[Hormone profiles and hormone therapy in early pregnancy (author's transl)]. Hormone profiles in early pregnancy were established in 67 women and correlated to simultaneously performed ultrasonic examinations. Normal values for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), human chorionic somatotropin (HCS), oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were established from the data obtained in 30 early pregnancies which culminated in the birth of a living child. Lowered HCG values were found in 17 out of 23 pregnancies which ended in miscarriage. In these cases ultrasonic examination failed to detect any heart action. Lowered HCS values after the 9th week of pregnancy are also certain proof of missed abortion. P and E2 values are shown to be a parameter reflecting activity of the corpus luteum graviditatis. In clomiphene- and gonadotropin-induced pregnancies higher values were found than in pregnancies managed by substitution treatment with twice weekly 10 mg oestradiolvalerianate + 500mg 17alpha-hydroxyprogesteronecapronate. Lowered P and E2 values with HCG values in the normal range indicate imminent insufficiency of the corpus luteum graviditatis. Pros and cons of hormonal therapy in early pregnancy are discussed.


[The development of uteroplacental flow-rate determination (author's transl)]. This paper reviews the technique of nuclear placental flow-rate determination developed in 3 stages at the I. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Vienna. It particularly highlights the diagnostic potential of the most recent development, which is based on iterative regression, by quoting pertinent figures. In 153 females with type I flow-rate patterns the diagnosis proved to be correct in 82.2% of cases. 26 patients had pathological flow-rate patterns and 20 of the infants born to this group of mothers had moderate to severe dystrophy due to reduced placental function. The placental perfusion test, another recent development, is of particular significance in differentiating between the causes underlying reduced placental blood flow. These two techniques have internationally conquered a firm position in the battery of placental perfusion studies designed to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of placental insufficiency.


[Blood coagulation parameters in prostaglandin-induced labour after intrauterine fetal death (author's transl)]. Pregnancy termination by the intraamniotic injection of hypertonic saline may result in coagulation defects. This complication seems to be uncommon with prostaglandins. The present study was designed to elucidate any possible effects of prostaglandin administration on coagulation parameters in patients with fetal death in utero. Labour was induced in 20 cases of intrauterine fetal death by either intravenous (11) or intramuscular (9) administration of Sulprostone. Normotest, thrombin clotting time, ethanol fractionation, fibrinogen level and platelet count were obtained in each patient prior to and immediately after drug administration. Although retention of the fetus for as long as 84 days was recorded (mean 14 days), no patient presented with abnormal clotting parameters. Prostaglandin induction was successful in all 20 cases. After explosion of the fetus, coagulation parameters were not significantly different from pretreatment values. Estimated blood loss never exceeded 500 cc. It is concluded that intramuscular or intravenous administration of Sulprostone for induction of labour in fetal death in utero does not affect the clotting system nor trigger off disseminated intravascular coagulation.


[Ultrasonic diagnosis of ovarian tumours (author's transl)]. Precise knowledge of the echoanatomy of the normal female pelvis is a prerequisite in the diagnosis of ovarian tumours. Diagnostic criteria for the differentiation between cystic and solid lesions are discussed. The echographic appearance of uni-, multilocular, dermoid and endometriosis cysts and of ovarian cancer is described. 183 ovarian tumours were examined in the period from January 1st, 1976 until December 31st, 1977 and the preoperative diagnosis compared with the findings at operation, both macroscopic and histological. 158 cases (86.3%) were correctly diagnosed. In 13 cases (7.1%) the diagnosis was only partially correct. An incorrect ultrasonic diagnosis was made in only 12 cases (6.6%). Out of 183 cases the side of the lesion was correctly diagnosed in 128 patients (70.0%). Localization of the tumour could not be achieved or was totally wrong in 19 cases (10.4%). Estimated tumour dimensions concurred with the macroscopic measurements of the specimen in 90.7%. A false-positive result was recorded in 7 cases (3.8%), mostly due to a full bowel simulating a cyst of barely 4 cm in diameter. In 5 cases (2.7%) ultrasonic examination failed to detect the existence of a tumour. 2 of these tumours were follicular cysts under 4 cm in diameter. 2 ovarian cancers were missed. In 1 case the ovary was only slightly enlarged and the diagnosis was made only by frozen-section histology. In the second case the tumour was erroneously interpreted as originating from the sigmoid colon. Ultrasonic diagnosis is recommended for the detection and differentiation of ovarian tumours on the basis of the good results achieved.


