of the progeny of frozen L 3 was tested with M. marshalli and C. ovina. In both instances infectivity was high and the worms which developed also produced ova, thus completing the cycle. This appears to be the first report of infective larvae of parasitic nematodes retaining their infectivity after being frozen in liquid nitrogen (gas phase) for longer than 2 years. This is also apparently the first time that M. marshalli T. colubriformis, T. falculatus, T. axei, N. spathiger, C...


Forelimb reflexes modulated by tonic neck positions in cats. The modulation of monosynaptic forelimb reflexes by tonic neck positions was investigated in cats with the head fixed. Lateral flexion of the body in a horizontal plane markedly facilitates reflexes of the deep radial nerve (DR) in the ipsilateral forelimb, while the antagonistic ulnar nerve (ULN) reflexes are strongly inhibited. Opposite effects are seen after contralaternal body movement. Dorsiflexion of the body clearly increases DR-reflexes and exerts a reciprocal although more pronounced inhibition on ULN reflexes. Opposite effects appear after ventriflexion. The reflex modulation starts with head-body displacements of approximately 5 degrees and increases with increasing angles. Furthermore reflex modulation does not depend on the intact cerebrum and cerebellum. The comparison of forelimb and hindlimb reflexes shows a decrease of the neck influences along the spinal cord.


Effective compliance of the circulation in the upright sitting posture. The effective compliance is defined as the relation of change in blood volume to change in central venous pressure. It was measured in 8 upright sitting male subjects and amounted to 3.3 ml/(mm Hg X kg BW). It is, therefore, by about 50% greater than the effective compliance in the supine subject which amounts to 2.3 ml/(mm Hg X kg BW). . This difference is probably due to the posture dependent blood volume distribution in the low pressure system whose "upper" and "lower" sections have nonlinear pressure-volume characteristics. Immersion to the neck reduces the effective complicance to about half the control value (1.9 ml/(mm Hg X kg BW) which probably constitutes the effective compliance of the intrathoracic circulatory compartment.


Effects of pulmonary gas embolism on circulation and respiration in the dog. V. Effect of changing breathing gas composition on pulmonary gas embolization. It was found in previous investigations that during venous gas infusion at low rates (1--5 ml/min-1) circulatory and respiratory variables reached a constant level after about 10--15 min. The present study demonstrates that this steady state can be disturbed by changing the composition of the breathing gas mixture. Alteration from air to 21% O2 in helium rapidly increased the embolic effects up to a maximum within 1.5--2 min; in the next 5--8 min the circulatory and respiratory variables returned to their previous levels during air breathing. Reverse effects occurred when changing from 21% O2 in helium to air. Similar phenomena were seen after switching from air to pure oxygen and from 21% O2 helium to pure oxygen. However, the extent of the circulatory and respiratory changes differed depending on the composition of the respective alternating breathing gas mixtures and on the initial embolic level as determined by infusion rate and kind of infusion gas. Gas movements between intravascular bubbles and alveolar space might be responsible for these changes.


Effects of pulmonary gas emoblism on circulation and respiration in the dog. VI. Influence of body position on the effects of pulmonary gas embolism. In the present study the influence of body position on the effects of venous gas infusion was examined. The body position of anesthetized dogs ventilated artifically varied between supine, right-side-down and left-side-down position. Without venous gas infusion the change of body position hardly affected pulmonary arterial pressure (Pap) and alveolar CO2 fractional concentration (FACO2). However, during venous gas infusion a change of body position immediately elicited a rapid increase Pap and a decrease in FACO2 completed within a few seconds. Thereafter both variables gradually returned to their initial levels as before the change of body position. The extent of change in Pap and FACO2 due to alteration of body position depended on the initial embolic level (determined by the rate of infusion and the nature of the gas used) and on the change of body position.


Left ventricular active stiffness: dependency on time and inotropic state. Left ventricular systolic stiffness was measured by rapidly changing ventricular volume (within 7 ms) of isovolumically contracting isolated rabbit hearts. Instantaneous pressure-volume relations were found to be linear with slopes that depended upon the moment during contraction at which the volume change was induced. These slopes were proportional to the total pressure developed in the ventricle just prior to the volume change. The same was found when the time course of pressure was influenced by changing the Ca++ content of the perfusate. An influence, however, also could be detected when end-diastolic volume was changed. At the same pre-release pressure a greater volume caused a decrease of active stiffness. The results indicate the possibility of an active component in ventricular systolic stiffness.


Distal site of calcium reabsorption in the rat nephron. The site of outflux of 45Ca along the nephron  were investigated using microinfusion technique in acutely thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX), intact and TPTX Wistar rats substituted with parathyroid hormone (PTH). In all three groups 45Ca outflux occurred along the proximal tubule, the loop of Henle and along the distal tubule. After microinfusion into late distal tubules 45Ca recovery in ipsilateral urine was essentially complete for the TPTX group but was only 83 and 65% for the intact and the PTH substituted animals. Increases in microinfusion flow rate from 2--20 nl/min into early and middle distal tubules resulted in increased urinary recovery of 45Ca for all three groups. Similarily, increases in microinfusate Ca concentration from 0.2--2.0 and 5.0 mmol/l resulted in increased fractional urinary recovery of 45Ca both in the presence and absence of PTH. When 45Ca and 3H insulin containing solutions were continuously microinfused into early distal tubules for one hour periods an anticalciuric effect of PTH could be demonstrated. It is concluded that Ca, in addition to its outflux in the proximal tubule and in the loop of Henle, is reabsorbed in the distal tubule accessible to micropuncture. PTH acts anticalciuric at this latter site.


Central thermosensitivity in conscious goats: hypothalamus and spinal cord versus residual inner body. Experiments were performed on conscious goats to confirm the suggestion that in this species the inner body contains more thermosensitive structures than those residing in the hypothalamus and spinal cord. For this purpose goats were chronically implanted with local thermodes and intravascular heat exchangers to allow independent temperature control of the hypothalamus, spinal cord and residual inner body. With the hypothalamus and spinal cord clamped simultaneously at different levels between 32 degrees C and 40 degrees C, residual internal temperature was lowered by subtracting heat via the intravascular heat exchanger. The residual internal temperature at which shivering and increased heat production occured due to heat extraction, was directly related to the value of the combined hypothalamic and spinal cord clamp temperature. The higher hypothalamic and spinal cord clamp temperatures were, the lower residual internal temperature fell before shivering occurred and heat production rose. Plots relating residual internal temperature to hypothalamic and spinal cord temperature at different levels of heat production showed the signal input generated within the residual inner body to be of nearly the same order of magnitude as that from the hypothalamus and spinal cord.


CO2-dependent component of the neurogenic vascular tone in the cat. Complete vascular isolation of the hindlimbs was performed in vagotomized cats under Sodium Pentobarbital anesthesia. The hindlimbs were perfused at constant flow with blood kept at a constant and physiological PO2, PCO2, and pH values by means of a specially designed pump-oxygenator system. The animals were hyperventilated with different CO2 mixtures (0%, 5%, 7% and 10% in O2) thereby changing blood gases and pH levels in the upper body but not in the hindlimb vascular bed. At body PaCO2 (mm Hg) of 13.7 +/- 1.0 (means +/- SE), 30.6 +/- 1.05, 40,4 +/- 0,9 and 58.4 +/- 2.9 the hindlimb perfusion pressure (mm Hg) was, respectively 124 +/- 7.6, 138 +/- 7.4, 156 +/- 11.9 and 187 +/- 15.1. These changes in perfusion pressure were still present after complete peripheral chemoreceptor denervation but were abolished after section of the spinal cord at the T5 level. Since hindlimb perfusion pressure fell when body PaCO2 was lowered below physiological levels it is concluded that part of the neurogenic vascular tone of the hindlimbs is maintained by a CO2 mediated stimulation of supraspinal structures.


