Another optical-geometrical illusion.

Another optical-geometrical illusion. A new optical-geometrical illusion is described. The parallelism of short rows of dots is affected by some unknown factor, so that the rows appear as pivoting on their middle point. Some explanations of the illusion are considered, but with no success.


The angular function of orientation illusions induced by projected images of tilted real object scenes. Tilt aftereffects induced by line gratings are maximal when the test and inducing stimuli have an angular separation of 10 degrees-15 degrees. Similar effects induced by prismatically tilted real-object scenes have been found to increase monotonically with scene tilt. The difference between these two angular functions of aftereffect (that induced by gratings and that induced by real objects) has been attributed to the 'meaning' inherent in the real-object scenes. The preliminary experiments described here suggest that tilt aftereffects and illusions induced by projected slides of tilted real-object scenes have angular functions similar to that induced by a line grating. Hence, the monotonically increasing angular function obtained in the prism studies is not necessarily determined by the use of real-object scenes.


[Trigeminal involvement as the presentation of syringomyella and of an abnormality of the occipito-vertebral junction (author's transl)]. Trigeminal involvement in syringomyelia or in a malformation of the occipito-vertebral junction may rarely be the presenting feature of the disorder. Two cases are reported: in the first, recurrent pruritus of the side of the nose due to sensory involvement of CN V was the presenting feature of syringomyelia; in the second, a malformation of the occipito-vertebral junction presented with refractory and painful trismus by irritation of the motor part of the trigeminal nerve.


[Study of the Wirsung duct by echography (author's transl)]. With the usual echographic technics, the Wirsung duct, when dilated can be only episodically seen: the seesaw motion of the transducer produces some undesirable echoes, which rub out the lumen of the Wirsung duct. In order to obtain steadily pictures of the dilated Wirsung duct, the transducer must be used with a sweep motion in only one direction, while a positive pressure is exerted on the epigastrium. When transversally intersected, the Wirsung duct appears spindle shaped; it can be displayed on a rather good length. When sagittaly intersected, it presents, itself like a curved shaped picture, 4 mm to 2 cm in diameter, empty of echoes, in the center of the pancreatic section. The Wirsung duct, with the former technics, had been displayed 20 times in 140 cases of chronic pancreatitis; whe have found it in 4 cases in our 10 last cases of chronic pancreatitis. These case have been verified by endoscopic Wirsungography.


[Progressive myoclonic encephalopathy in dialysis patients. The role of the water used for haemodialysis (author's transl)]. The observation in 14 dialysis patients of an encephalopathy associating myoclonia, dysarthria, generalised seizures in some cases, worsening over a few months, led to an aetiological inquiry based upon comparative study of patients with or without encephalopathy treated in the same centre or at home, and controls. Higher levels of aluminium were found in the frontal cortex grey matter of encephalopathy patients as compared to the control group. The same applies to manganese in the white matter. Copper, zinc and iron contents were not different. Aluminium levels in blood, dialysis bath and tap water supply were higher in center dialysis than in home dialysis. Blood aluminium levels at the end of hemodialysis were correlated with bath aluminium levels. The ingestion of alumine gels was not greater in the encephalopathy patients than in other hemodialysis patients; its estimation, in each case, was not related to the blood aluminium levels at the begining of hemodialysis. These finding indicate the need of a routine measure of metal content - mainly aluminium and manganese - in tap water used for dialysis, in order to treat this water if necessary.


Wheat germ tRNAs containing uridine in place of ribothymidine: a characterization of an unusual class of eukaryotic tRNAs. An unusual class of wheat germ tRNAs has been isolated which completely lacks ribothymidine (rT) and contains an unmodified uridine in its place. We discuss here the isolation, identification and properties of these tRNAs. The rT-lacking tRNAs of wheat germ are essentially limited to the glycine isoacceptors (a minimum of five identifiable species), three threonine and at least, one tyrosine tRNA. All tRNAs were obtained 70-100% pure by chromatographic methods, and were detected by their ability to be methylated by E. coli rT-forming uracil methyltransferase with methyl-labeled S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) as the methyl donor. In vitro methylation of each of the tRNAs resulted in the formation of 1 mole of rT per mole of tRNA. In the one case analyzed in detail (tRNA1Gly), all of the rT was found to be located at the 23rd position from the 3' end of the tRNA molecule. Following complete digestion of four highly purified glycine isoacceptors (tRNAGly1,4,5,6) to nucleosides and subsequent periodate oxidation and 3H potassium borohydride reduction, all were found to contain an unusually high level of 5-methylcytidine (m5C) (3-4 residues per molecule), and all contained no rT. The possible correlation between the presence of m5C and the absence of rT is discussed. All of the chromatographically purified glycine tRNAs function in a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesizing system and polymerize glycine in response to either poly G or poly (G, U).


Protein kinase in HeLA nucleosomes: a reevaluation of the interactions of histomes with the ends of core particle DNA. HeLa chromatin core particles contain a protein kinase which transfers phosphate from ATP to both nonhistone proteins and histones. The enzyme preferentially modifies H3 among the histones; about 7% of the H3 molecules in the nucleoprotein are modified at saturation. Activity of this kinase likely contributed to earlier results using crosslinking methodology to study which histones interact with the ends of core particle DNA. When the kinase is largely removed by sedimentation of core particles through sucrose gradients containing 0.45 M NaCl, crosslinking of the 5'-terminal label on DNA is observed only to histone H3. The overall efficiency of the crosslinking reaction is about 15%. The origin of the 5'-terminal 32P previously assigned as crosslinked to H4 is not explained by the current experiments.


Mapping of the Xenopus laevis 5.8S rDNA by restriction and DNA sequencing. The location of the 5.88 rDNA within the internal transcribed spacer has been found by restriction and sequence analysis. These analyses indicate the deletion of a dinucleotide from the known rRNA sequence. Regions to the 5' and 3' of the gene contain both uncommon sequences and palindromic structures which might provide potential control points. A secondary structure model is suggested for the 5.8S rRNA incorporating the flanking sequences.


A second site-specific restriction endonuclease from Staphylococcus aureus. A site-specific restriction endonuclease has been isolated from Staphylococcus aureus PS 96. This enzyme, Sau96 I, recognizes the DNA sequence 5'--G-G-N-C-C--3' and cleaves  as indicated by the arrows. The enzyme 3'--C-C-N-G-G--5' cleaves adenovirus type 5 and lambda DNA many times, SV40 DNA 10 times and 0X174 RF DNA 2 times. Evidence is presented that the enzyme is involved in biological restriction-modification.


Nucleotide sequences at the 5' termini of influenza virus RNAs and their transcripts. The results of analyses of the 5'-terminal sequences of Fowl Plague virus RNAs are presented. The first 13 residues of each of the eight RNA molecules which constitute the genome are in the identical sequence 5'AGUAGAAAUUAGG- and this conservation of sequence is shown to extend to other influenza viruses. The 5'-terminal sequences of virion RNA transcripts produced in vitro are also reported and again the first 12 nucleotides of these are identical for all influenza type A transcripts examined in the sequence 5'AGCAAAAGCAGG-. In addition the results of attempts to determine the sequence relationship between vRNAs and the two classes of complementary RNA synthesized in influenza infected cells are described which support the conclusion that influenza messenger RNAs are incomplete transcripts.


Is there specific transcription from isolated chromatin? Hg-UMP-containing transcripts made from chick erythroid chromatins with E. coli RNA polymerase hybridize to chick globin cDNA. Contamination with endogenous globin RNA has been largely removed by purification on SH-agarose columns at 55 degrees C. Some endogenous globin mRNA sequences remain, probably as hybrids with "anti-sense" Hg-transcripts produced by RNA-dependent RNA synthesis. Heating to 115 degrees C before SH-agarose chromatography eliminates these contaminants. Hg-transcripts from adult and embryonic erythroid chromatins purified by this method are hybridized to globin cDNA; they contain a 4- to 6-fold higher proportion of globin-specific sequences (10-13 PPM) than do transcripts from brain chromatin. Dissociation of erythroid chromatins in salt and urea, followed by reconstitution using standard methods, destroys even this low degree of specificity.


Photochemical dehydrogenation of 5, 6-dihydropyrimidines. 5, 6-Dihydropyrimidines can be oxidized photochemically to the original pyrimidines with light of lambda greater than 300 nm in the presence of transition metal salts which act as sensitizers. A hydrogen atom abstraction by hydroxyl radical is suggested as the reaction mechanism.


Origin of the actinomycin D insensitive RNA species in Aedes albopictus cells. In the presence of actinomycin D or a combination of actinomycin D and either camptothecin or alpha-amanatin. Aedes albopictus cells synthesize a variety of single stranded RNA species. These actinomycin D resistant species are ethidium bromide sensitive and they are present in the cell cytoplasm in an RNase resistant structure which has the sedimentation and buoyant density characteristics of mitochondria. Twelve actinomycin D insensitive RNA species can be detected by electrophoresis in 7M urea and 11 of these bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose. An identical set of oligo(dT)-cellulose binding RNA species is obtained when A. albopictus cells are labeled in the presence of camptothecin alone. The actinomycin D insensitive RNA species which bind to oligo(dT)-cellulose hybridize to mitochondrial DNA. These data indicate that the actinomycin D insensitive RNA species have a mitochondrial origin and are not associated with the replication of an inapparent contaminating virus.


Hydrogen bonding interactions of polyamines with the 2' OH of RNA. Polyamines and other charged amines bind to RNA by hydrogen bonding to the 3' phosphate and to the 2' OH. This mode of binding suggests a mechanism by which DNA and RNA might be distinguished by enzymes.