[Experiences with a computer documentation of obstetrical data (author's transl)]. Experiences with a computer information system at the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Vienna Medical School are reported. The data input is done via video-terminals located at different places in the department. Included are anamnestic data, results of physical examinations, pelvic examinations and laboratory findings and data concerning the course of delivery. The print-out of the stored data replaces the conventional charts. The advantages of this information system are: 1. The support of the clinical routine work by a more accurate and systematic documentation; 2. a comprehensive compiling of the patients data; 3. all stored data are readily available for scientific evaluation.


Enzymic oxidation alpha to the acetylenic group in the metabolism of N-(5-pyrrolidinopent-3-ynyl)-succinimide (BL 14) in vitro. 1. The product of alpha-acetylenic oxidation of N-(5-pyrrolidinopent-3-ynyl)-succinimide (BL 14) by rat liver preparations was identified as N-(5-pyrrolidino-2-hydroxypent-3-ynyl)succinimide, by mass spectral analysis of metabolites of deuterium-labelled and non-labelled substrate. 2. The synthesis and physicochemical characteristics of the metabolite are reported. 3. Substantial amounts of the metabolite were obtained in preparations from phenobarbital-treated rats, while only minute amounts were formed by non-induced preparations. 4. Evidence for the involvement of an inducible cytochrome P-450 system in effecting this alpha-acetylenic oxidation is presented.


The metabolism of a bronchodilator procaterol HCL in the rat in vitro and in vivo. 1. The metabolism of the bronchodilator, 5-(1-hydroxy-2-isopropylamino-butyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril hydrochloride hemihydrate (procaterol HCl), has been studied in vitro and in vivo after oral and intravenous administration to rats. 2. The recovery of [14 C] procaterol HCl and its metabolites in 72 h was about 42% each in urine and faeces for an oral dose (30 mg/kg) and about 53% in urine and 33% in faeces for an intravenous dose (30 mg/kg). 3. Six metabolites in rat excreta were identified as procaterol glucuronide, 5-(2-amino-1-hydroxybutyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril (desisopropylprocaterol), 5-formyl-8-hydroxycarbostyril (5-formyl-8-HCS), 8-hydroxycarbostyril (8-HCS), procaterol sulphate and unchanged procaterol. 4. In experiments in vitro, procaterol HCl was metabolized into desisopropylprocaterol, 5-formyl-8-HCS, and their conjugates, by rat liver 9000 g supernatant fraction, but not by preparations of kidney, lung and small intestine. Conjugation of procaterol HCl with glucuronic acid occurred in liver and small intestine preparations.


Effect of nitrite on microsomal cytochrome P-450. 1. Addition of nitrite to anaerobic rat liver microsomes leads to the appearance of a difference spectrum similar to the spectrum of the ferrous cytochrome P-450-NO complex. A Soret band is found at 444 nm in phenobarbital-stimulated microsomes but at 442 nm in 3-methylcholanthrene-stimulated microsomes. An alpha-band is located at 583 nm in both types of microsome. 2. The initial nitrite-induced difference spectrum is converted into a spectrum lacking a Soret band but with a prominent absorbance minimum at 417 nm. This is more rapid in microsomes from phenobarbital-treated animals where it is completed in 8 min than in microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated animals. A similar spectrum can be obtained by addition of nitrite to urea-treated microsomes in which cytochrome P-450 has been converted to cytochrome P-420. 3. Azo cleavage of neoprontosil in anaerobic microsomes is markedly inhibited by 1 mM nitrite. In contrast, oxidative drug metabolism is affected only by very high nitrite concentrations around 100 mM. It is concluded that in anaerobic microsomes, NO formed from nitrite complexes with ferrous cytochrome P-450 and thereby inhibits reductive drug metabolism.