Renal responses to angiotensin II and 1-sar-8-ala-aII in sodium replete and deplete dogs. In order to elucidate the effects of angiotensin II on renal function, angiotensin II (AII; 1 ng/kg per min) and the AII antagonist 1-sar-8-ala-angiotensin II (AIIA; 200 ng/kg per min) were infused into the renal artery of anesthetized dogs (pentobarbital), on either a high (8 mmol/kg per day for seven days) or a low sodium intake (0.5 mmol/kg). In sodium replete dogs AII produced renal vasoconstriction with decreased RBF (-28%; P less than 0.001), but with less decrease of GFR (-14%; P less than 0.001), leading to an increase of FF (+19%, P less than 0.001), andantidiuresis (-39%, P less than 0.001); the antinatriuresis (-58%; P less than 0.001) exceeded the antidiuresis (P less than 0.001). delatRBF (-10%; P less than 0.001) was less pronounced (P less than 0.001) during AII in sodium deplete dogs, GFR remained unchanged, but FF increased to the same extent (+16%; P less than 0.05); diuresis and urinary electrolyte excretion were however not affected. AIIA did not affect RBF, GFR, FF, nor diuresis in sodium replete dogs suggesting that endogenous AII has no tonic influence on renal function in these conditions. In sodium deplete animals AIIA produced an 11% (P less than 0.001) increase of RBF, without changes of GFR; FF decreased by 12% (P less than 0.01), but diuresis, natriuresis and kaliuresis were not affected.


Nucleosome-associated proteins and phosphoproteins of differentiating Friend erythroleukemia cells. Mononucleosomes derived from brief digestion of uninduced Friend cell nuclei with micrococcal nuclease contain a set of non-histone chromosomal proteins which are partly or altogether missing in the oligomeric nucleosomes. On the other hand, the latter contain a protein of Mr 190,000 not seen in the mononucleosomes. Longer digestion removes most of these non-histone proteins, excepting the Mr 190,000 protein. Brief digestion of nuclei from Friend cells induced by DMSO or by n-butyrate removes most of the non-histone proteins from the nucleosomes, as did the prolonged digestion of uninduced nuclei. The Mr 190,000 protein remains, while a protein of Mr 27,000 is increased. The rate of phosphorylation of histone H1 associated with mononucleosomes was 3 to 4-fold greater in cells induced with DMSO. The major phosphoprotein and most of the other phosphorylated non-histones were modified at the same rate in control and induced cells. However, a Mr 95,000 protein was less phosphorylated in the induced cells.


The presence of gastric parasites in winter-slaughtered reindeer. The presence of gastric parasites in winter-slaughtered calves and adult animals, was investigated. The number of parasites found was low in case of the calves indicating that gastric worms are of low significance concerning the winter losses. In case of adult animals was found a higher infestation indicating that gastric nematodes maybe of importance concerning the winter losses of 1,5 years old animals, Ostertagia leptospicularis was the only found species except for one animal in which was also present a few spiculopteragia alcis. The total dominance of Ostertagia leptospicularis means a marked difference from the findings of autumn-slaughtered reindeer bulls where Ostertagia leptospicularis was not found to be such a frequent finding but in addition several other species were found. In view of that is discussed a seasonal varation, winter ostertagiosis seems not to be a problem in reindeer calves.


[Day-to-day variation in cell counts in milk (author's transl)]. The article presents results from two series of milk samples where samples from individual cows were collected at each milking over a period of two weeks. Fat content, protein content and cell count were determined for each sample. The cell counts (in thousands per ml) were transformed to logaritmic values and statistically analysed. As much as 75 to 80% of the variation (expressed as proportion of the total sums of squares) was due to differences "among cows" and about 3% due to differences "among days" during the sampling period. Samples from morning milkings had about 20% lower cell counts than samples from afternoon milkings. The standard deviation among samples from two consecutive milkings of the same cow (after removal of systematic differences between days and between morning and afternoon milkings) was computed as about 30% of the mean (i.e. coefficient of variation approximately 0.3). By combining samples from two milkings the random "error" in cell count can be reduced to about 20% of the mean. The samples exhibited a highly significant, but nummerically small, positive within-cow correlation between fat content and cell count, and between protein content and cell count, while the corresponding correlation between milk yield and cell count was slightly negative (non-significant).


Use of common plant lectins for isolation and characterization of constitutive and developmentally regulated cell surface associated glycoproteins of Dictyostelium discoideum. Glycoproteins as a class of molecules have been implicated as serving crucial roles in cell recognition events. Using 3 common plant lectins, we have isolated and identified a number of cell surface associated glycoproteins. The appearance of at least 5 of these proteins is under developmental regulation.


Developmentally regulated lectins in cellular slime molds and embryonic chick tissues. Several species of cellular slime mold (including D. discoideum and P. pallidum) and a number of embryonic chick tissues (including muscle, heart, brain, and liver) contain lectin activities that can be extracted and assayed as hemagglutinins. In all cases studied the lectin activities show significant changes with differentiation. The studies with cellular slime molds are more advanced; and suggest that lectins play a role in developmentally regulated cell cohesion. The function of the embryonic chick lectins in differentiation is presently under investigation.


Closed-circuit television monitoring of problematic radiotherapy patients. The authors suggest that closed-circuit television be used to monitor patients who cannot understand or cooperate with hazardous medical treatment.


Congenital pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect: angiographic and surgical correlates. Of 181 patients with severe congenital pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect or "type IV truncus" (an obsolete term), all but 11% had true central pulmonary arteries. These arteries were demonstrable by large serial biplane angiograms using multiple selective injections into collateral vessels, frequent photographic subtraction, and occasional pulmonary vein-wedge angiograms. These techniques are extremely important for accurate diagnosis and in planning corrective or palliative surgery, which was done in 77% of patients with pulmonary arteries.


Effects of prostaglandin E2 and DL204 IT, an inhibitor of prostaglandin degradation, on ovulation and ovum transport in the hamster. The effects of 2(3-ethoxyphenyl)-5,6-dihydro-s-triazole-[5,1-a]isoquinoline (L-11204 or DL 204 IT and PGE2 on ovulation and ova transport were studied. DI 204 IT was administered in doses of 0.2-25 mg/kg s.c. on the day of estrus. A smal reduction in ovulating follicles was observed 96 hours later, but only at the 5 mg/kg dose level. At all dose levels, however, DL 204 IT caused a dose-related reduction in the number of ova in the oviducts. PGE2 at a total dose of 2 mg/animal s.c., administered in 4 divided doses over the second and third day of the cycle did not affect ovulation or ova transport. PGE2 plus DL 204 IT (5 mg/kg), however, completely blocked ovulation in all but one animal. That animal had one ovulated follicle and a single ova was recovered from its oviduct.


Stereospecific antibodies to methadone. II. Synthesis of d- and 1-methadone antigens. Diastereomeric methadols were prepared by reduction of the methadone enantiomers. Resulting methadols, after purification and characterization by mass spectrometry, were succinylated. The hemisuccinyl derivatives were conjugated with thyroglobulin via carbodiimide condensation. The conjugates of d- and of 1-methadol hemisuccinyl-thyroglobulin were employed as the antigens for immunization of white New Zealand rabbits in order to obtain specific anti d- and anti 1-methadone antisera.


[Antiserums against carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) can induce a specific lysis of colon carcinoma cells by normal lymphocytes]. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) against human colon carcinoma cells grown in vitro was demonstrated with two specific rabbit anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) antisera. The same antisera did not lyse the colon carcinoma cells in the presence of complement but without lymphocytes. The normal human lymphocytes in the absence of anti-CEA antiserum had a very low cytotoxic activity during the three hours 51Cr release assay used in this study. Two colon carcinoma cell lines, HT-29 and Co-115, expressing CEA on their surface as demonstrated by immunofluorescence, were significantly lysed in the ADCC test, whereas control tumor cell lines, not expressing CEA, were not affected by the anti-CEA sera and the lymphocytes. The specificity of the reaction was further demonstrated by the inhibition of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity after the addition of increasing amounts of purified CEA to the antiserum. The absorption of the anti-CEA antisera was controlled by radioimmunoassay. Absorption of the antisera by normal lung extracts and red cells of different blood groups did not decrease the cytotoxicity.