Differently sized rDNA repeating units of Xenopus laevis are arranged as internally homogeneous clusters along the nucleolar organizer. The organization of differently sized genes coding for rRNA in Xenophus laevis has been investigated by partial EcoRI or HindIII digestion. The electrophoretic patterns obtained revealed that most adjacent repeating units are equally sized. This conclusion is in agreement with a previous suggestion that the nucleolar organizer is made up of internally homogeneous blocks of rRNA genes.


The helical model of the nucleosome core. A model of the nucleosome core is proposed based on a topologically linear array of histones attached sequentially to DNA. The linear complex folds helically forming a spring-like particle. Different variants of the particle are discussed (cylindrical springs with and without histone-histone contacts between turns of the helix, solenoidal spring). The model is consistent with known data about the nucleosome structure. Histones H3 and H4 have a special role in the model which is related also to the superstructure of chromatin.


In vitro RNA synthesis and expression of vitellogenin gene in isolated chicken liver nuclei. Optimal conditions for prolonged in vitro synthesis of RNA in isolated chicken liver nuclei have been described. It is shown by incorporation of gamma32P-GTP into RNA, analysis of the product on sucrose density gradient, and digestion with alkaline phosphatase and ribonuclease A that there is reinitiation of RNA synthesis. Polynucleotide kinase activity has been ruled out as explanation for the incorporation of gamma32P-GTP. alpha-Amanitin inhibits RNA synthesis by about 50%. Nuclei prepared from estradiol-treated chicks have twice the RNA synthesis activity as the controls. RNA is synthesized in the presence of Hg-UTP and the mercurated product separated by affinity chromatography on sulfhydryl-Sepharose column under stringent conditions. Vitellogenin mRNA sequences are measured by hybridization with DNA complementary to vitellogenin mRNA. Estradiol treatment leads to a 10-fold increase in vitellogenin mRNA sequences.


Enzymes from Micrococcus luteus involved in the initial steps of excision repair of spontaneous DNA lesions: uracil-DNA-glycosidase and apurinic-endonucleases. Uracil-DNA-glycosidase that releases free uracil from single-stranded or double-stranded deaminated DNA and poly d(A-U) has been partially purified from Micrococcus luteus. The enzyme has a molecular weight of about 16,000 and can be separated from uracil-endonuclease and endonucleases (AP-endonucleases) specific for apurinic and apyrimidinic sites. Uracil-DNA-glycosidase does not act on guanine residues opposite uracil in double-stranded DNA and on xanthine in deaminated DNA. The glycosidase generates apyrimidinic sites which can serve as substrate sites for different AP-endonucleases from M. luteus.


Case report: familial thrombo-cytopenia in seven members of three generations. All members in one generation and two of six members of the next generation were found to have familial thrombocytopenia. The disorder was transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait. Easy bruising and a bleeding tendency were the common features. No member had splenomegaly. Platelet counts varied from 8 to 75 x 10-9/liter, and there were no apparent morphologic abnormalities. Platelet survival studies using sodium chromate Cr 51-labeled autologous platelets were done for three members and showed shortened survival times. Two members were treated with corticosteroids and splenectomy without benefit. Three members tolerated surgery (splenectomy, polypectomy) without undue difficulty. Defective or ineffective thrombocytopoiesis appeared to be the basis of this hereditary disorder.


Pregnancy testing. 2. Radioreceptor assay. Of the various sensitive assays for human chorionic gonadotropin, the radioreceptor assay is now the most practical and should be used for the early diagnosis of pregnancy (35 days or less after the last normal menstrual period). Serial measurement of this hormone by the beta subunit radioimmunoassay provides a valuable guide to the management of trophoblastic disease.


Asbestos-related diseases of lung and pleura: clinical picture and illustrative cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur in any of a large number of occupations, and the latent period from exposure to appearance of clinical or roentgenologic evidence of related disease of the lung or pleura, or both, may be more than 20 years. A complete occupational history is therefore of paramount importance in the detection of asbestos-related diseases. Illustrative cases highlight the features of benign and malignant diseases of the lung and pleura for which a causal relationship to asbestos exposure is probable or established.


Diet and diabetes mellitus: concepts and objectives. Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease with two dominant pathogenic lesions, one resulting from a failure of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans and the other from resistance to the actions of insulin in peripheral tissue. Patients may demonstrate varying degrees of either or both lesions. Diet has an important place in the treatment of all diabetics. The most important objective is control of total caloric intake to attain and maintain ideal body weight. Obesity is diabetogenic. The diet of children with diabetes should allow them to grow and develop normally. Insulin-dependent diabetics must eat meals on a regular schedule. Carbohydrate intake should not be disproportionately restricted. Fat intake in diabetics and in nondiabetics should comprise only about 30% of total calories. Dietary instruction should not be a one-time affair. Physicians should seek the assistance of diet counselors when they are available. Many basic questions about diet and diabetes remain unanswered.


Coronary artery disease in children.

Coronary artery disease in children. In this paper an attempt has been made to correlate the morphologicla aspects of childhood atherosclerosis. Some of the features described are directly related to atherosclerosis. Some of the other conditions described may be related to the subsequent development of atherosclerosis by damaging the vessel wall and thus stimulating the production of atherosclerosis. In other instances, as in the description of the ultrastructural features of the coronary arteries, the exact role of the changes described still remains to be elucidated.


Influence of nutrition in childhood on the origins of coronary heart disease. Both the quality and the quantity of food ingested are relevant to the genesis of risk factors for coronary heart disease and the two are inseparable. Nevertheless they have a major common pathway through hypertension, which may well be the most important consequence of a high-protein, high-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-energy and high-sodium diet. Because body fatness is a strongly genetically determined characteristic and because it evolves over the whole period of childhood a vigorous and sustained programme of health education is required at all levels. The aim of such a programme is to effect a small shift in the fatness of the whole population; such a shift would dramatically and disproportionately reduce the incidence of obesity. Since the morbidity and mortality which is found in obese subjects arises primarily from cardiovascular disease in general, and coronary heart disease in particular, nutritional influences have obvious relevance to the prevention of coronary heart disease.


Preparations used for the artificial feeding of infants. Cow's milk differs from human milk in a number of important ways, and manufactures of dried milk preparations for infants have used various methods to make the composition of the diluted product more like that of human milk. The first was to add lactose, or to recommend the mother to add sucrose. This not only increased the carbohydrate, but also 'diluted' the protein and inorganic constituents which are more concentrated in cow's than in human milk. The second was to replace all or part of the cow's milk fat with animal and vegetable fats, and so make the fatty acid composition more like that of human milk fat. In particular the proportion of linoleic acid was increased and that of stearic acid decreased, and this made the fat more easily digested and absorbed by the young infant. The third modification of cow's milk has been more fundamental. Its aim has been to make a product containing less sodium and phosphorus than cow's milk and with a higher lactalbumin: casein ratio. Whey, which contains lactalbumin but not casein, is used as the starting material. This is dialysed to remove soluble inorganic constituents. Some skimmed milk is then added to supply casein and some minerals, and the composition is adjusted as required with further minerals and vitamins. Lactose is added and a mixture of animal and vegetable fats. Dried milks on sale in Britain contain added vitamins A,D, and C and also iron. Some have added copper and zinc.


Normal and abnormal lipid metabolism in children. The transport of lipids in plasma, and its dietary regulation are briefly reviewed. Plasma lipid concentrations are low in the neonate, rising to near-adult levels by the age of six years. The causes of childhood hyperlipidaemia are discussed and a classification is proposed.


Risk factors of CHD in children--a retrospective view of the Westland study. Routine medical examinations have been carried out in children for many years, but more recently paediatricians have broadened their outlook to consider not only the health of the child until the age of 14 or 16 years but also his future health as an adult. Screening for risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in children raises problems of normal values by sex and age, especially for serum cholesterol and blood pressure. The results of a study of CHD risk factors in school children in Westland, Holland, are described. Although further information is needed it is concluded that in future paediatricians should accept a greater responsibility for preventive cardiology.


Smoking in childhood.

Smoking in childhood. A longitudinal study of smoking in a cohort of 6000 children aged 11-12 years is being carried out in Derbyshire. One of the main objectives is to discover the factors which influence children to take up smoking. Once such factors are determined intervention methods can be developed to discourage children from smoking which, it is hoped, will result in a reduction in mortality and morbidity from cigarette smoking.


Arterial changes in infants of smoking mothers. Examination of umbilical arteries and veins, and vessels in placental villi was carried out by electronmicroscopy in smoking and non-smoking mothers. Severe vascular changes were found in the smoking group. These findings suggest that similar changes may be present in the vessels of the newborn child. Stopping pregnant women from smoking may help to prevent CHD in their children in later life.


Blood pressure and its significance in childhood. Hypertension is an important accelerator of the atherosclerotic process. Detection in childhood may be important although longitudinal data are lacking of the prognosis of blood pressure measurement in childhood through adult life. The blood pressure of children should be measured. In populations where salt intake is high, values for blood pressure increase with age. Populations who eat small quantities of salt are relatively free from hypertension. There is an epidemiological argument for limiting salt intake in children. There are few data to indicate the level of blood pressure in children which should be treated. Children's blood pressures are labile and elevated levels are sustained only in a small minority. In these secondary causes, advice should be sought. In subjects with extreme persistent hypertension drug therapy should be considered; in subjects with values of blood pressure not so extremely raised surveillance should be maintained to prevent the development of sustained hypertension.


Motivating adolescents to reduce risk for chronic disease. Motivating children to reduce risk for future disease can only be effective within a framework of personal involvement and peer interaction. The 'Know Your Body' programme of disease prevention is attempting to achieve this goal by means of medical screening for risk factors, giving students their own results in a 'Health Passport', and following up with educational activities integrated into existing school curricula. Didactic teaching alone has been unsuccessful because children cannot relate information about diseases in adult life to themselves. Screening for risk factors provides the 'reality factor' which makes health education pertinent and personal, since approximately half of all students screened will already have one or more risk factors for heart disease, cancer or stroke. This high prevalence of risk factors among our children suggests that chronic-disease prevention must assume a critically important position within the health and science curricula of every school. It is as important to teach our children healthy ways of living as it is to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic.