Metabolism of 3-(2', 4', 5'-triethoxybenzoyl) propionic acid, a new biliary smooth muscle relaxant with choleretic activity. II. Metabolism after repeated dosing in rats, in relation to choleretic activity. 1. Accumulation and possible induction in the metabolism of triethoxybenzoylpropionate were studied in rats in relation to the choleretic effect of the drug. Daily oral administration of [14 C] triethoxybenzoylpropionate showed no accumulation of drug or metabolites. Pre-treatment of rats with the drug did not induce its own metabolism or the metabolism of aminopyrine, p-nitroanisole, hexobarbital or zoxazolamine. 2. Choleresis in rats induced by triethoxybenzoylpropionate resulted from enhanced formation of the bile acid-independent fraction of canalicular origin, presumably mediated by the increased transfer of sodium into the canaliculi. This was not altered by repeated pre-treatment with the drug, in accordance with the metabolic findings.


An example of the oxidative de-esterification of an isopropyl ester. Its role in the metabolism of the herbicide flampropisopropyl. 1. Two mammalian metabolites of the herbicidal ester, flamprop-isopropyl (BARNON), have been characterized as products of omega-hydroxylation of the isopropoxycarbonyl grouping (-CO2 CHMe 2). 2. Hydroxylation at the methine group of this moiety, to afford an unstable lactol (-CO2C(OH)Me2) and thence the corresponding carboxylic acid also appears to occur. On the basis of experiments with rat liver microsomes, this pathway to the acid may be as important as the esterase-catalysed route. 3. Biomimetic oxidation studies with peroxytrifluoroacetic acid of a simple model of the herbicide (isopropyl acetate) have provided confirmation of the feasibility of the novel biotransformation.


[Multiphasic growth of microorganisms: modeling and computer simulation of linear growth phases]. A phenomenological and a more causal model are developed for the multiphasic discontinuous growth. The first model distinguished between the lag-phase, the exponential phase, the transient phase from the exponential to the linear phase, the linear phase, the transient phase from the linear to the stationary phase, and the stationary phase. The parameters are rate constants, critical values of biomass, and time constants. The parameters are estimated for experimental data of growth of Candida lipolytica under limitation of thiamine (Müller et al. 1978). These data are fitted also by a more causal model. This second model is in agreement with Monod's idea that a linear growth phase may be due to an enzyme or enzyme system which has a constant activity. In the analysed case of limitation of thiamine the constancy of the dehydrogenase activity is caused by a constant level of the coenzymethiaminepyrophosphate. Thus, when such a thiamine requiring enzymatic step becomes to the "bottle-neck", bacterial culture switches over from exponential to linear growth. The end of linear phase is discussed more hypothetically by the high cooperativity of activity of dehydrogenases and the existence of a mimimal specific growth rate. The results of modeling and parameter estimation are compared with experimental data of C. lipolytica. These two models are able to interpret the growth kinetic of these multiphasic growth.


Influence of L-leucine on glutamate dehydrogenase activity in isolated rat diaphragm. Glutamate dehydrogenase (NAD) activity was measured in liver and diaphragm mitochondria from 48 h fasted rats. Kinetic studies were performed with diaphragm enzyme and the effects of L-leu, ADP and L-ala on the K(1)m and V(1)max for NH(4)+, and α-ketoglutarate were evaluated. L-leucine increases by 2-8 fold the V(1)max for all three substrates with no significant changes in the K(1)m. ADP increased by 3-7 fold the V(1)max for all three substrates and the K(1)m for NADH and α-ketoglutarate by 1.5-7.0 fold. L-alanine had no effect on either the V(1)max or the K(1)m of any substrate. The results suggest that muscle has the capacity to form glutamate through the glutamate dehydrogenase reaction and that L-leucine may stimulate this reaction in muscle.


The incidence of carcinoma in solitary "cold" thyroid nodules. Two hundred and three patients with single thyroid nodules were referred for radioactive scan of the thyroid. Solitary "cold" nodules were identified in 130 patients and 68 of these patients came to surgery. Of this group, 12 patients were found to have carcinoma. There was no obvious selection process which distinguished the 68 patients who underwent surgery from the 62 who did not. There is a significant risk of thyroid neoplasms occurring in patients with solitary "cold" nodules, and this is particularly true in patients under forty.


Risk caused by low levels of pollution.