Preparation of sarcolemmal membrane from myocardial tissue culture monolayer by high-velocity gas dissection. A high-velocity stream of nitrogen is used to simultaneously disrupt myocardial cells in monolayer culture and fractionate their sarcolemmal membranes. The membranes show a high degree of ultrastructural and enzymatic purity, with less than 1 percent intracellular residuum. They are produced in less than 1 second and remain as tightly adherent sheets on the surface on which the cells were grown. The cells are exposed to no agent other than nitrogen gas during the preparative procedure.


Biochemical evidence for keratinization by mouse epidermal cells in culture. More than 70 percent of the urea-extractable proteins from mouse stratum corneum or from differentiated cells of mouse epidermis grown in culture are two proteins of molecular weight 68,000 (keratin I) and 60,000 (kerae are two proteins of molecular weight 68,000 (keratin 1) and 60,000 (keratin 2), which are present in equimolar amounts on polyacrylamide gels. These proteins are the subunits of the keratin filaments, because when isolated from stratum corneum or cells grown in culture they form native-type epidermal keratin filaments in vitro. These observations provide biochemical evidence that epidermal cells grown in culture synthesize the major differentiation products of the epidermis.


Induction of Zugunruhe by photostimulation of encephalic receptors in white-crowned sparrows. Daily 20-hour encephalic photophases (DEPP), transmitted (hours 0 to 20) via chronically implanted light-conducting fibers to selected sites in the basal hypothalamus of male white-crowned sparrows, were superimposed on daily 8-hour (hours 0 to 8) external ambient photophases (DAPP). Initially the birds displayed motor activity only during the 8-hour DAPP. After a delay of at least 2 weeks, some of the birds became intensively active during hours 8 to 20. We postulate that this period of "nocturnal" activity is equivalent to the nocturnal Zugunruhe shown by caged individuals of many nocturnally migratory species subjected to long days; such activity is generally regarded as the expression of migratory behavior.


Long-term treatment with lithium prevents the development of dopamine receptor supersensitivity. Long-term treatment of rats with haloperidol produced an increased sensitivity to the locomotor and stereotypic effect of apomorphine. This behavioral dopaminergic supersensitivity was accompanied by increased binding of [3H] spiroperidol in the striatum. Rats treated concurrently with lithium and haloperidol failed to develop both behavioral sensitivity to apomorphine and increased striatal dopamine receptor binding. The ability of lighium to prevent recurrent manicdepressive episodes may be related, in part, to its ability to stabilize dopaminergic receptor sensitivity.


Neuroleptic-induced "anhedonia" in rats: pimozide blocks reward quality of food. The dopamine receptor blocker pimozide attenuated lever-pressing and running for food reward in hungry rats. In each case the characteristic behavior of pimozide-treated rats was the same as that of undrugged rats when reward was simply withheld. Drug-induced performance difficulties were ruled out by the presence of periods of normal responding in drug-treated animals. Pimozide appears to selectively blunt the rewarding impact of food and other hedonic stimuli.


Rabies: decimation of a wolf pack in artic Alaska. In a pack of ten wolves, one wolf behaved atypically and fought with several packmates. This wolf was shot when it approached the author. Within 4 weeks at least six other members of the pack were dead. Rabies was confirmed in the wolf that was shot and in two others that had not decomposed. Most of the wolves infected with rabies had sought or remained at familiar areas in the core area of their territory, which implies that they were not contacting neighboring packs. This was confirmed with an aerial survey. Arctic foxes, experiencing a regionwide rabies epizootic, were suspected vectors.


Early maternal separation increases gastric ulcer risk in rats by producing a latent thermoregulatory disturbance. Rat pups that are separated early from their mothers, at postnatal day 15, become hypothermic when subjected to physical restraint on postnatal day 30. Restraint of separated pups also elicits an unusually high incidence of gastric erosions, as well as insomnia and an increase in quiet wakefulness. If hypothermia during restraint is prevented, neither the erosions nor the behavioral responses occur. Rat pups separated at the customary age (postnatal day 22) do not become hypothermic during restraint, and the restraint of such pups is not associated with either gastric erosion or insomnia.


Severe thrombocytopenia after generalized herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) infection. Our patient, we believe, experienced a primary HSV-2 infection manifested by fever, malaise, and orogenital mucocutaneous lesions. With resolution of systemic manifestations, and at a time of theorized rise in HSV-2 antibody levels, he had thrombocytopenic purpura which persisted for several weeks. An immune disorder secondary to HSV-2 infection similar to that of postrubella infection is postulated. If this theory is correct, severe immune thrombocytopenic purpura is yet one more of the many observed complications of HSV infection.


The selection of wild-type revertants from methotrexate permeability mutants. In a previous report, we described the selection and partial characterization of three distinct classes of methotrexate (Mtx)-resistant Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) (1). Class I cells contained a structural alteration in dihydrofolate reductase. Class II cells showed a alteration affecting the permeability of the drug. Class III cells, selected from class I cells, had an increased activity of the altered enzyme. In the work described here, the sensitivity of these lines to the diaminopyrimidines has been investigated. Class I cells are as sensitive, class II cells are 5- to 10-fold more sensitive, and class III cells are 10- to 30-fold more resistant than wild-type cells. The increased sensitivity of the class II cells provided an opportunity to select for revertants of these mutants and such phentotypic wild-type revertant cells have been selected using one diaminopyrimidine, pyrimethamine. Such cells have drug sensitivities and permeability characteristics similar to wild-type cells. A second class has been identified which has wild-type drug sensitivities to the diaminopyrimidines but Mtx class II resistance to Mtx, and drug permeabilities characteristic of Mtx-resistant class II cells.


Dominance of colchicine resistance in hybrid CHO cells. Intraspecific hybrids of colchicine-sensitive with colchicine-resistant (CHR) Chinese hamster ovary cells were constructed, using six different colchicine-resistant clones from two independent series. In each instance, colchicine resistance was expressed in an incompletely dominant manner. Some hybrid clones were examined further for the expression of the pleiotropic CHR phenotype and for the cell surface P glycoprotein. These features of the colchicine-resistant phenotype were also expressed coordinately.


Assignment of the genes for triose phosphate isomerase to chromosome 6 and tripeptidase-1 to chromosome 10 in Mus musculus by somatic cell hybridization. Evidence is presented for the assignment of the gene for triose phosphate isomerase to Mus musculus chromosome 6 and tripeptidase-1 to chromosome 10 by synteny testing and chromosome assignment in Chinese hamster X mouse somatic cell hybrid clones. Neither TPI nor TRIP-1 were expressed concordantly with any known isozyme markers in 45 hybrid clones (13 primary and 32 secondary). Karyotypic analysis of 21 clones showed that the expression of TPI and chromosome 6 were concordant in all cases as was expressed of TRIP-1 and chromosome 10. Both chromosomes were previously unmarked by isozymes.