A national food policy for prevention of CHD? There is an increasing recognition of the importance of diet in the prevention of CHD. Dietary recommendations of various authoritative bodies are summarized. There is now a concensus of opinion concerning certain nutritional changes needed. These have important implications for education, agriculture, food labelling and food subsidies. It is concluded that a national food policy is needed, but that this should come from education and persuasion and not from compulsion.


The attitude of the food industry.

The attitude of the food industry. The food industry necessarily provides what the nation will eat. Whilst taking care to meet all the standards laid down, the industry has to follow fashion rather than to dictate it. It welcomes advice from the medical profession but much advice has been slow to come. In this spirit of co-operation the food industry accepts its role to feed the nation and does so with responsibility for health and hygiene.


The role of the media.

The role of the media. There is an increasing awareness on the part both of the media and the profession of the need to co-operate in providing information and education on medical matters. This co-operation should be strongly encouraged. Where children are concerned the opportunities for education are great.


The paediatrician's responsibility for the prevention of coronary heart disease. A strong case exists in favour of encouraging children not to smoke, to be reasonably physically active and to eat in moderation to avoid obesity. The principal role of the paediatrician is in the education of health personnel who are in a position to influence children and their families to adopt these measures. Paediatricians will also be involved with children at special risk of ischaemic heart disease. They have a responsibility to promote reasearch to determine the efficacy of these measures in the prevention of coronary heart disease.


[The use of wide-bore catheters in acute haemodialysis (author's transl)]. The experiences are reported which were gained with a modified Shaldon catheter for cannulization of the superior vena cava in persons requiring acute haemodialysis. Since September 1976 this instrument has been used 147 times in 124 persons for catheterization of the superior vena cava with the Seldinger technique. In 72 cases the indication for haemodialysis was acute renal failure. In 52 persons a permanent access to vessels had either not yet been established or was not viable at the time chronic haemodialysis was begun. The incidence of complications was approximately the same as that following conventional catheterization of the subclavian vein. In a number of cases access was via the femoral vein although the choice of this site offers hardly any advantage in view of the necessary immobilization of the patient and the slightly higher risk of infection.


[Stress-induced peptic ulcer; pathogenesis, clinical features, prevention and treatment (author's transl)]. Stress-induced ulcer is a fairly common acute erosive or ulcerative lesion of the stomach and duodenum that occurs in temporal relationship with, and in response to, stressful physical or mental situations in adults and children. Such situations may arise from surgical operations, severe injuries, especially cerebro-cranial trauma, septicaemia, during intensive therapy, in persons with respiratory or renal insufficiency, in cases of carcinoma, in moribund patients; also included, because of the identical symptoms, are ulcers developing during administration of glucocorticoids, salicylates, anti-rheumatic and anti-phlogistic drugs (pre-disposing factors). The stress-induced peptic ulcer manifests itself in haematemesis, melaena, blood in the stools and in perforation. The latter is often unrecognized because of its asymptomatic and frequently un-dramatic course. Two-thirds of the lesions are in the stomach, predominantly in the form of multiple haemorrhagic erosions; on-third of the cases are located in the duodenum, almost exclusively in the form of an acute ulceration; bleeding, due to arrosion, occurs in an high percentage of these cases. Pathogenetic factors are: shock-induced circulatory disturbances of the gastro-intestinal blood supply with necrosis of the apical mucosal cells, increased gastric acidity (increased histamine release, vagal stimulation and increased production of glucocorticoids), changes in the mucosal barrier (e.g. gastro-duodenal reflux). Cases of stress-induced peptic ulcers complicating a severe primary disease (which is often masked by the intestinal symptoms) carry an unfavourable prognosis. With conservative treatment the mortality rate is still 60 percent; with surgical treatment (neither advisable nor possible in every case) it is 40 percent.


[The anaesthetist-patient relationship (author's transl)]. The busy atmosphere and routine of a hospital is apt to induce apprehension in a patient about to have a surgical operation. To calm and reassure him and relieve his anxiety is an important part of the anaesthetist's work.


[Naloxone--a clinical study on dosage (author's transl)]. In 50 Patients (group I) anaesthetized with neuroleptanalgesia and in 20 patients (group II) anaesthetized with moderate doses of fentanyl given to supplement nitrous oxide - halothane anaesthesia the postoperative respiratory depression was antagonized with naloxone. Each patient was carefully titrated with small increments of naloxone (40 microgram) given in 1-2 minute intervals. A reversal of the narcotic induced respiratory depression was taken for granted, when respiratory rate exceeded 12/min, tidal volume and blood gas analysis showed normal values. The results demonstrated a correlation between the need for naloxone and the time interval from the last administration of fentanyl to the completion of the operation and the fentanyl consumption per hour. When the interval was less than 1 hour more than 90% of the patients required postsurgical naloxone for respiratory inadequacy. The mean naloxone dose was 20 to 30% of the fentanyl dose given per hour: 1,2 microgram/kg naloxone reversed 4,9 microgram/kg.h fentanyl (group I) and 0,6 microgram/kg naloxone reversed 2,9 microgram/kg.h fentanyl (group II) respectively. To prevent renarcotization it is recommended to administer naloxone i.m. 30 to 45 min after the last naloxone-injection using the total i.v. dose.


[The effects of naloxone on oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation and cardiac performance in adult non-anaesthetised persons (author's transl)]. 10 normal persons were given 0.4 milligrams of Naloxone intravenously, and the following measurements were taken: oxygen uptake, CO2 production, respiratory quotient, respiratory minute volume, tidal air, dead space, effective dead space, specific ventilation, alveolar O2 partial pressure, end-expiratory CO2 partial pressure, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and the Burger Index. Analysis of the results established that administration of Naloxone was followed by a statistically significant, but clinically not relevant, reduction in O2 uptake and CO2 production. Higher doses produced the same results. The findings appear to contradict those observed in anaesthetised patients who are given Naloxone during the postoperative stage. However, closer examination of the results suggests that the so-called tachytrophic effect of Naloxone is attributable to its antagonistic action on the analgesic and sedative effects of opiates rather than to a specific pharmacodynamic property of Naloxone.


[A new method for the transcutaneous measurement of deep body temperature during anaesthesia and intensive care (author's transl)]. A new method for monitoring deep body temperature is described. It is based on the establishment, by means of electronic appliances, of a zone without heatflow from the deep tissues. The method is simple and the results compare favourably with those obtained by other procedures for measuring core temperature. The uses of this transcutaneous mehtod are discussed and its advantages and reliability in the operating theatre and intensive care unit are emphasized. It becomes less reliable if it is employed during and after extracorporeal circulation in hypothermia on account of the temperature gradient.


[Catheterization of the central veins in the adult (author's transl)]. Although the successful treatment of critically ill patients often depends on access to the large veins close to the heart, the indications for this procedure should be strictly limited on account of the attendant risks and potential complications. From the large variety of cannulas, catheters and techniques available for this purpose those systems should be chosen that are simple and safe to use. Seldinger's technique is the method of choice for elective puncture under optimum conditions. If the time factor is important, closed complete systems should be employed. Aseptic puncture and nursing technique is essential to prevent the most common late complication-septicaemia. Radiological verification of the siting of the catheter is important. The various access routes to the central veins carry differing success rate and they also vary in respect of the incidence of complications. This should be borne in mind when deciding on a particular technique. On the other hand, the choice also depends on such factors as technical skill of the physician, the quality of nursing and the expected duration of hospital stay. The peripheral veins of the arm are the safest access for the less experienced physician and for short-lasting catheterization; otherwise the internal jugular vein is the preferred site followed by the subclavian vein. Even if the physician prefers a particular access route he should be familiar with all types of technique since critically ill patients are liable to require changes of the catheter. There is no single technique that will cover all contingencies.


[Special technique for the catheterization of "central" veins (Seldinger's or indirect technique) (author's transl)]. Catheterization of the superior caval vein with the indirect technique of the alpha system is practically always successful. The integrated guide wire combines high elasticity with firmness; this makes it possible to employ highly flexible catheters thereby reducing tissue damage and, consequently, the incidence of thrombosis. The advantages of the indirect technique of catheterization of the caval vein are: minimum trauma at the site of puncture; a high success rate; avoidance of misplacement of the catheter (the catheter is safely guided by the plastic wire); avoidance of cardiac disturbances as the catheters are of uniform lenght or are graduated.


The spectrin phosphorylation reaction in human erythrocytes. Phosphorylation of spectrin in whole cells occurs on a single tryptic peptide and indicates a specific and limited modification of spectrin. Phosphorylation of spectrin in soluble extracts and isolated membranes is less specific. Diamide is an inhibitor of erythrocyte spectrin kinase and casein kinase. This agent also inhibits the restoration of biconcave morphology to metabolically depleted erythrocytes reincubated with adenosine.


Time-dependent effects of reserpine on retention of passive avoidance. Reserpine produced amnesia for a one-trial passive avoidance task when given 2, 3, 4, 5 hr before but not when given 1, 8, 12, 24 hr or 30 min before, immediately, 90 min or 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 24 hr following training. The results were discussed in terms of the reserpine effect on biogenic amines and their possible role in memory formation.


Amphetamine-induced taste aversion demonstrated with operant behaviour. Amphetamine can be used to condition strong taste aversions, but little is known about the possible effects of flavour-amphetamine pairings on operant behaviour. Rats were trained to press bars for water reinforcers delivered after every 40 responses (FR 40). Flavoured reinforcers were then substituted for the water and post-session injections of amphetamine (1 mg/kg) were given. Even a single flavour-amphetamine pairing produced some decrement in responding for that flavour, whereas three flavour-amphetamine pairings almost completely suppressed responding. In the same rats, a flavour which was paired with saline injections did not suppress responding. Flavour-amphetamine pairings can therefore have a powerful influence on operant behaviour and the different outcomes of flavour-conditioning and self-administration procedures cannot be attributed simply to the type of response required from the rat.