Risk caused by low levels of pollution. The concept has arisen that pollutants in almost any concentration cause a small risk of death. This arises from a consideration of cancer and contrasts with earlier work where a threshold is assumed.The theoretical and experimental evidence for this concept is reviewed, and some important consequences are drawn for societal decision making.


[Enzyme deficient non-spherocytic hemolytic anemias]. Enzymopathies are described concerning the enzymes of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway including the glutathion system, of the majority of glycolytic enzymes as well as of the ATPase, adenylate kinase and pyrimidine-5'-nucleotidase. The distribution and the frequency of the enzymopathies differ strongly in the various regions of the world. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and pyruvate kinase show the highest frequency. The detected polymorphism of the pathological enzyme variants is one of the reasons for the fact that no correlation between the decrease of the catalytic activity and the severity of the anaemias has been found. For the identification of risk-groups more precise methods are necessary. Till now the detailed relationships between enzymopathy and non-spherocytic haemolytic anaemias are not clarified. Furthermore the molecular mechanism of the instability of pathological enzyme variants is not yet clear.


[Renal anemia and its modification by chronic hemodialysis]. The renal anaemia is characterized by a decreased new formation of erythrocytes (deficiency of erythropoetin), by haemolysis (uraemic-toxic influences) and by iron deficiency (decreased resorption of iron, blood losses, infectious-toxic component). In long-term haemolysis the iron deficiency increases, in most cases the haemolysis a little decreases, and a deficiency of erythropoietin is not to be established. However, a slight deficiency of folic acid is frequently observed. Apart from the reduction of the retention of substances normally contained in the urine the therapy consists in iron doses and slight doses of folic acid. Only occasionally blood transfusions are necessary.


[Pregnancy anemias].

[Pregnancy anemias]. After introductory remarks on the physiology of blood during pregnancy the authors enter the two most frequent anaemias of pregnancy, which are evoked by iron deficiency and infection, as well as the megaloblastic, which are evoked by deficiency of folic acid--more infrequently also by deficiency of vitamin B12. The diagnostic and therapeutic principles are described in detail. It is only in short referred to the very rare haemolytic and toxic farms of anaemia, it is generally renounced to describe the haemorrhagic anaemia. A prophylaxis of the anaemia of pregnancy is intensely recommended.


[Supportive hemotherapy in anemias].

[Supportive hemotherapy in anemias]. The substitution of blood and erythrocytes, respectively, has to be performed as an aimed supportive haemotherapy according to measure. Therefore full blood is indicated only in loss, otherwise only concentrates of erythrocytes may be transfused, in order to exclude side-effects as a potential danger. The latter should above all produced buffy-coat-free. Washed preparations of erythrocytes should be used only in such a case, when there are present clear clinical demands, such as transfusion reactions which can otherwise not be removed, and which for their part limit the success of the transfusion. The practically plasma-free concentrates of erythrocytes which are extremely poor in alloantigens and preserved at deep temperature should at present be used for reasons of capacity only in persons who are potentially to be transfused many times, above all in recipients of grafts.


[The responsibility of the transfusing physician]. In a chronological representation a survey of important duties of the transfusing physician in blood transfusions is given. When fulfilling conscientiously the special, legal and organisational demands, the transfusing physician may authoritatively influence the decrease of disturbances of transfusion.


[Diffuse segmental lipomatosis of the ileum (author's transl)]. Case of unusual diffuse segmental lipomatosis of a part of the small bowel is reported. Other cases from the literature are compared to various pathological deposits of fat in the intestine. Aetiology, clinical signs, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, as well as surgical treatment, are discussed.


[Follow up in a case of congenital hepatic fibrosis (author's transl)]. A case of congenital hepatic fibrosis (CHF) is described. CHF is characterized by hepatomegaly, portal hypertension, extensive portal fibrosis, ectatic bile ducts, and hypoplasia of terminal portal vein branches. In contrast to the severe portal hypertension liver function tests are largely normal. In our case the disease was first detected when the patient was 7 years old. During the following 9 1/2 years three sequential liver biopsies were performed. Each of them showed the same picture and no progression occurred. The characteristic histological picture of CHF includes mature bile ducts without epithelial proliferation, absence of significant intraportal or interlobular inflammatory infiltrates, and small or hypoplastic distal portal vein branches. On the basis of these features the disease can easily be separated from other forms of liver cirrhosis.