Assignment of a Mus musculus gene for triosephosphate isomerase to chromosome 6 and for glyoxalase-I to chromosome 17 using somatic cell hybrids. Chinese hamster X mouse hybrid cells segregating mouse chromosomes have been used to assign a gene for triosephosphate isomerase (TPI-1, EC 5.3.1.1, McKusick No. 19045) to mouse chromosome 6, and a gene for Glyoxalase-I (GLO-1, EC 4.4.1.5, McKusick No 13875) to mouse chromosome 17. The genes for TPI-1 and lactate dehydrogenase B are syntenic in man and probably so in the dog. It is therefore likely that they are syntenic also in the mouse. It is of interest then that there is a mouse gene, Ldr-1, on chromosome 6 that regulates the level of LDH B subunits in mouse erythrocytes. The locus for GLO-1 is closely linked to the major histocompatibility complex in man. Since the major histocompatibility complex in the mouse is present on chromosome 17, this locus and the Glo-1 locus are syntenic in the mouse as well. This finding adds to the number of autosomal gene pairs which are syntenic in both mouse and man and reinforces the belief that there is considerable conservation. of linkage groups during evolution.


In vitro liver clearance of tritiated estradiol-17beta in the female rat after retrochiasmatic transection and ovariectomy. It was reported in a previous study that serum estradiol-17beta (E2) was elevated in rats after retrochiasmatic transection (FC). Serum E2 was also higher in estradiol cypionate treated, ovariectomized (OVX) rats that had been subjected to FC than in those that had not. This suggested that increased secretion of E2 was not the only factor responsible for elevated serum E2 after FC. To ascertain the contribution of decreased metabolism of E2 to this response, liver tissue slices were incubated with 3H-estradiol-17beta, and the rates of 3H uptake and conversion to water-soluble conjugates were measured. The rate of uptake of 3H by the tissue was not indicative of the rate of conjugate formation. Livers of rats with high serum E2 exhibited lower rates of 3H uptake than those of rats with low serum E2. Even so, the formation of 3H conjugates was greater in liver of rats with high serum E2. As hypothesized, livers of rats with FC formed conjugates at a significantly lower rate than those of similarly treated rats without FC. Thus, FC of an intact rat leads to an increase in serum E2 by increasing the secretion of E2, and apparently also by decreasing the rate of E2 metabolism by the liver.


Progesterone in the uterus. X. Dependence of the in vitro progesterone metabolism on progesterone binding in rat uterus. The effect of estrogen pretreatment was stud-ed on the in vitro metabolism and binding of progesterone in uteri of ovariectomized rats in order to prove the dependence of the metabolism of progesterone on its binding. For this purpose, the extent of progesterone binding was varied in uterine tissue by different estrogen treatment of the rats and compared with the metabolism under the same conditions. The protein content determined in 100 mg tissue was used as parameter indicating the success of the pretreatment. Estrogen exposure of the rats for 30 or 45 hrs. caused a rise of protein amount in uterine tissue which was accompanied by an increase of binding sites of progesterone binding components. The binding sites were determined by charcoal adsorption technique and SCATCHARD-analysis. Under nearly the same success of estrogen pretreatment, the increase of the portein amount and with it the rise of binding sites reduced the amount of progesterone metabolites in uterine tissue. The metabolites were  determined by quantitative TLC-analysis of the recovered compounds from uterine segments after incubation with radioactive progesterone. Additionally, an enlarged metabolic rate could be observed after saturation of binding components. It is concluded from the results of these experiments that progesterone binding components are factors limiting the enzymatic conversion of progesterone in rat uterus.


Failure of breast cancer cells in long-term culture to aromatize androstenedione. The ability of breast cancer cells in long-term tissue culture to aromatize androstenedione to estrone and estradiol was examined. (3H) androstenedione (1.1 x 10(-7)M) was incubated with 9 cell lines of human breast cancer and one line derived from a dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced rat mammary tumor. No conversion to estrone or estradiol was detected. The findings are discussed in light of previous studies showing aromatization of androgens in breast cancer tissues.


California goats with a disease resembling enzootic ataxia or swayback. In a retrospective study typical signs and lesions of enzootic ataxia or swayback were found in 16 young dairy goats from eight widely scattered herds in California. In addition to the constant appearance of chromatolytic neurons in brainstem and spinal cord, and myelin deficiency in certain tracts of the cord, cerebellar hypoplasia was found frequently. Liver copper was subnormal in six of nine kids tested. The disease is viewed as a developmental defect in which failure of neuronal perikaryon metabolism leads to distal axonopathy with secondary demyelination.


[The content and types of sulfhydryl groups in muscle creatine kinase detected by their accessibility to different reagents]. Using three independent methods tte amperometric titration, Boyer's method and the method of Ellman it is shown that rabbit muscle creatine kinase contains 11-12 SH-groups, 3-6 of which are easily oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to form S-S-bonds. It is found that creatine kinase has four types of SH-groups distinguished by their accessibility to different SH-reagents. The first type related to the enzymatic activity is detected by the Ellman method (2 SH-groups), the first and the second ones taken together--by the Boyer method (4 SH-groups), the first, second and third ones--by the method of amperometric titration (6 SH-groups), all the 4 types together--when detecting SH-groups after protein denaturation--by any of the above methods (8-12 SH-groups).


[The effect of Solcoseryl on in-vitro cultured cells]. Explants of peripherical nervous system (PNS), skin and ventriculus cordis from chick embryo were cultivated in Maximow chambers and the effect of Solcoseryl, Fa. Solco Basel AG, on some morphological parameters was tested. 1. The growth of tissue cultures is influenced by Solcoseryl in relation to concentration and time of application. The index of area in cultures of PNS and cor increased within the first days. By long time application up to 6 days in vitro the index of area decreased and the index was the same than in controls. Explants of skin showed no essential stimulation of growth. 2. The number of cells per unit of culture in the outgrowth of PNS, cor and skin was different influenced. The density of cells in cultures of PNS and skin decreased (signif. difference). In explants of heart we could not observe a difference between the inside and outside of the outgrowth. An influence of Solcoseryl on the degree of migration is discussed. 3. The area of cell nuclei from heartcells was observed. The area decreased under the influence of Solcoseryl. The difference is significant. 4. The mitotic index of heart cells increased by application of Solcoseryl within the first 2 and 3 days in vitro. 5. The number of nucleoli per nucleus of heart cells under experimental conditions increased significant. It is discussed, Solcoseryl influenced in vitro metabolic processes in suitable systems; stimulation of cell proliferation and migration and rns-synthesis was observed within the first days of cultivation. In-vitro-systems are important objects and they are suitable for tests of pharmaca in vitro.


The role of formaldehyde in the formation of haemodialysis-associated anti-N-like antibodies. In the sera of 68 (20.9%) of 325 haemodialysis patients, a specific cold agglutinin, cross-reacting with anti-N, was detected. Each patient showing this anti-N-like antibody used a formaldehyde-sterilized dialyser. By contrast, the antibody was not found in any of the 73 patients using a non-formaldehyde-sterilized dialyser. The results of transfusion experiments indicate an in vivo haemolytic activity of the antibody. In vitro, formaldehyde pretreatment of erythrocytes increased the agglutinability of the cells by the anti-N-like antibody. This effect could be prevented when the MN receptor of the red cells was exposed to neuraminidase. Trace quantities of formaldehyde inevitably enter the patient during dialysis when a formaldehyde-sterilized dialyser is used. It is postulated that this in vivo formaldehyde exposure might interact with the MN receptor of the red cells, rendering it immunogenic, and thus induce the formation of the haemodialysis-associated anti-N-like antibody.


[Histochemical behavior of acetylcholinesterase in the diaphragm and that of unspecific esterase in the hypothalamus, testes and liver of rats in relation to organophosphates]. The enzyme behaviour of acetylcholinesterase in diaphragm and that of unspecific esterase in liver, testes and hypothalamus were investigated in view of various organophosphates on total-preparation and cryostat section of 10 male wistar rats. It had pointed out that the blockade was dependent upon the concentration as well as the acid possessing P = O-binding proved to be appropriate for in vitro experiment. The most intense blockade of unspecific esterase was reached in tanycytependym of the third ventricle. The acetylcholinesterase in the motor endplate of diaphragm was less influenced. From these findings follows that a direct conclusion for in vivo toxicity can not be drawn from in vitro results. The significance of the chemical structure of the substance utilized was discussed concerning its inhibitory effect.