Morphine and self-stimulation: evidence for action on a common neural substrate. Recent studies have demonstrated that the self-stimulation phenomenon may provide a useful technique for investigating the rewarding properties of potentially addictive drugs such as morphine. The present study attempted to examine the nature of morphine's effects on self-stimulation by observing changes in rate-intensity functions following morphine administration. The results indicate that morphine markedly enhanced bar pressing for low intensity stimulation when the intensities were presented in an ascending sequence but morphine produced only slight changes in self-stimulation rates when a descending series was used. The failure of morphine to facilitate responding in the descending series suggests that adaptation of the self-stimulation system can block morphine's effects on this system. These findings appear to support the hypothesis that morphine affects the excitability of the neural system which mediates self-stimulation.


Effects of sodium nitrite on DRL performance in the rat. Ffteen Sprague-Dawley rats were administered sodium nitrite 0.13% or 0.15% solutions in their drinking water from the age of 45 days to the end of the study. Six control rats received only tap water. At 80 days of age, rats were trained to bar press for food pellets on a CRF schedule. After reaching criterion performance the rats were switched to a DRL-20 for a period of 6 days to test for response inhibition, which was measured as a ratio of responses to reinforcements. Results indicated no significant differences between groups for response inhibition. All groups showed significant increases in learning as reflected by a decrease in ratios and an increase in total reinforcements over days. However, sodium nitrite rats compared to controls obtained significantly fewer reinforcements over sessions and a greater number of no responding periods (time-outs). One interpretation discussed was the possibility that sodium nitrite produced an increase in responding to distractible (non-task related) cues.


Alteration of thermoregulatory behavior in fish by 5-hydroxytryptamine. Guppies were exposed for 30 min to doses of 5-HT ranging from 20 to 120 mg/l, and then tested in a horizontal temperature gradient. Atlantic salmon injected with 2 microgram/g of 5-HT were similarly tested. The guppies exhibited a biphasic relationship between 5-HT dose and mean selected temperature, i.e., the lowest dose significantly decreased the selected temperature, while the highest dose significantly increased it. In the salmon, injection of 5-HT initially decreased the selected temperature by about 4 degrees C. With time, however, the selected temperature gradually increased until by three hours after injection it exceeded the control value by about 1.5 degrees C. This pattern of temperature change is similar to that observed with rabbits subjected to both systemic and central injection of 5-HT.


Synthesis and turnover of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine in the later cerebroventricle. The lateral cerebroventricle was perfused using two different labelling procedures in three separate experiments on 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism. The sensitivity of 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism to various drugs was subsequently determined. The results demonstrate that two serotonin reuptake blockers, imipramine and fluoxetine, increase the efflux of 3h-5-hydroxytryptamine into the ventricle without affecting the efflux of 3H-5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. BL-3912 A, a drug with weak serotonin agonist activity, also increased the efflux of 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine into the ventricle.


Paraventricular nucleus: a primary site mediating adrenergic stimulation of feeding and drinking. Central injection of norepinephrine (NE) has been found to elicit preprandial drinking and feeding responses in the satiated rat. In the present study, 35 different brain areas, in over 500 rats, were examined to localize the precise region of NE sensitivity. Essentially all sites outside the hypothalamus, as well as in the lateral portion of the hypothalamus, were relatively or totally unresponsive to NE. In the medial hypothalamic area, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) was clearly distinguished as the most effective site for initiating both feeding and drinking with noradrenergic activation in the satiated animal. Sites greater than 0.5 mm rostral, caudal, dorsal, ventral or lateral to this nucleus yielded significantly smaller effects. In mildly hungry rats, NE was found to potentiate the ongoing feeding response, and anatomical analyses of this phenomenon showed the PVN to be most responsive, with a smaller but reliable potentiation occurring along the periventricular hypothalamus adjacent to the third ventricle. Norepinephrine injected into the lateral perifornical hypothalamic area actually produced a suppression of feeding in these hungry animals. These findings, together with results from other studies, converge on the medial PVN region as being a key link in the process of increased food and water consumption associated with increased noradrenergic activity.


Effects of morphine and two enzyme resistant enkephalins on schedule-controlled responding in the rat. Water-deprived rats to respond for access to a water-filled dipper under a 20 response fixed-ratio schedule. After training, the rats were each implanted with a lateral ventricle cannula and the effects of intraventricular injection of morphine, (N-methyl-tyrosyl)1-des COOH-Norleucyl5-Enkephalin, and (D-Ala)2 -(des COOH-Norleucyl)5-Enkephalin were determined. All three compounds produced dose-related decreases in FR20 responding. Morphine was about 5 times more potent than either of the two peptides. Naloxone (1.0 mg/kg, SC) antagonized the response-rate decreasing effects of intraventricular morphine and the two opiate peptides.


Intoxicating effects of three aliphatic alcohols and barbital on two rat strains genetically selected for their ethanol intake. Intoxicating effects of ethanol, isopropanol, tert. butanol and barbital were studied by comparing performances on the tilted plane of ethanol preferring AA (Alko, Alcohol) and ethanol avoiding ANA (Alko, Non-Alcohol) rat strains raised by genetic selection for their voluntary ethanol intake. The motor coordination of AA rats was found to be less affected than that of ANA rats by all three alcohols and barbital. The results indicate a marked genetic difference in neural tolerance to the alcohols and barbital, and suggest that neural tolerance to alcohols plays a role in determining the ethanol preference of AA rats and ethanol aversion of ANA rats.


Effects of salsolinol, a tetrahydroisoquinolone alkaloid, on multiple schedule performance in rats. Rats were trained to lever press under a multiple fixed-ratio fixed-interval schedule of food reinforcement. Intracerebroventricular injections of salsolinol (1-methyl-6,7-dihydroxytetrahydroisoquinoline), a condensation product of dopamine and acetaldehyde, caused a dose-related decrease in fixed-ratio responding over a dosage range of 15-120 microgram. In contrast, fixed-interval responding was only reduced at the 120 microgram dose and was increased in two of the animals after injection of 15-30 microgram of salsolinol.


Facilitation of lordosis behavior by clonidine in female guinea pigs. Lordosis behavior was induced in previously unreceptive, ovariectomized estrogen-primed female guinea pigs by administration of the noradrenergic agonist clonidine. Clonidine also enhanced lordosis responding in females that were weakly receptive after estrogen priming. Unlike progesterone, the lordosis-facilitating effect of clonidine was not accompanied by a subsequent refractory period. Clonidine had a weak lordosis facilitatory effect when administered during the decline in receptivity to estrogen plus progesterone-primed animals and failed to induce lordosis when administered during the refractory period.


Influence of post-training intrahippocampally applied oxotremorine on the consolidation of a brightness discrimination. The posttraining intrahippocampal injection of oxotremorine revealed an improvement of the retention performance in a brightness discrimination task. The oxotremorine effect seemed to be dependent on distinct variables of training and was restricted to rats exhibiting a good acquisition performance. Scopolamine impaired the retention performance of animals with few training errors. The role of hippocampal cholinergic synapses for consolidation was discussed.


Discriminative stimulus properties of clozapine and chlorpromazine. Rats were trained to discriminate pairs of drug states in a two-lever operant paradigm for food reinforcement. One group learned to discriminate clozapine from vehicle, a second group learned to discriminate chlorpromazine from vehicle, and a third group learned to discriminate clozapine from chlorpromazine. The result that the clozapine versus chlorpromazine discrimination was acquired, as well as the results of substitution tests with non-training drugs, suggest that the stimulus properties of the classical neuroleptics and other psychotherapeutic agents indicate that the stimulus properties of antipsychotics are distinct from other classes of psychotropic agents, and support the hypothesis that clozapine may be a unique antipsychotic. It is suggested that the unique discrimination stimulus produced by clozapine may be related to the differential effect of the drug on the extrapyramidal versus accumbens dopamine system.


Methylazoxymethanol acetate: effect of postnatal injection on brain amines and behavior. The antimitotic drug, methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAMA), was injected into newborn rats during the first four days of life. At 48 days of age, these rats weighed one-third less than controls, as did the cerebella of their brains, but the rest of their brains weighed only 7% less than those of controls. The cerebella structures of the drug-injected rats was highly disorganized. Purkinje cells were scattered haphazardly in the granular layer instead of forming a monolayer. More foldings and short folia were found in the cerebella of drugged animals. In spite of these large morphological differences, the total amounts of norepinephrine and serotonin in the cerebella of the drugged rats were not different from those of the control rats. Behavioral effects of postnatal injection of MAMA include retarded development of the righting reflex,i.e., the drugged pups took longer time to right themselves when placed on their backs during the first nine days after birth; and scondly, MAMA reduced locomotor activity measured 45 days after birth.


Delayed response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose in hypothalamic obese rats. A dose-response relationship for the effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) (0-400 mg/kg) on food intake was established in normal and obese ventromedial hypothalamic lesioned rats. In normal animals the lowest dose that produced a statistically signififant increase over baseline food intake was 100 mg/kg 2-DG. Larger doses produced a progressively greater effect. Most of the increase in food intake occurred during the first hour after the injection of 2-DG, the latency of the first feeding bout being shorter for higher doses of the compound. Obese VMH rats significantly increased their 4-hr food intake after 150, 200, and 250, and 400 mg/kg 2-DG, but the increase in feeding was delayed compared to control animals. During the first hour after the injection, the food intake of obese rats was unaffected by doses of 2-DG up to 250 mg/kg, and inhibited by higher doses (300 and 400 mg/kg). The effects of VMH lesions on 2-DG-induced eating are attributed to the elimination of afferents from peripheral glucoreceptors.