[Mite dermatitis due to Tyrophagus dimidiatus]. This paper describes a small endemic with acarus Tyrophagus dimidiatus in a butcher's family originating from contaminated meat. The morphology and biology of this parasite are discussed.


[Retinoid PUVA (RePUVA): systemic combination therapy in psoriasis]. RePUVA is a new therapeutic approach in psoriasis, consisting in oral administration of a retinoid derivative and systemic PUVA treatment. The retinoid (Ro 10-9359) was given daily (50--75 mg) before, simultaneously and, before and simultaneously with PUVA. The overall response was 73%; however, 14 patients resistant to previous standard PUVA treatment also responded surprisingly well to RePUVA. If PUVA-resistent patients were excluded, the overall response was 82.6%. The mean number of treatments required for clearing was 19.4 +/- 6.1, the mean total UVA-dose 57.9 +/- 32.3 J/cm2 and the mean duration of treatment was 55.4 +/- 14.1 days, including pretreatment with retinoid. It seems that RePUVA may be most successful if the retinoid is given before and with PUVA: 33.7 +/- 8.7 J/cm2 in 17.0 +/- 4.7 sessions were then required for clearing. Compared with previous results of our group and recent publications these findings indicate that the RePUVA schedule may reduce the duration of treatment and the total UVA-dose and, therefore, the possible long-term hazards of PUVA management. In addition, RePUVA can be successfully applied in patients resistant to standard PUVA.


Anti-HBc titers in HBeAg and anti-HBe positive asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. A study was undertaken to establish markers for HBV replication in relation to HBeAg and anti-HBe. HBsAg carriers with serum HBeAg had DNA polymerase activity in the serum and HBcAg in the liver nuclei. Anti-HBe positive and anti-HBe/HBeAg negative sera lacked these markers. For anti-HBc the following geometrical mean titers were calculated: 1: 12,000 for HBeAg positive, 1:9, 100 for anti-HBe and anti-HBc positive, and 1:2,800 for anti-HBc positive anti-HBe/HBeAg negative asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. Follow up studies revealed mostly unchanged anti-HBc titers in all three groups over an observation period of ten to twenty months. Our data argue for a prolonged HBV replication in all HBsAg carrier subgroups compared to individuals with an uncomplicated acute virus-B-hepatitis. This study gives no final answer whether HBeAg negative HBsAg carriers have a continous HBV replication.


Structure of immunoglobulin D: evidence for the absence of an extra disulfide bridge in the Fc fragment. Molecular weight determinations of immunoglobulin D suggest the presence of an extra region of the delta chain. In an attempt to locate this region, an IgDlambda myeloma protein (Gur), was digested with trypsin for 4 min at 56 degrees and the Fc fragment isolated by ion exchange chromatography. N-terminal analysis of this fragment showed a heterogeneity in the site of splitting by trypsin. The Fc was digested with pepsin and trypsin and the cysteine containing peptides isolated by a two dimensional paper high voltage electrophoresis (diagonal map) at pH 3.5. Further purification of these peptides was carried out by HVE at pH 6.5 and 2.1 and their amino acid composition and partial sequence were determined. Only five cysteic acid peptides were obtained, one corresponding to the inter heavy-heavy bridge and the other four, to intra chain bridges. This finding would exclude the possibility of an extra "classical domain" in this region. The position of these peptides in the delta chain has been arranged based on homology with the other classes of immunoglobulins.


Studies on the immune response in chickens I. Effect of various immunization procedures on the primary and secondary antibody responses to bovine serum albumin. Antibody response and generation of immunological memory in chickens after stimulation by bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated. A single intravenous injection of BSA induced a relatively high primary antibody response but failed to generate definite memory for the secondary antibody response. Variation in antigen dosage and the time interval between antigen injections did not affect significantly the levels of the primary and secondary antibody responses. The immunogenicity of deaggregated BSA in chickens was as potent as that of aggregated BSA. Soluble adjuvants such as the capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae, cell wall lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella enteritidis and cell wall peptidoglycan of Staphylococcus epidermidis exhibited little enhancing effect on antibody response and memory. However, stimulation of chickens by BSA emulsified in Freund's adjuvant enhanced generation of memory. Repeated injection of BSA alone also showed a similar effect. It seems likely therefore that in chickens continous antigenic stimulation is required for generation of definite memory. From the present results it has been concluded that the characteristics of the immune response of chickens to BSA resemble those of mammals to T-independent antigens.