[Characteristics of the central nervous system metabolism reaction to stress in acute alcoholic intoxication]. In a state of acute alcohol intoxication metabolic response on the stress of the central nervous system was distinctly altered in rats (formation and binding of ammonia in brain and medulla spinalis). The following effects were observed: deamidation of brain proteins was impaired, the intensity of ammonia formation was decreased, content of urea decreased and dynamics of gamma aminobutyric acid, dicarbonic amino acids and their amides was altered.


[Reversible mental disturbances in craniocerebral injuries (author's transl)]. The necessity of an exact documentation of mental disorders after cranio-cerebral injuries in their temporal development is stressed. There is a quantitative relation between functional psychosis and the underlying cerebral process. Close observation of the course enables the surgeon to diagnose intracerebral complications early.


[Prognostic value of neurologic findings in the newborn infant for the obstetrician]. Prognostic value of neurologic findings of the neonate. 1. Severe cerebral symptoms of the neonate persisting during some days leads in follow-up of the survivors in 20 to 30% to severe cerebral disorders like cerebral palsy, epilepsy, physical and mental handicap, behaviour disorders. 2. Moderate cerebral disorders during neonatal period are followed by severe cerebral handicaps only in about 10%. 3. Mild cerebral symptoms of the neonate, which are abating during 24 hours, most not will be followed of severe mental disorders. - On the strength of this statistical statement exactly recorded neurological findings of the newborn could be used as an evaluation of the performance of an obstetric department.


[Newer antimycotics. IV. Aryl-hydrazones of mesoxalic-acid-seminitril-hydrazid (author's transl)]. The author produced a number of aryl-hydrazones of mesoxalic-acid-seminitril-hydrazide and their N2-acyl-derivatives, farther the halogeno-substituted phenyl-hydrazones of mesoxalic-acid-seminitril-hydrazones, and investigated their fungistatic efficiency in vitro. From the author's results it can be concluded, that 2-, 3- and 4-chloro-phenyl-hydrazones of mesoxalic-acid-siminitril-hydrazide exert a strong fungistatic effect on Trichophyton- and Epidermophyton-species, but they are inactive on other fungi-strains. Their N2-acyl-derivatives, farther with aldehydes and ketones formed derivatives of the previous compounds exert any fungistatic effect neither on Trichophyton- and Epidermophyton-species, nor on other fungi-strains. From this it can be concluded, that the fungistatic activity of the investigated compounds is strong structur-specific.


[Newer antimycotics. V. 3-aryl-azo-indoles (author's transl)]. The author produced a number of 3-aryl-azo-indoles, and investigated their fungistatic efficiency in vitro. He proved, that the 3-(tolyl-azo)- and 3-(bhloro-phenyl-azo)-indoles exert a strong fungistatic effect on Trichophyton- and Epidermophyton-species, but they are inactive on other fungi-strains. Their fungistatic efficiency is considerable independent of the position of their methyl- or chloro-substituents.


[Effect of the extreme factors of antarctic regions on the composition of serum in polar explorers]. Extreme conditions of the Antarctic continent caused adaptive changes in the protein composition of human blood, expressed in the increased level of blood globulin fraction. The detected reduction in the Beta1A-gloubulins in the blood indicated a reduction of the infection immunity level. An increase of blood transferrin content of polar explorers served as a response of the organism to the influence of hypoxic hypoxia.


[Specific immunologic reaction in autoantibody-producing cells]. Experiments were conducted on albino mongrel female mice. The capacity of the plasma obtained in 30 minutes from the animals vaccinated uith the microbial antigens of the animals to cause temporary activation of the autoimmune reaction in the recipients, in passive transfer, was revealed. The capacity of spleen cells, forming autohemolysins, to produce antibodies to sheep red blood cells after the immunization with this antigen was demonstrated by means of Cunningham and Pilarsky's method.


[Effect of thiamine on the formation of immune response in toxic lesions of the liver]. The authors studied the influence of various doses of thiamine on the formation of immune response in the animals with toxic affection of the liver. As revealed, thiamine in a dose of 400 microgram per kg of body weight inhibited the formation of the immune response in healthy rats, but failed to influence this process in the animals with toxic affection of the liver. Thiamine in a dose of 100 microgram per 100 g of body weight stimulated the formation of the immune response in healthy rats and in those poisoned with carbon tetrachloride. The simulating effect of thiamine was more pronounced in poisoned than in healthy rats. The blood serum of rats poisoned with carbon tetrachloride enhanced the immunostimulating action of thiamine.


[Use of the indirect hemagglutination test for the study of ornithosis. Report 2. Preparation and approbation of the dry ornithosis erythrocyte diagnostic agent]. An original preparation--dry ornithosis erythrocytic diagnostic agent for the indirect hemagglutination test was prepared on the basis of formalinized tannin-treated sheep red blood cells and group-specific phospholipid antigen of the causative agent of ornithosis. This diagnostic agent retained its specific activity for 18 months (observation period). The use of this preparation considerably facilitated the method of performance of this test, this offering a possibility of its wide application in practice. A sufficiently high sensitivity and specificity of the indirect hemagglutination test with the suggested diagnostic agent, in comparison with the complement fixation test was demonstrated.


[Spatial distribution of correlative associations in the electrical activity of schizophrenic patients]. The paper deals with the space distribution of correlational contacts of electric activity in 5 areas of the cortical brain in producing non-signal photo stimula and in conditional trace reflexes with a preliminary verbal instruction. Such studies were convened in schizophrenic patients and in normals. The author assessed the general and regional coefficient of cross-correlations in certain time periods prior to and following production of photo signals. More distinct differences between normals and schizophrenic patients (especially with juvenile malignant schizophrenia) were seen after an instruction and conditional signals. In patients the signal activity was not accompanied by a formation of a system of functional contacts which may be seen in normals, and which possibly may be the basis in the functioning of a conditional reflex.


Histone and non-histone proteins from rabbit mammary gland at late pregnancy and early lactation. The content of non-histone protein in epithelial cell chromatin from rabbit mammary gland increased during late pregnancy and early lactation up to 30%, while the histone content remained unchanged. No qualitative changes, as judged by polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, were found during accumulation of non-histone proteins at the onset of lactation. The chromatin isolated at lactation, assayed either by polylysine or Toluidine Blue binding, contained slightly more available DNA-phosphate than the chromatin isolated at pregnancy.


An electroimmuno-assay of the pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1) in normal and pathological pregnancies, and its clinical value compared to human chorionic somato-mammotropin (HCS). A 95% reference interval for the pregnancy-specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1) was established on the basis of 299 samples from 254 normal pregnant women by electroimmuno-assay (rocket immunoelectrophoresis). A positive correlation was found between SP1 and the human chorionic somato-mammotropin (HCS). The SP1 concentration in maternal blood was halved about 30 hours after separation of the placenta at delivery. Thus emergency analyses would be of little value in detecting acute placentae failure. 172 determinations of SP1 in maternal sera were carried out on 56 pregnant women with various types of pathological pregnancies. To assess the clinical value of SP1 a comparison with HCS (HPL) was made. It was concluded that SP1 could possibly be a valuable parameter for monitoring and discovering pathological pregnancies. Larger investigations, however, must be performed to decide whether SP1 determinations will provide more extensive information than other laboratory analyses presently used.


Post-transfusion purpura treated with plasma exchange by haemonetics cell separator. A case report. A case of post-transfusion purpura in a 61-year-old, multiparous female with a platelet alloantibody (anti-Zwa) in her serum is reported. The patient was successfully treated with plasma exchange by means of a Haemonetics 30 cell separator and corticosteroids. Compared with other therapeutic measures, plasma exchange seems to shorten the duration of thrombocytopenia. Major surgery was possible in our patient within ten days of development of the syndrome.