Memory formation for an appetitive visual discrimination task in young chicks. The three-phase model of memory formation in young chicks proposed by Gibbs and Ng [7] was based on a single trial passive avoidance task. Some methodological and interpretative problems associated with this task are not encountered in appetitive visual discrimination tasks. Using such a task, it is shown that 2 mM KCl induces amnesia at 10 min, ouabain at 30 min and cycloheximide at 60 min after learning. These findings are consistent with those for the single trail passive avoidance task and confirm the generality of a model of memory formation in young chicks entailing a short-term phase, a sodium pumo-dependent labile phase, and a long-term, protein synthesis-dependent phase.


Catecholamines in discrete areas of the hypothalamus of obese and castrated male rats. Levels of norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) were measured in eight discrete regions of the hypothalamus in three groups of male rats; genetically obese (fafa), non-obese (FaFa) and castrated non-obese (FaFa). DA levels showed no significant differences among the groups in any of the regions. NE levels in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were significantly lower in the obese and castrated animals than in the normal animals. In the median eminence (ME), NE levels were significantly decreased for the castrated group. None of the other regions sampled showed significant differences in NE levels.


Interactions of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol with d-amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine in rats. The acute, reciprocal dose-response interactions between delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC; 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg; IG) and each of three stimulants - d-amphetamine (dA; 1, 2 and 4 mg/kg; IP), cocaine (COC; 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg; IP), and nicotine (NIC; 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg; IP) were studied for their effects on performance of a conditioned avoidance response (CAR), photocell activity, heart rate, body temperature, and rotarod performance. delta9-THC impaired CAR and rotarod performance, depressed photocell activity, and decreased heart rate and body temperature. None of the three stimulants influenced CAR performance, but dA and COC increased the number of intertrial responses, and this latter effect was partially antagonized by delta9-THC. dA and COC, but not NIC, stimulated photocell activity. delta9-THC completely blocked this effect of dA, whereas there was mutual antagonism between delta9-THC and COC on this measure and NIC markedly potentiated the depression caused by delta9-THC. dA and COC tended to offset the impairment of rotarod performance caused by delta9-THC, whereas NIC augmented it. The bradycardia and hypothermia caused by delta9-THC tended to be augmented by these stimulants, especially NIC. The interactions were also studied after subacute treatment for six days with delta9-THC and/or each of the three stimulants. There was evidence for tolerance to the effects of delta9-THC on all measures and this tolerance generally resulted in less interactive effects between delta9-THC and the stimulants. Little or no tolerance was seen for the effects of the three stimulants or their interaction with delta9-THC. The time course of radioactivity derived from 14C-delta9-THC and each of the radiolabelled stimulants was determined in plasma and brain. Only minor interactive effects were found and, in general, they could not account for the functional interactions.


Schedule-dependent effect of d-amphetamine on pausing by pigeons. Two pigeons were exposed to a multiple schedule of grain reinforcement where key-pecks were reinforced according to a fixed ratio schedule in the presence of one stimulus and a fixed interval schedule in another stimulus. The fixed interval was adjusted to match average interreinforcer time for the fixed ratio schedule. d-Amphetamine decreased overall rate of responding in the fixed ratio schedule -- primarily by increasing pausing, especially just after a change from the fixed interval component. Rate of responding in the fixed interval schedule was increased for one bird and little affected for the other bird by d-Amphetamine. Again, changes in pausing primarily determined rate change. Since pausing was differently affected, a schedule-dependent rather than rate-dependent effect was indicated.


[Crenotherapy and surgery in venous diseases]. In spite of the fact that they appear to have nothing in common, treatment by water from mineral springs and surgery may sometimes be used in combination against certain venous diseases. The spa phlebologist may suggest the indication for operation, c.q. prepare his patients for it by means of special cures. Also, spa treatments may help consolidate the early results of surgery, or combát possible complications (e.g. post-phlebitic complications); in such cases, the spa treatment should be instituted as early as possible.


[Suicide with cesium-137].

[Suicide with cesium-137]. Reported first case of suicide with radioactive substance in Bulgaria. Male, aged 30, defectoscopist, with cyclothymic structure of character and psychotraumatic family environment made a second and successful attempt at suicide, this time by means of outer irradiation with cesium-137 with an activity of 5.3 curie in the course of two hours--irradiated his heart region and the first three fingers of his right hand. A grave picture of acute, local irradiation injury lasting four months with lethal outcome. The authors treat the psychological motives in the behaviour of these suicides and the reasons which determine the small number of suicide carried out with radioactive substance.


[Relationship between the unconscious and motivation in establishing a therapeutic program]. The need for complex psychotherapy is reified by using the combination of group psychotherapy with methods of individual and behavioral therapy as an example. The fact that certain forms of maldevelopment cannot be satisfactorily checked by dynamic group psychotherapy alone is considered to be due not only to the conditioning of, and automatism associated with, neurotic malbehavior. It is especially in the case of inordinate dread and fear of disease, which is generally referred to as nosophobia, that the patient's great difficulty in accepting the possibility of a mental origin or causation of his ailment stands in the way of making effective use of such a therapy. The authors are of the opinion that acceptance by the patient of a mental origin or causation is made difficult especially by the fact that in the case of neurotic maldevelopments the kind and degree of neurotic conflictiveness are lore or less unconscious. This fact, which has not so far received much attention, should be taken into consideration in future research into the unconscious.


[Results of self image studies in children and adolescents (11/12-years-old to 16/17-years-old)]. The author in his present paper reports the results of studies made in an effort to reconstructively validate a method of self-imaging during childhood and adolescence. From the investigative results obtained it is apparent that during adolescence large self-image/ideal-image differences and low self-image values correlate with neuroticism, a situation which is similar to that which is usually observed in adults. Timid and introverted juveniles differ significantly from less timid and extroverted juveniles in both the self-image level and the self-image/ideal-image difference. Aside from the fact that the self-image level has been found to be relatively independent of intelligence, there are correlations between the maternal and child's self-image. It is of interest to note that the self-image level of children whose parents got a divorce is lower than that of children coming from intact families.


[Method of determining the concentrating ability of unschoolable children and adolescents capable of making progress]. The design, characteristics, and use of a process of determining the concentration power of unschoolable, but furtherable children and juveniles are reported. Diagnostically relevant quality criteria were determined and verified by tests of eighty-five children and juveniles. Standard values were not found. The experience gathered thus far shows that the method presented by the author in his present paper enables the capacity and development of imbecile and abnormality feeble children and juveniles to be diagnosed.


[Critical comments on the theory and practice of behavior therapy from the viewpoint of Marxist-Leninist philosophy]. By analyzing previous critical studies of the theoretical and methodological positions of behavioral therapy, which were conducted on Marxist-Leninist principles, the authors discuss the complex relationship of one-sided philosophical assumptions, simplifying elements of psychological theories, and radional moments of successful practical application in certain fields. Both critical delimitation from untenable theoretical interpretations and the inclusion of rational forms of therapy in a complex system of psychotherapy are considered essential.


[Standardized questionaire for the recording of data on behavior typical of encephalophathies]. The author in his present paper describes the testing, standardization, and applications of a newly developed questionnaire to obtain quantitative data on encephalopathic behavior patterns of five- to ten-year-old children by interrogating parents, teachers, and educators. The results of extreme-group and factor-analysis validation show that the questionnaire is suitable for use in pedoneuropsychiatric interrogation.


[Optimizing the therapeutic process in long-term antiepileptic therapy through the determination of drug levels in patients]. Serum levels of phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine, and ethosuximide were determined in about 2,000 subjects treated on an outpatient and inpatient basis, respectively. Therapeutical serum level ranges were obtained in about 50 percent of the patients. In the other patients, the values determined were either too low or too high. These studies, in addition to enabling the drug-taking behavior of patients to be objectified, made possible "blood-level-oriented dosage" and allowed differential approaches to be adopted in the control of undesirable effects. Blood level determinations permit the therapeutical procedure to be improved and made more reliable especially in "problem cases". A pharmacokinetic therapy service has proved useful for long-time antiepileptic therapy.


[Role of the book in the care for hospitalized gerontopsychiatric patients]. In order to be able to realize the cultural care of patients with therapeutic aim the choice of literature and the behaviour of reading of gerontopsychiatric patients were systematicly examined within a two years' programme. In the reading they looked for distraction from the burdening reality, relaxation, but also for the possibility to fill up gaps in the experience by identification. The literature that particularly serves the widening of knowledge found less attention. The reading, which was carried out as a kind of group therapy, proved to be a suitable method to counteract the lack of interest and mental slowness of many gerontopsychiatric patients and through that to make them more capable of the living together in the sense of the therapeutic community.


[Literary creations of schizophrenics].

[Literary creations of schizophrenics]. On the basis of material from the archiv of the district mental hospital Schwerin literary products of schizophrenic patients were examined and compared with the works of the primitives with the literature of manierism and "modern lyric".


[Toxic "atrophie cerebelleuse". (problems associated with permanent cerebellar damage due to chronic diphenylhydantion intoxication)]. The authors report two cases with roentgenomophologically established cerebellar atrophy caused by chronic diphenylhydantoin overdosing. Exact neuropsychiatric testing of epileptics treated with diphenylhydantoin for a long period of time is demanded, and it is recommended that in the case of long-time therapy a maximum daily dose of 0.3 g of diphenylhydantoin be not exceeded.


Moral masochism.

Moral masochism. The author questions the existence of unconscious guild and unconscious need for punishment. His thesis is that the self-destructive acts and sufferings of the moral masochist are not caused by an unconscious need for punishment, but rather by a flight from severe castration anxiety into masochistic acts. The analysis of the latent castration anxiety leads to the maturation of the superego. Clinical material from one case is used to support this thesis. Further material from the same case shows how the moral masochism of adolescence and adulthood grew out of the feminine masochism of latency. In addition, the author discusses another case of moral masochism which reviews the intricate relationship between psychic health and moral codes. The importance of the cultural atmosphere is emphasized, particularly what the moral masochist extracts from it.