Simple method of circulating immune complex detection in human sera by polyethylene glycol precipitation. A rapid test for detection of circulating immune complexes in a small serum sample was developed to facilitate clinical diagnosis of immune complex disorders. The test is based on a selective precipitation of soluble circulating complexes of antigen-antibody in 3.75% concentration of high-molecular polyethylene glycol. Precipitation is followed photometrically at 450 nm, 1 cm cuv. after 1 h incubation at room temperature. Comparison of E450 values in groups of patients with immune complex disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and glomerulonephritis, with healthy controls or patients with non-immunological disorders revealed highly significant differences. Sera of all patients with high clinical activity  of disease exhibited positive reaction. In 121 human sera the results of this examination were compared with the results of C 1 q binding test. There was 73.5% agreement between the results of both methods. Our test is more rapid, suited for routine clinical use.


[Conditioned reflex switching over in unrestrained dogs]. Conditioned switching-over was studied in unrestrained animals by means of instrumental alimentary conditioned reflexes of pressing the pedal. A complex of auditory and spatial factors (start-ground) served as conditioned alimentary signal. Backward connections were stable and were manifested in the teturning of the animal to the start-ground after feeding. It has been confirmed that the observed working readiness is a conditioned reflex of a tonic type.


[Transformation of conditioned responses of the tonic type]. A reversal of signal meaning of stimuli signalling experimental situation was performed on dogs with conditioned defensive motor reflexes to clicks: clicks and electro-cutaneous stimulation were stopped, and the animals were started to be given food in the same experimental situation. Reversal of conditioned defensive tonic stimuli to alimentary ones led to a complex of behavioral and electrographic reactions. Isolated click tests showed that signals of experimental situation considerably affect a fully-elaborated defensive motor reflex. At the same time the preparatory role of certain situational elements may be specialized with regard to the components of the conditioned reflex, in particular to the local flexor reaction.


[Specificity of nuclear elements of the motor region of the cortex in organizing a precise motor response]. After elaboration and consolidation of precise instrumental avoidance reflexes in dogs (lifting of a fore-leg to a 4-centimeters wide "safety zone"), a part of motor cortex in the area of moving leg was ablated. After the operation the search for "safety zone" i. e. the precision of estimating the position of the leg was irreversibly impaired, but the animal was still able to hold its extremity at the same level for a long period of time. Artifically elaborated motor coordination--antagonistic to the innate one--also showed irreversible impairment. However, in case of an extremely "drilled" reaction (5.000 pairings) the elaborated coordination persisted. Minimal amplitude of correction movements increased too (i. e. subtlety of movements decreased), but during retraining this parameter of the movement became compensated. The data obtained suggest that the specificity of central cellular elements of the cortical motor area consists in estimation of extremity position which is necessary for finding a given point in space.


[Fromation of forward and reverse connections during elaboration of a classical and instrumental acid-defense conditioned reflex]. During elaboration of a classical acid defensive conditioned reflex to passive lifting of a foreleg in dogs, the reinforcing stimulus--acid elicited an extension of the leg via backward connection. At the initial stage of elaboration of an instrumental avoidance reflex, the reinforcing stimulus called forth an extension of the leg, whereas at the stage of a stable reflex it produced a flexion.


[Neuronal spike activity in the sensomotor region of the cerebral cortex upon direct stimulation of emotionally "positive" and "negative" zones of the hypothalamus]. The effect of electrical stimulation of emotionally positive and negative hypothalamic areas on the unit activity of the sensorimotor cortex in rats was studied in order to elucidate physiological mechanisms of emotions as an important factor organizing purposeful animal behaviour. It was found that such an effect is primarily of inhibitory nature and that it does not carry specific information on biological sign of emotion. It is suggested that the formation of adequate behavioural reactions in different emotional states occurs at earlier stages.