The preparation of phospholipids by phospholipase D. The transfer of the phosphatidyl residue from egg phosphatidylcholine to primary alkanols catalyzed by phospholipase D was systematically investigated. It was demonstrated that 1) the chain length of the alkanols is of critical importance, e.g. transphosphatidylation does not occur to alkanols or alkandiols with more than six carbon atoms; 2) double or triple bonds in the acceptor molecule do not influence the transfer reaction; 3) fluorine is tolerated in the acceptor molecule, but the transfer rate decreases with increasing atomic weight from chlorine to iodine. Synthetic phosphatidylcholines with large variations in the apolar part of the molecule, the phosphorylcholines of 1.2-diacyl-sn-glycerol, Acyl-propandiol-(1.3) and 1.2-cyclopentadecylmethylidene-glycerol, have been successfully used in the transfer reaction. Transesterification is an attractive route for the synthesis of phospholipids differing in the polar part of the molecule.


Endothelial cells in the glaucomato-cyclitic crisis. In 21 patients with unilateral glaucomatocyclitic crisis (Posner-Schlossman syndrome) the central corneal endothelium was photographed with a clinical specular microscope. In each patient the endothelial cell density was determined in both the affected and the contralateral healthy eye. In patients who had had several attacks of P-S the endothelial cell density was lower in the affected eye than in the healthy eye (16 cases). 4 patients seen after the first attack and 1 of 3 patients after the second attack had the same cell density in both eyes. Thus, loss of endothelial cells seems to be due mainly to the recurrent attacks of elevated pressure. The role of the inflammatory changes occurring in eyes with the P-S syndrome, especially keratic precipitates, is discussed.


Release of oxytocin and substance P-like peptides from the rat posterior pituitary lobe incubated in situ after infusion of hypertonic solution into the third cerebral ventricle. Release of oxytocin and Substance P-like peptides from the rat posterior pituitary lobe incubated in situ after infusion of hypertonic solution into the third cerebral ventricle. Acta Physiol. Pol., 1978, 29 (1): 9-16. The experiments were carried out on male rats. Under general urethane and chloralose anaesthesia the ventral surface of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland were exposed by a transpharyngeal approach and the anterior pituitary lobe was entirely removed. The posterior lobe with the remaining neural and partially vascular connections with the hypothalamus was incubated in situ. Oxytocin and Substance P-like peptides were assayed biologically in six 20-min samples of the fluid outflow from the posterior pituitary lobe incubated in situ. At the beginning of collection of the fourth sample a hypertonic solution was infused into the third ventricle through a micropipette. This infusion increased significantly the release of oxytocin and insignificantly that of Substance P-like pepides from the posterior pituitary lobe into the incubation fluid.


Effect of ethanol on glucose and water absorption in hamster jejunum in vivo. Methodological problems: anesthesia, nonabsorbable markers, and osmotic effect. We studied the effect of ethanol on glucose and water absorption in vivo. In preliminary experiments, using sodium amytal anesthesia, we found that control animals, whose jejunal segment was perfused without ethanol, required more anesthetic agent than those perfused with ethanol. Thus, to allow for unbiased comparison of the absorption data between the two groups of animals, all absorption studies were carried out on conscious restrained hamsters. We found that ethanol did not influence the permeability of the jejunum to polyethylene glycol (PEG) and meglumine diatrizoate. In addition, ethanol did not influence the time required for the onset of steady-state absorption. Using both the gravimetric and the electrical methods, we were unable to show any measurable osmotic pressure exerted by ethanol (150-1050 mM) on the hamster jejunum. In the absorption studies we found that perfusion of the hamster jejunum with five increasing concentration of ethanol (450-1050 mM) appeared to cause a concentration-dependent depression in steady-state glucose transport. Water transport was depressed only when 4.8% (1050 mM) ethanol was perfused.


Effect of ethanol on the morphology of hamster jejunum. In order to study the morphological effects of exposure of the jejunum to low ethanol concentrations, we perfused hamster jejunum with 2.1-4.8% ethanol. Following 45 min exposure, many of the villi developed fluid-filled blisters. To compare these findings to the effect of an inert solute at similar concentrations, we perfused hamster jejuna with mannitol. This caused necrosis of the villus tips but no blister formation. Therefore the blisters were the result of the action of ethanol. The rat jejunum was less resistant to ethanol than that of the hamster. We suggest that the initial insult of the freely permeant ethanol is deep to the epithelium, resulting in accumulation of edema under the epithelium.


On the statistical validity of standards used in profile monitoring of health care. In current methods of profile monitoring, standards of acceptability (cut-offs) are set either by consulting panels of experts, or by selecting an arbitrary point (e.g., the 75th percentile) on the profile (statistical distribution). However, experts have only vague ideas of what outcome rates ought to be, while profile statistics stem from samples for which unknown percentages of cases have received acceptable care. Poorly chosen standards could cause profile monitoring to be ineffective, inefficient, or unnecessarily disruptive. A new method proposes to set standards by using statistics for which the percentage of adequate care has been predetermined by examining  the process of care. Plans to circumvent the pitfalls involved are described, as are two approaches to estimating the degree of process adequacy from routinely produced outcome rates.


Erythropoietic response of hypertransfused neonatal rats suckled by anemic mothers. Twelve-day-old hypertransfused neonatal rats nursed for four days by a twice-bled mother exhibited higher 48-hour RBC-59Fe incorporation than control neonates nursed by a normal mother. Erythroprotein (Ep) in plasma of 12-day-old hypertransfused neonates suckled for four days to twice-bled mothers was initially equivalent to approximately 0.5 IU/day. This calculation was based on the observation that reticulocytosis induced in these animals was similar to that produced in neonates of the same age injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 IU Ep for four days while nursing from normal mothers. The reticulocyte maturation curve was shifted to the left in 12-day-old hypertransfused neonates suckled by anemic mothers, and in 12-day-old normal neonates rendered anemic by bleeding, while nursing from normal mothers. This left-shift of the reticulocyte maturation curve was also evident in 12-day-old hypertransfused neonates injected with Ep. Decreases in relative percentages of nucleated RBC was evident in spleens of 12-day-old neonates nursed by anemia mothers and spleens of 12-day-olds injected with Ep. Significant reduction in nucleated RBC were noted in both spleen and marrow of 12-day-old anemic neonates. These results suggest: (1) Ep, present in increased amounts in the anemic mother, is transmitted through milk to nursing neonates thereby stimulating erythropoiesis in these animals; (2) Ep may not stimulate stem cell differentiation towards the e4ythroid compartment but rather acts on already differentiated erythroid cells by influencing their rate of maturation.


Acute changes in plasma testosterone levels and their relation to measures of sexual behaviour in the male house mouse (Mus musculus). There is an increasing amount of evidence, from several mammalian species, that plasma testosterone levels increase acutely when the male is exposed to sexual stimuli. Work reported here investigates whether such responses occur in male mice, and whether their incidence is related to measures of sexual behaviour. Close proximity of oestrous female mice was found to result in increased plasma testosterone levels in some strains within 15 min. Immediately after a sexual behaviour test, plasma testosterone levels were higher in males showing sexual responses. There were correlations between testosterone levels and mount latency, but none with ejaculation latency. Testosterone levels were greatest at the initiation of mounting responses, and declined during copulation, although not significantly.


[Dehydration under one month of age. A review of 132 cases. Epidemiological, clinical and Bacteriological aspects (author's transl)]. 132 cases of dehydration in children under one month of age with a hight proportion of hypertonic dehydration, relating usually to a hyperconcentrated diet, are analyzed, taking into consideration ecological, epidemiological, clinical, biochemical and bacteriological aspects. Decrease in maternal lactation and social hygienic situation were principal factors. Hyperthermia and diarrhoea, were the initial symptoms requiring medical attention, in hypertonic dehydration, being of little importance the neurological manifestations of considerabble incidence and serious posterior repercussion. Important metabolic alterations and the small proportion of positive cultures in feces are evident, relating to those of other authors.