Primary and secondard process in the context of cerebral hemispheric specialization. Increasing knowledge of human cerebral hemispheric specialization suggests a relationship between the different formal modes of thinking attributed to the two hemispheres and those psychoanalysis has traditionally assigned to primary (similar to recessive hemispheric) and secondary (similar to dominant hemispheric) processes. The fact of a lifelong capability at the neurophysiological level for coequal, simultaneous registration and organization of experience in these different cognitive modes allows primary process to be conceptualized in developmental terms. As the first organizing mode of infantile development, it shapes the primitive content of the dynamic unconscious. Thereafter, it can be viewed as coexistent and commingled with secondary process in dynamic tension, complementarity, and developing complexity. Observations from normal behavior, current research, and the functioning of the psychoanalyst support this thesis and reinforce an emerging viewpoint in contemporary psychoanalysis that primary processes are not confined to archaic levels but are open to growth and developmental integration into the complete range of ego functions.


Paradoxical depression after heart surgery: a form of survivor syndrome. A study of patients who developed depression immediately after heart surgery is presented. Nineteen of the twenty patients shared a history of having lost a close object who had died as a result of complications following a minor surgical procedure or illness, or had suffered from a disease similar to the one the patient now had, but for which there had been no surgical help at the time. The patients are compared with other survivors and are discussed in terms of both survival and paradoxical reaction. Almost all of the patients showed quick recovery when these issues were pointed out.


The concept of a 'case' in psychiatric population surveys. A series of in-patients, a series of out-patients and a series of women from a general population sample, all aged under 65, and all living in the same area of south-east London, were examined using the ninth edition of the Present State Examination (PSE). An 'index of definition' (ID), based on number, type and severity of PSE symptoms, was constructed in order to define a threshold point above which sufficient information was available to allow classification into one of the functional psychoses or neuroses. The index specified 8 levels of definition of disorder; the threshold point for a 'case' lying between levels 4 and 5. The identification of 'cases' by this means in the general population series was highly concordant with global clinical judgement. When the 3 series were compared, the in-patient series contained the most definite cases, the outpatient series was intermediate, and the general population series was characterized mainly by below-threshold conditions. Disorders above the threshold point were classified using the CATEGO program. The clinical severity of the depressive disorders and anxiety states identified in this way in the 3 series was compared on the basis of symptom and syndrome profiles and PSE scores. As expected, the inpatients had the most severe, and the general population 'cases' the least severe disorders. It is suggested that the PSE-ID-CATEGO techniques can be used to help standardize certain aspects of case-finding and case-description in both referred and non-referred populations and thereby make the results of surveys more comparable.


The effect of aircraft noise on the mental health of a community sample: a pilot study. Results of the investigation of a sample of size N = 200, half of whom live in the vicinity of a main airport, are reported. Three health indicators were examined: (1) annoyance reactions measured with a scale which did not include symptoms; (2) a symptom score, obtained with a screening instrument which identifies possible psychiatric cases; and (3) confirmed psychiatric cases identified with a traditional diagnosis after an interview by a psychiatrist. Noise was undoubtedly associated with annoyance. An association between noise and psychiatric measures was only present in a subgroup of respondents of high education. There was a marked association between annoyance and psychiatric measures. An attempt was made to clarify the nature of this relationship. Hypersensitivity to noise was associated with a high frequency of psychiatric symptoms and should be considered among the high risk factors for psychiatric illness.


Mental illness, neuroticism and life events in a Dutch village sample: a follow-up. In a 5-year follow-up of 32 patients identified during a survey of a Dutch village in 1969, approximately two-thirds were found to have recovered. This result was reflected in the scores on a self-reporting questionnaire. A control group showed little change over those years. The persistence of psychiatric problems was related to life experience, as measured by a life-event interview.


Contribution of life events to causation of psychiatric illness. This paper discusses the magnitude of the effect of life events in the causation of psychiatric illness. It is argued that an established epidemiological concept, relative risk, provides a useful measure of association which can be approximately adapted for retrospective controlled studies. Examination of studies employing general population controls consistently indicates effects of some importance, with risks of illness increased by factors of between 2 and 7 in the 6 months after an event. Risks are greater for the more stressful types of events, greater for depression and neuroses than schizophrenia, and even greater for suicide attempts. However, similar events occur commonly and a large proportion of event occurrences are not followed by illness. Events must interact with a wide variety of background factors, and the appropriate model is one of multifactorial causation.


Hypotheses linking neuroses with premature mortality. The death risk for psychiatric patients has decreased over the last 30 years but still remains higher than that of the general population. The death risk for patients with a diagnosis of neurosis is higher than that for the general population. Previous studies are enlisted to investigate this mortality for socio-economic characteristics, alcohol and drug abuse, psychopathy and accident proneness. Possible psychosomatic aetiology of disease and subsequent death is examined. Psychological theories for premature death are discussed and some recommendations made for future areas of enquiry.


A reappraisal of alcoholic psychoses.

A reappraisal of alcoholic psychoses. A retrospective study of alcoholic psychoses is reported. The phenomena of the illnesses corresponded poorly with classical descriptions of alcoholic hallucinosis, delirium tremens and alcoholic paranoia. Alternative diagnostic approaches were tried (Catego, restrictive definition of alcoholic hallucinosis). The problems of distinguishing psychoses with associated organic factors from 'idiopathic' forms are discussed.


Dream content and daytime attitudes in anxious and calm women. Twenty female anxious neurotic patients were compared with 25 normal female volunteers, divided into a low anxious normal and a high anxious group, with respect to dream report content. Dream reports were analysed using an objective and reliable method and were correlated with the day-time attitudes of the subjects measured by Semantic Differential techniques. Anxiety levels influenced both dream reporting and dream content. In particular, aggression towards the dreamer was more common in the anxious patients. Significant correlations were found in all groups between dream content and daytime attitudes. The results were consistent with the 'continuity' hypothesis of dream function.


Estimation of body dimensions in anorexia nervosa. The estimation of body dimensions in a group of 31 patients with anorexia nervosa and a control group of 20 psychoneurotic females has been studied with different techniques, including a visual size estimation apparatus and the marking of indicated body points on a paper attached to the wall. The results confirm the previously described tendency by patients with anorexia nervosa to overestimate body size in the stage before their treatment in hospital. Various differences between the two groups were found and the anorexic patients were more inconsistent in the estimation of the different body measures. On the basis of correlations with the results of an internal-external control questionnaire, it is suggested that overestimation and variability in visual size estimation could be promoted by an orientation towards external control.


Sex differences in perception of illness and expressed life satisfaction. A preliminary survey of 10 married couples was carried out to test the hypothesis that women express greater dissatisfaction with their health and other personal life domains than men. Although the women made more use of medical facilities for minor complaints than their husbands, no difference was found in expressed satisfaction, or in number or severity of symptoms reported at interview. However, there was a discrepancy between husbands' and wives' perception of their spouses' satisfaction levels and experience of illness-symptoms, in the direction of wives being perceived by their husbands as considerably less healthy and more dissatisfied than the husbands were rated by their wives. Some evidence was also found for greater emotionality in women. The results are regarded as indicating that illness is more socially acceptable in women than in men.


Depression, hypertension, and serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase activity. Serum dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) activity was measured in a heterogeneous sample of 290 outpatients awaiting medical, surgical, or psychiatric appointments at a Veterans Administration Hospital. All patients were assessed for depressive symptomatology by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and for elevated diastolic blood pressure (BP greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg). Elevated DBH activity was associated with SDS scores greater than or equal to 60. No statistical association was found between DBH activity and diastolic BP. Two pharmacological agents, alpha-methyl-DOPA and minor tranquilizers, also were associated with significant alterations in serum DBH activity.


Urinary catecholamines, stress, and psychopathy: a study of arrested men awaiting trial. The urinary excretion of adrenaline (A) and noradrenaline (NA) in a group of 24 arrested men was measured in three experimental sessions: 2 weeks, 1 week, and immediately before trial. The first session was assumed to represent a moderate laboratory stress due to the novelty of the situation and the last session a real life stress, associated with anticipation of appearing in court. Both are superimposed on the sustained real life stress of being in jail. There was no significant increase in A or NA in the last, presumedly the most stressful session. However, when personality measures were taken into account, there were significant and consistent differences in the pattern of A and NA excretion over the sessions between subgroups of subjects. Subjects high in psychopathy did not react with an increase in either A or NA in the last, presumedly the most stressful session. They also had conspicuously lower NA excretion, as compared to subjects low in psychopathy and relative to their own A excretion. Subjects low in psychopathy showed a reversed pattern.


The assessment of life change stress: a comparative and methodological inquiry. A comprehensive life events questionnaire was administered to 416 men. Total life change scores were computed from published normative weights and from individuals' own ratings of events that occurred. The results showed that the rank order of life events was highly correlated between our sample and the original normative groups. However, in the population of men we studied, there were significant differences between the total life event scores derived by summing the published normative weights and the total adjustment or distress reported by those men who experienced the events. Other results indicated that life event scores based on normative weights reflect more on the number of life events that are experienced, whereas life change scores based on individuals' ratings may better reflect on the potential impact of life change. Finally, the psychometric properties of several life change inventories are poor.


Health change in air traffic controllers: a prospective study. I. Background and description. The background, rationale, and design of a 3-year prospective study of health change in 416 air traffic controllers is described. This study was designed to assess the relevant variables that might predict future physical and psychological health change. This report describes the major variables that were assessed in all participants, which included endocrine, cardiovascular, and behavioral differences in response to work, the occurrence of significant life events, work attitude and morale, availability and usefulness of psychosocial supports, and job commitment and performance. Future reports will describe the contribution, both individually and interactively, of these various factors to the risk for future illness. A major hypothesis to be tested by this study is that health change among air traffic controllers can be predicted by differential responsivity to work.