[Hypophenylalaninemia in dietary treatment of phenylketonuria (author's transl)]. One case of hypophenylalaninemia during the dietary low phenylalanine treatment is presented. The general problem of dietary treatment from early ages is reviewed. The appearance of this iatrogenic disease despite adequate supply of this essential aminoacid is stressed. Authors recommend follow-up of these patients in a regional reference center with adecuate technology.


Interferon synthesis in human diploid cells pretreated with insulin. Interferon production by Newcastle disease virus in human diploid (WI-38) cells was greatly reduced in the absence of serum. Pretreatment of the serum-free cells with insulin in excess of 1.2 IU/ml for 2 h before induction considerably increased the amount of interferon produced. No enhancement of interferon production was seen when the cells were exposed to insulin 2 h after induction or later. The insulin's effect persisted for at least 6 h after its removal, but not for 24 h. A possible mechanism of insulin action is discussed.


Psoriasis in an unselected series of twins. The relative importance of genetic factors in the origin, age at onset, clinical type, course, and severity of psoriasis was evaluated on the basis of an unbiased sample of twins, ie, the Danish Twin Register, which covers the total population of twins born in Denmark. All verified and probable cases of psoriasis in twins, born 1891 through 1920, were ascertained. Results are presented of an examination of all members of index pairs in which both partners were alive on a certain date. Fourteen monozygotic and 22 dizygotic, like-sexed pairs were found to include at least one partner with unquestionable psoriasis. Zygosity determination was mainly based on extensive serological examinations. The analyses show that the manifestation of psoriasis depends almost exclusively on the presence of the specific genotype. The age at onset, clinical type, course, and severity are also mainly determined by the genetic constitution. Association with certain HLA antigens of the B series has been confirmed, but the fact that many of the twins (including several of the concordant monozygotic pairs) possess neither of these antigens shows the corresponding genes to be important, but not decisive, elements in the predisposition. We conclude that psoriasis is a genetically determined disorder that may, to a limited extent, be modified by environmental influences.


[Macrolid resistance in Staphylococcus aureus strains from chicken synovitis and dermatitis in industrial production]. In outbreaks of synovitis and dermatitis in chicken caused by Staphylococcus (Staph.) aureus we observed erythromycin-resistant strains. These strains belong to the host-specific variety gallinae of Staph. aureus or can not be alloted to one of the known host-specific varieties. The macrolide-resistance-determinant is not carried by a plasmid, presumably it is located on the chromosome. The strains show constitutively cross-resistance to erythromycin, thurimycin, linomycinc and pristinamycin (M-L-S-phenotype). An ecological investigation in a chicken farm has shown that there is no distribution of Staph. aureus-strains from chicken to workers and no occurence of macrolide-resistance in Staph. aureus-strains from the workers.


[Attempts at control of parturition in swine with dexamethasone. 1. Effect of various treatment dates in late pregnancy on onset of labor, litter and rearing performance of the sows]. Studies were conducted with 66 gilts with synchronised ovulation, all kept in five separate experimental groups (I-V). Each of the animals received 75 mg Dexamethason (DXMS) per die over three consecutive days of pregnancy. Treatment of Groups I through V was started in this order on the 101st, 103rd, 105th, 107th or 109th days of pregnancy. The average intervals that elapsed between the last DXMS injection and onset of parturition were, in the same order, 174, 167, 133, 94 or 74 hours. Births were concentrated on two consecutive days in Group V. DXMS had no significant effect on the average duration and course of parturitions. The lowest average litter and piglet birth weights were recorded from those DXMS groups with shortest pregnancy. No significant mean differences in piglet weight were any longer established between the groups on the tenth day of age.


[Pathohistological studies on so-called subclinical mastitis]. Three different localisations of each one of 118 udder quarters were histologically tested. All the 118 quarters had been clinically unchanged for not less than three months before slaughter, and the milk obtained from them had been without any major change over at least six weeks. Sixty-two quarters that had produced positive response to the highspeed mastitis test just before slaughter exhibited 45 inflammatory changes (72 per cent), most of them in terms of proliferative lobular mastitis or exudative alveolitis. One of such changes was recorded from 20 in 47 quarters (21 per cent) which had reacted negatively to the highspeed mastitis test. Comparison with the clinical history of the udders showed that 47 per cent of the established changes could be interpreted as sequels of previous clinical disorder in udder condition, while the greater part of all findings was based on completely negative udder histories.


[Fixed fibrous subaortic stenosis. Postoperative evaluation]. Fibrous sub-aortic stenosis in 19 patients surgically treated is discussed. The clinical, radiologic, EKG and cardiac catheterization data in the pre and post-operative evaluations are reviewed. There were no surgical deaths in this series. In 14 cases post-operative cardiac catheterization was carried out, in 11 patients a significant decrease in the gradient was found. In 4 cases pharmacological testing was done during catheterization before and after surgery, without significant change in gradients.


[The digestibility of milk substitutes with various soybean products in young calves]. Digestibility trials were performed to study the suitability of mixtures made up of treated soybean and whey powder for replacing skim milk powder. Three different milk replacers were used, the replacers T-18/II and T-18/III containing Plyllac preparations manufactured by different technologies. When using the T-18 preparation with 18% fat content it was found that the protein source may contain 25% Plyllac preparation and 11% sweet whey powder. In two cases, at the age of 5 and 7 weeks, the digestibility of the crude protein in the T-18/II preparation was found to deteriorate significantly. For this reason, the authors suggest this milk replacer to be used from the 5th week of life. Trials were performed with 3 milk replacers (lactine preparations) containing Plyllac preparations of different manufacturing technology (35%), treated soybean (10%) and sweet whey powder (10%). It was found that the use of Plyllac preparations, i.e. of treated soybean in larger amounts causes the nutrient digestibility, mainly that of crude protein, to be significantly lower at the age of 3 and 5 weeks than that at the age of 7 to 9 weeks. No significant differences were found in the digestibility of the various Plyllac preparations manufactured by different technologies. The milk replacer lactine is recommended for use from the 5th week of life on.


[Effect of milk substitutes with various soy bean products on the N metabolism in calves]. N-balance trials on young calves aged 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 weeks, respectively, revealed that a mixture of soybean and whey powder accounting for 39.5% of the total protein amount can be fed without any disadvantage. Feeding this mixture gave N-balance results differing only slightly in the groups aged 7, 9 and 11 weeks. The milk replacer with a higher proportion of soybean and whey powder revealed a more unfavourable N-balance. This allows to conclude that milk replacers containing soybean preparations can be successfully applied to young calves from 5 weeks on, no disadvantages being likely as to N-balance and live weight gain.


[The effect of types of rations on a straw basis on fermentation and volatile fatty acid production in the rumen of lactating cows. 2. Ruminal fermentation and milk yield criteria after use of a high-fiber straw pellet batch as a basic ration component]. Lactating Black-Pied (DSR) cows were used to study, over a period of 100 days, the influence of different basal ration types (experimental group - straw pellets; control group - dried forage + fodder root crops) on fermentation response and daily production rate of volatile fatty acids (VFA) as well as on some criteria of milk yield. Whilst only slight differences were found between the experimental groups in the molar proportions of VFA, the straw pellet-concentrate ration resulted in a lower VFA production as compared to the conventional ration. The control group's VFA production relativated to energy intake, was found to be of the same level (4.1, 4.3 and 3.9 Mol/1 kilo energetic feed equivalents/cattle) after 30, 60 and 100 days of feeding, respectively. The corresponding values in the experimental group declined from 3.3 to 2.3 and 1.9 Mol/1 kilo EF/cattle when feeding a high-fibre straw-pellet batch as basal ration component. The VFA production rates rather diverging between both groups were not found to have a uniform effect on the milk synthesis processes. Both the daily and the first 100-day milk yields did not differ between the groups but within the range of statistical error. Statistically secured positive correlations were found to exist between concentration and production of VFA which, however, depend on the basal ration type and revealed a relatively wide deviation.


Methylphenidate in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated developing rat pups. Effects on activity and maze performance. In order to better devine the relationship between brain catecholaminergic mechanisms and the clinical syndrome of minimal brain dysfunction, we have developed an experimental model that has many of the features of the disorder seen in children. This model is effected by the preferential depletion of brain dopamine in 5-day-old rat pups following the intracisternal administration of 6-hydroxydopamine, and in the present investigation, we have examined the effects of methylphenidate hydrochloride (0.25 to 2.0 mg/kg) on activity levels and cognitive performance in normal and 6-hydroxydopamine treated animals. Methylphenidate therapy resulted in a significant increase in activity levels of normal rat pups 12 and 19 days of age; in contrast, methylphenidate administered to 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals did not increase activity at 12 days of age and significantly reduced activity at 19 and 26 days. Methylphenidate had no effect on T-maze performance in normals, but significantly improved performance in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated animals. Our results suggest that the "paradoxical" response to methylphenidate found in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rat pups may be the result of central denervation supersensitivity.


The effects on chicks of dietary fibre from different sources: a growth factor in wheat bran. 1. Groups of chicks were given a low-residue diet with or without supplements of dietary fibre in the form of wheat bran, wheat straw or bagasse. Growth and food conversion efficiency (g weight gained/g food eaten; FCE) during the first 4 weeks of life were measured. 2. In every one of seven experiments supplementation of the diet with 100 g wheat bran/kg resulted in improved growth, and in three experiments FCE was also increased. 3. Supplementation with coarsely-milled wheat straw to provide an amount of unavailable carbohydrate equivalent to that in the bran diet resulted in poorer growth; finely-milled wheat straw had little effect on growth. 4. The growth-promoting effect of bran was destroyed by sterilization with heat or gamma-radiation. 5. In some experiments weights, lengths and volumes of small intestines were measured. Differences in intestinal dimensions between birds given the diet with and without fibre were not consistent, nor were they correlated with growth rate or FCE. 6. Histometric observations on small intestines from a few birds indicated that those given coarse wheat straw had longer vili and thicker muscularis layers, and the caecal tonsils had a greater area of lymphoid tissue and more follicles.


Interaction of vitamin K dependent proteins with membranes. The membrane-binding characteristics of six vitamin K dependent plasma proteins, which have homologous amino acid sequences, were compared. All of these proteins display calcium-dependent membrane binding and the identified equilibria for protein-membrane binding are qualitatively the same for all proteins. Quantitative characteristics of these protein-membrane interactions allow organization into distinct subgroups. Protein C and factor VII form a subgroup which has extemely low affinity for bilayer membranes; prothrombin, factor X, and protein S form the tightest complexes with membranes and factor IX displays intermediate affinity. In the presence of manganese (which substitutes for calcium in a cation-dependent protein transition), calcium titration of protein-membrane binding shows the same calcium dependence for all proteins except prothrombin which requires lower calcium. These protein-membrane binding characteristics agree very well with the relatedness of these proteins based on their partial amino-terminal sequences.


A kinetic analysis of D-xylose transport in Rhodotorula glutinis. The kinetics of D-xylose transport were studied in Rhodotorula glutinis. Analysis of the saturation isotherm revealed the presence of at least two carriers for D-xylose in the Rhodotorula plasma membrane. These two carriers exhibited Km values differing by more than an order of magnitude. The low-Km carrier was repressed in rapidly growing cells and derepressed by starvation of the cells. Several hexoses were observed to inhibit D-xylose transport. In the studies reported here, the inhibitions produced by D-galactose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose were examined in some detail in order to define the interactions of these sugars with the D-xylose carriers. 2-Deoxy-D-glucose competitively inhibited both of the D-xylose carriers. In contrast, only the low-Km carrier was competitively inhibited by D-galactose.


Dispersion of mammalian sperm chromatin during fertilization: an in vitro study. When "denuded spermatozoa" (spermatozoa stripped of the greater part of their acrosomes and resembling in may respects spermatozoa after acrosomal reaction) of the bull are incubated with 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol (pH 8), sperm chromatin is degraded extensively by a protease in the sperm head. The morphological pattern of sperm nuclear dispersion upon in vitro incubation is similar to that observed in the newly fertilized egg. Following disintegration of the outer layers of the sperm nucleus, chromatin dispersion commences from the periphery of the posterior half and proceeds to the anterior end and to the core of the head. Less basic N- and C-terminal portions of bull sperm histone molecules are digested quickly. The central, very arginine-rich portions of the molecules degrade gradually, yielding an heterogeneous series of arginine-rich peptides (molecular weight, 400-1500). Evidence suggests that the protease which is responsible for the degradation of sperm chromatin is a small fraction of acrosin. This fraction of acrosin appears to be arranged along the nuclear surface and to become associated with sperm chromatin during structural changes of the nuclear surface. A similar proteolysis of rabbit, hamster and guinea pig sperm chromatin has also been observed. The resulting pattern of dissolution of the sperm nucleus is proposed as a model of some of the steps involved in male pronucleus formation from the sperm head after fertilization. Histones H2a, H2b, H3, and H4 associated with DNA are relatively resistant to acrosin.


Ribosomal DNA in spores of Physarum polycephalum. DNA was isolated from plasmodia, spores and newly hatched amoebae of the slime mould Physarum polycephalum. The DNA preparations were fractionated in CsCl gradients and each fraction hybridised to combined 19 S + 26 S rRNA. In all three DNA preparations hybridisation was found to be limited to satellite DNA (rho = 1.714 g/cm3) and at saturation was found to reach a level of 0.16--0.18 % of total DNA. The main band of nuclear DNA (rho = 1.702 g/cm3) did not hybridise appreciably. Further experiments using analytical CsCl gradients revealed that the ratio of satellite to main band DNA was similar in all three preparations. It is concluded that the genes for ribosomal RNA are equally reiterated in spores, hatching amoebae and in plasmodia. They appear to be similarly organised in all stages of the life cycle examined so far.


Polysome activity in relation to growth and protein starvation in brains and hearts of cultured early chick embryos. In previous studies, brains but not hearts of intact early chick embryos were found to be sensitive to protein starvation. In this study, the in vitro protein synthetic activity of polysomes isolated from brains was found to be greater than those isolated from hearts. Starvation reduced the protein synthetic activity of polysomes in vitro but the extent of the reduction was approximately the same for both brains and hearts. A reduction in the amount of ribosomes as polysomes may have contributed to the lower synthetic activity of polysomes from tissues of starved embryos but not to the differences in synthetic activities between brains and hearts. In addition, neither the stability of isolated polysomes nor ribosome-associated ribonuclease activity appeared responsible for the differences observed in polysome synthetic activities. In direct relationship to the differential sensitivity of brains and hearts to starvation observed in the intact embryo, ribosomes isolated from brains of both growing and starved embryos were more readily degraded during in vitro incubation than those from hearts.


Protein-associated DNA breaks in cells treated with adriamycin or ellipticine. The effect of intercalating agents on mammalian DNA in vivo was examined by the technique of alkaline elution. Adriamycin and ellipticine were found to produce large numbers of single-strand breaks. These breaks appeared to be intimately associated with protein to the extent that enzymatic deproteinization of the DNA was necessary to reveal the breaks. The frequency of breaks and cross-links increased with concentration and time of exposure to the drugs. These data suggest that DNA single-strand scission may be a feature common to intercalators. The association with a cellular protein is previously undescribed and suggests possible mechanisms for the strand scission.