Psychoendocrine response to sexual arousal in human males. The hypothesis is tested that luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH( may be released from the anterior pituitary in response to a psychological state of sexual arousal. LH levels in 10 male volunteers were found to be higher after viewing a sexually arousing film than after a control film. The magnitude of LH response was found to be positively correlated with the subjective evaluation of sexual arousal. FSH levels tended in the same direction bu the predominant and unexpected finding for this hormone was that levels were consistently lower during the first session, when anxiety was high, and higher during the second session, when anxiety was less, whether control or stimulus film had been shown. This study is analogous to those demonstrating the responsiveness of other anterior pituitary hormones to specific psychological states.


Factors relating to the use of mental health services in a neighborhood health center. Six-month utilization data are presented for the mental health unit of a comprehensive neighborhood health center. Almost 5% of the 16,877 people in Charlestown, Mass., used these services at a rate of 48.7 per 1,000 residents. Nearly all the residents of this Boston neighborhood were white; the median family income was $8,828 annually; and 14% of the families received public assistance. Age, sex, marital status, census tract of residence, and diagnostic factors were quantitatively related to the use of services. Those 0-17 years represented 39.6% of the total caseload and had a utilization rate of 57.0 per 1,000. Boys and women were the biggest users of service, and married adults constituted 47.7% of the adults using the service. About 55% of the patients paid through Medicaid. During the study period 999 diagnoses were recorded for 822 separate patients, or 1.2 diagnoses per patient. Findings from the center's caseload are compared with utilization data for other mental health services and available national data. The study data demonstrate that the health center's goals of providing accessible, family-oriented, comprehensive mental health services that are targeted particularly to the lower socioeconomic groups in the community were largely accomplished.


Frequency of alpha-particles from 239PuO2 in lung cells. NCRP-Report 49 deals with the effect of 239PuO2-particles in the lung. A basic aspect in the considerations is the frequency of cells traversed by one or by more alpha-particles. The present article contains the explicit derivation of the formulae underlying the data in the NCRP-report.


Stochastic late effects after partial body irradiation in diagnostic radiology: evaluation for approximate data. The paper describes a method to estimate the risk of inducing a malignant disease by the highly nonuniform partial body X-irradiation as performed in diagnostic radiological examinations. The cumulative probability, p, for the development of a radiation-induced malignant neoplasm is obtained from the equation p = Gt Es, where Es is the energy imparted to the soft tissues of trunk and head during a special radiological procedure. Gt is the mean integral incidence function for trunk and head, reflecting the cancer inducibility of organs and tissues in trunk and head, G t approximately 0;3 kJ-1; The value of Gt was obtained from mortality risk factors for the different tissues at risk, adopted in ICRP Publication 26, 1977. The energy, E, imparted to the body in typical radiographic procedures is in the range of 1--30 mJ, going up to about 1 J in an extensive fluoroscopic examination of the gastrointestinal tract. The corresponding values for p are about 10(-6) to 10(-5), in extensive examinations 10(-4). As to a radiograph of chest, the method described in this paper yields practically the same value for p as the Monte Carlo calculation, using the MIRD phantom and the relevant mortality risk factors.


Screening for phenylketonuria in New York City. Threshold values reconsidered. In New York City from 1966 to 1970, almost all 736,469 newborns were screened for phenylketonuria (PKU). Among 1,094 infants with presumptive positive test results, 763 were followed up and 46 of them were judged to require preventive treatment. The considerable annual variation observed in the frequency of values of 4 to 6 mg/100 ml bood phenylalanine suggested low reliability at this level. Screening test results of 4 mg/100 ml, with no cases detected among them, represented 53% of all false positive results; newborns with 6 mg/100 ml results yielded 1 infant in need of treatment and accounted for 40% of the false positive results. The large volume of presumptive positive results generated by these levels presumably contributed to incomplete followup. If the threshold value for followup were raised, the effectiveness and the efficiency of the screening program could be improved. The experiences of other large PKU programs in the United States support these observations.


Repair and biochemical protection in life shortening of mice exposed to fractionated X-irradiation. Male mice of the BALB/c+ strain were exposed to X-rays at fractionation intervals of 7, 15, 30, and 60 days. One group received a mixture of radioprotectors, another AET (only 30 days fractionation), a third one served as control. The doses ranged, dependent on the treatment, from 300--1500 R. When survival was corrected for acute death, the control and AET treated animals died after an accumulated dose of about 2000 R whereas those treated with a mixture of radioprotectors died after about 4000 tr. Bone marrow failure and lung damage is the main cause of death within the initial 200 days after start of the exposure. At later times, fibrotic changes and in particular glomerulosclerosis are observed.


Effects of acute X-irradiation on pre-implantation embryos and on the implantation reaction in the mouse. Pregnant mice were treated on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day of pregnancy by a single dose of 300 R X-rays. Uterine dissections at day 6 p.c. topographically revealed decrease of the implantation sites from 9.67 per female in the controls to 8.00 in females irradiated on day 1, to 6.63 in females irradiated on day 2, and to 7.00 in females irradiated on day 3 p.c; Among a number of 22 implantations after irradiation on day 1, 19 after irradiation on day 2 and 11 after irradiation on day 3, however no living embryo could be detected on histological examination. The degree of damage as indicated by the total resorptions was highest (94,7%) after irradiation on day 2 p.c., and lowest (31,8%) after irradiation on day 1 p.c. Since the decidual cell reaction was either unaffected or only slightly reduced after irradiation on day 2 p.c. as indicated by cytomorphological criteria and the alkaline phosphatase reaction, not maternal effects but direct effects only of the irradiation on the embryo must account for embryonic deaths.


Unscheduled DNA-synthesis in UV-irradiated spleen lymphocytes of the rat after whole-body X-irradiation. Unscheduled DNA-synthesis of UV-irradiated spleen lymphocytes of the rat is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by total-body X-irradiation. The reaction is observed immediately after exposure and reaches its maximum within 8--16 h. Doses of some rads are detectable. Following sublethal X-irradiation (250 rad), regeneration takes 4--6 weeks. Analogous results have been obtained in rats treated with 2,4,6-triethyleneimino-1,3,5-triazine. Regardless of the action mechanisms, it is concluded from the present results that the inhibition of the unscheduled incorporation of thymidine-3H in splenic lymphocytes is a very sensitive, though not specific expression of impairment of the lymphatic system.


[Cerebral magnification angiography (author's transl)]. The advantages of magnification angiography for diagnosis of cerebral diseases are reported. Following description of the physical basics and our own examination technique, the indications are enumerated which necessitate modern magnification angiography in neuroradiological diagnosis. These are mainly all those tumors whose location and nature are not definitely demonstrable by conventional angiography, furthermore tumor recurrency, vascular alterations of arteriosclerotic genesis and arteriovenous malformations. Magnification angiography under hyperventilation may also be used for differential diagnosis between brain infarct and brain tumor. The author uses this examination technique for 7 years and emphasizes that without magnification angiography optimal neuroradiology is not possible anymore.


[Magnification technique in abdominal angiography (author's transl)]. The authors describe the requirements for improved information with magnification in abdominal angiography. The low effect of the microfocus tube limits its use in conventional technique mainly because of the grid. Magnification technique combined with high sensitive screens and no grid will compensate for the low effect of the tube. Unsharpness due to motion is more marked with magnification technique but is in practical work of little importance. A useful technique for renal and pancreatic angiography is discussed.


[Resolution of small vessels in abdominal magnification angiography (author's transl)]. In order to assess the resolution of small vessels in abdominal magnification angiography, the influence of iodine concentration and magnification ratio was analyzed in a model experiment using 0.1 mm focus and lanthanoxibromide screens MR 600. The experiment showed that the resolution increases with both increasing magnification ratio and iodine concentration. Assuming that there was no movement of the object, the vessels of 80 micrometer could be resolved in three- to five-fold magnification.


[Radiation dose in renal magnification angiography compared with conventional angiography (author's transl)]. Measurements of skin dose, integrated skin dose area, and integral dose in combined conventional and magnification renal angiography using lanthanoxibromide screens MR 600 and carbon fibre plate in filmchangertop have been made. The mean skin dose in magnification technique was 0.56 rad./film with focus-skin distance of 35 cm, FFD 1 m, 85-90 kV and sagittal diameter of abdomen of 20 cm. The combination of angiographic technique with and without magnification and the use of a high-sensitivity receiving unit makes it possible to keep the total skin dose per investigation (8.5 rad.) within the limits accepted in conventional abdominal angiography.


[Staging of patients with carcinoma of the breast by bone scans? [author's transl)]. Bone scans were performed in 170 patients with widespread breast cancer and metastases which were confirmed by the clinical course. In 82% a positive x-ray and in 95% a positive bone scan could be demonstrated. In 43 patients without bone metastases the ratio of false positive scans was 5%. Seventeen out of 50 patients with early cancer had abnormal scans. In 12 cases there were metastases proven by follow-up of at least 18 months. Assuming an incidence of 25% for bone metastases in patients with early breast cancer, bone scans with a sensitivity and specificity of 95% will be valid in staging. To validate this high incidence we investigated a second group of 97 patients with early cancer in a prospective study: in only 3 cases there was an abnormal scan. Using this low incidence bone scanning is calculated to be not valid for staging of breast cancer.


[Bifid ureter with blind-ending branch, a diagnosis by excretory urography (author's transl)]. Bifid ureter with blind-ending branch must fulfill the criterias of Culp. Retardation of ureter growth or degeneration of a ureteral segment after fusion with the metanephrogenic tissue are to be considered as the cause for this anomaly. Infrequently other, preferably congenital lesions of the kidneys or other organ systems are combined. The bifid ureter with blind-ending branch can be a casual finding. But it may cause symptoms which make resection necessary. The diagnosis is possible by excretory urography. Two cases are added to the known 66 patients in the literature.


[Pharmacolymphography (author's transl)]. In 110 patients with different malignant tumors various pharmacological substances (Ridol (G. Richter, Hungary), Arphonad (Hoffmann, Switzerland), Xavin (Chinoin, Hungary) etc.) were used in lymphography to improve inflow of contrast medium and visualization of lymph vessels and nodes. Different substances with vasodilatatory effects of varying degree were tested. Ridol and the combination Atropin-Promedol-Pipolphen proved to have a specific lymphotropic affinity. Time of contrast medium injection could be shortened and visualization of the intermediary lymphnode sinus as well as thoracic duct improved by pharmacolymphography. The optimal method consists of i.m. Ridol application 10 to 15 minutes prior to lymphangiography and endolymphatic injection of the combination Atropin-Promedol-Pipolphen.


[Arthropathy of sacro-iliac joints in psoriasis (author's transl)]. Roentgenographic studies of the sacroiliac joints were carried out in 117 psoriatic patients with associated symptoms of joint and/or bone involvement and in eleven psoriatic patients without signs of bone or joint disease. In all patients arthritis of the sacro-iliac joints with varying degree of severity was demonstrated. The sacro-iliac joint space remained open in patients without associated rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylarthritis. It was shown that the described method in the assessment of the sacro-iliac joints is fully justified.


[Long bone growth changes in thymectomized rats in the pre-puberal stage (author's transl)]. The authors studied the relationship between thymus and growth of long bones in rats in the pre-puberal stage. 150 rats of both sexes were divided in 3 groups: thymectomized, sham-thymectomized and controls. The animals were sacrificed 15 days after surgery, the femurs were collected and measured, in length and breadth. Thymectomized animals have a bone growth significantly lesser in length and breadth when compared to the sham-thymectomized animals. The latter ones also presented a lesser bone growth when compared to the controls. The average body weight was also significantly lesser in thymectomized rats than in controls, the same happening with the shamthymectomized rats. It is suggested that the thymus probably presents some kind of relation with the hypothalamus through a positive feed-back, simulating secretion of substances that would act on the adenohypophysis rising the secretion of growth hormone and the thymus playing a role in maintaining the serum levels of growth hormone and thyroxine necessary for the growth and development of bones.


Some studies on the enzyme lecithin-cholesterol acyl-transferase in rat plasma. The results presented in this study, which include different physiological and pathological conditions, show: 1--In the rat subjected to bile duct occlusion there is a rapid decrease in the plasma LCAT activity which is followed by an increase in the activity to normal values at a later time. 2--In the rat subjected to interruption of the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts by means of a sequestering agent there is an increase in the plasma LCAT activity. 3--In the rat subjected to a 48 hour fast there is an increase in the plasma LCAT activity. 4--In the rat subjected to a small dietary cholesterol supplement there is an increase in the plasma LCAT activity.


[Characteristics of the isometric myocardial contractions during its activation by the slow response (author's transl)]. The characteristics of the isometric contractions of rabbit's left atria were studied during its activation by the slow response of the cardiac action potential. When compared to the conditions where activation occurs with normal action potentials it verifies that contraction amplitude decreases, becoming slowly and larger. Positive inotropic effects that enhance calcium entrance through the membrane (Ca and IPA), during action potential, increase contraction amplitude. Negative inotropic effects that depress the slow response (Ach and verapamil) also depress the contractions. Staircase becomes reversed, with contraction strength decreasing with increase in rate of beating. It was seen that adequate conduction is an important factor for the normality of contractions, and the importance of the fast component of the cardiac action potential, for this occurrence, was remembered.


Starvation---an interesting model for the study of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Five obese subjects were studied during prolonged starvation. Then renin aldosterone system and urinary aldosterone excretion were studied during prolonged starvation and refeeding in five obese subjects. An uniform increase in aldosterone urinary excretion was observed in all subjects studied. A progressive increase in renin plasma activity was found in all patients along the starvation period with a striking additional increase after refeeding. The possible factors involved are discussed.


[Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in a general hospital of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil (author's transl)]. Eight hundreds and fifteen patients of the Prof. Edgard Santos Hospital, Salvador, Bahia, were studied for G6PD deficiency by the spot test. The frequencies of deficients were 11,39% for the blacks, 7,85% for the dark mulattoes and 6,98% for the medium mulattoes. There was no difference in the percentage of deficients between out patients and patients in the wards. Also, there was no difference in the means for hematocrit, hemoglobin, frequency of hospitalization and type of disease between patients with the deficiency and the control patients. However, a past history for jaundice was significantly more frequent among the deficient patients (22,22%) than among the control patients (12,76%) (x 2(1) = 4,43; p less than 0,03). These results suggest that, in Northeastern Brazil, G6PD deficiency is not severe enough to require hospitalization but is able to cause clinically detectable jaundice.


The histological effect of an ovarian growth factor on ovarian follicle development in immature mice. The effect of an ovarian growth factor (OGF) purified from bovine pituitary glands was tested in vivo in immature mice from twelve to nineteen days old. Differential count of ovarian follicles was taken as a morphologic parameter for OGF effect upon ovarian maturation. Results obtained suggest that OGF injection increases the number of small secondary follicles which leave the pool of non-growing follicles, but does not promote follicle cell luteinization nor present follicle degeneration.


[Producing generative sentence usage in a retarded girl (author's transl)]. The purpose of the study was to teach a 15-years old mentally and speech retarded girl the use of simple generative sentences by means of question-answer procedures (cf. Clark & Sherman 1975). Whereas at the beginning the girl rarely produced correct new sentences, there was a marked improvement towards the end of the training programme. The generalisation effect--probably a result of the training--was such that also irregular verbs were formed with regular endings.


Sensitivity to continuous administration of pentobarbital in different strains of mice. The comparisons of responses to pentobarbital by pellet implantation method with respect to cumulative mortality, narcosis and tolerance development on five strains (ICR, ddY, ddN, C57BL, and C3H) of mice were studied. C3H mice showed most susceptible and sensitive to pentobarbital among the five strains of mice tested. ICR mice were most resistant to the treatment. It appears that the effects of genetic variation could be of importance for future studies in gaining insight of the mechanism of barbiturate tolerance.


Effects of maternally administered reserpine on the development of the cold stress response and its possible relation to adrenergic nervous system function. Maternal administration of reserpine (100 microgram/kg/day) from day 8 of pregnancy until weaning of the pups produced no change in litter size, birth weight or weaning weight. At 70 to 80 days of age the offspring of reserpine treated dams were less able to maintain body temperature in response to cold stress with physical restraint. Similarly treated offspring exhibited a smaller rise in urinary free norepinephrine levels during the initial stages of cold exposure and they incorporated significantly less 14C from tyrosine into heart norepinephrine during acute cold exposure. No differences in incorporation of 14C into norepinephrine from tyrosine were evident when the animals were not subjected to cold stress. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that maternal administration of reserpine produces a permanent alteration in the ability of the offspring to respond to cold stress and that this deficit is related to an alteration in adrenergic nervous system development.


Hypocalcemic effect of phentolamine.

Hypocalcemic effect of phentolamine. The effects of phentolamine on calcium and phosphate metabolism were studied in young female rats. The i.p. administration of phentolamine (1.3 to 35.1 mg/kg) produces hypocalcemic and hypophosphatemic responses that resemble those produced by the hormone calcitonin. The hypocalcemic response to phentolamine reaches a maximum one hour post injection and blood calcium concentrations return to normal three hours following drug administration. Bilateral nephrectomy does not negate the hypocalcemic effect of phentolamine indicating that the drug effect is not mediated by increased renal excretion of calcium. Thyroparathyroidectomy inhibits the hypocalcemic activity of phentolamine. The mechanism of action of phentolamine with respect to changes in circulating calcium does not involve alpha adrenergic receptor blockage since large doses of tolazoline do not result in alterations in the plasma concentration of calcium. Labeling experiments with 45Ca indicate that the administration of phentolamine results in an inhibition of bone resorption.


Antihemolytic, antiproteolytic and anticonvulsant properties of 10-substituted hydrazonoacetyl phenothiazines. Twelve 10-substituted hydrazonoacetyl phenothiazines were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for their antihemolytic, antiproteolytic and anticonvulsant properties. The degree of protection of the in vitro hypoosmotic hemolysis of human red blood cells by these compounds ranged from 30-65%, at a final concentration of 1 mM. All phenothiazine derivatives (1 mM) possessed antiproteolytic activity which was reflected by 25-71% protection observed with these compounds against in vitro trypsin-induced hydrolysis of bovine serum albumin. These compounds at a dose of 100 mg/kg provided 20-80% protection against pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in mice. All phenothiazine derivatives possessed low toxicity which was reflected by their approximate LD50 values ranging from 500- greater than 1000 mg/kg.


Preliminary studies of the sodium borohydride stabilizable binding of phenylethylamine and tyramine to brain preparations. The borohydride stabilizable binding of 2-phenylethylamine and p-tyramine to mouse brain homogenates was compared to that of tryptamine and of serotonin. The highest binding was found to be that of tryptamine, followed by that of serotonin, tyramine, and phenylethylamine. The stabilizable binding of phenylethylamine to calf midbrain (including corpus striatum) homogenates and synaptic membranes was decreased by dopamine; this amine and D-amphetamine also decreased the stabilizable binding of tyramine to rat brain homogenates. The subsynaptosomal distribution of the binding of phenylethylamine to synaptic calf midbrain fractions was also investigated. The highest binding capacity was found in the 0.8 M fraction, rich in myelin.