[Avoidance reactions to a partner's pain stimulation in rats with local brain damage]. Avoidance reaction to pain stimulation of another individual was studied in white rats before and after lesion of the frontal, cingular, entorhinal cortex, septum and median gray matter. The avoidance reaction improved following destruction of the frontal cortex and deteriorated after lesion of the median gray matter. A conclusion has been drawn that the participation of various brain structures in the investigated reaction is closely connected with other functions of these structures. The results obtained contradict McLynn's (1970) suggestion of a rigid dependence of definite forms of zoosocial behaviour on certain brain formations.


[Role of catecholaminergic mechanisms of the brain in fixation of temporary connections]. A comparison was made betseen the influence of administering disulfiram and L-Dopa on retention of defensive and drinking conditioned reflexes in rats. A great drop of noradrenaline content in the brain while worsening the elaboration of defensive conditioned reflexes, does not prevent their fixation as well as fixation of drinking conditioned reflexes elaborated in one pairing. Increased catecholamine content after administration of L-Dopa does not affect the elaboration of defensive and the fixation of defensive and drinking conditioned reflexes. Interference in the activity of the brain catecholaminergic mechanisms does not directly affect the fixation of temporary connections, regardless of the emotional sign of reinforcement used in their elaboration.


[Conditioned reflex mechanism of unconscious decision making]. Temporary connections are elaborated in adult subjects between subliminal visual stimuli and voluntary motor reaction. The observed gradual shortening of the reaction time is considered to be a result of learning by means of subliminal visual signals. This learning is unstable and is retained only in the short-term memory, unlike experiments in which the same visual stimuli are recognized. This fact explains discrepancies and uncertainty of the existing opinions on the role of subliminal visual signals in the voluntary behaviour of man.


[Directed regulation of human alpha-rhythm using feedback]. Directed control of intensity of the alpha-rhythm in the somatosensory cortical regions was examined in 20 healthy subjects in conditions of combined (visual and auditory) feedback connection. An attempt has been made to single out by means of control experiments, the factors influencing in such conditions of external stimulation the brain bioelectrical activity. A study was made of the changes in effectiveness of biocontrol in multiple (five) sessions of training. Data are given on the dynamics of some vegetative functions in controlling brain biopotentials.


[Analysis of the neuronal activity of cortical-subcortical structures of a conditioned reflex]. Neuronal activity of the orbital cortex, the caudate nucleus and the amygdala were studied in chronic experiments on dogs and cats by the method of alimentary and defensive conditioned reflexes. A spatial distribution of neurones involved in the alimentary and defensive conditioned reflexes, was revealed in the caudate nucleus head. The units responding to conditioned alimentary stimuli are localized primarily in the ventral segment. Similarity of responses to surroundings and to trigger conditioned alimentary stimuli was found between the units of the ventral segment in the caudate nucleus head and of the amygdala basolateral part. The influence of stimulation of the amygdala on the orbital cortex units was established in the alimentary conditioned reflex in dogs. A conclusion has been drawn that in elaboration of an alimentary conditioned reflex the neurones of three levels become organized into a definite system, providing for an adequate reaction of the organism to the conditioned stimulus.


[Participation of neurons from symmetrical parts of the sensomotor cortex in conditioned reflex activity]. Spike activity of the symmetrical points of the sensorimotor cortex was studied in the course of formation and extinction of a defensive conditioned reflex in cats. In the process of pairings the impulse responses in the hemisphere contralateral to the paw stimulated with electric current (reinforcement) increased, and were inhibited in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Extinction of the reflex or functional switching off of the contralateral hemisphere restored the conditioned reactions of the ipsilateral hemisphere neurones. An assumption has been made that conditioned connections appear in both hemispheres, but under ordinary conditions the reactions are ensured by the dominating (in learning) hemisphere. If it is switched off, a duplicate conditioned connection appears in the other hemisphere, as one of the mechanisms providing for the reliability of manifestation of the conditioned relfex.


[Physiologic analysis of the effect of micropolarization on trace processes]. In chronic experiments on cats a conditioned reflex to time was elaborated by means of periodic passive liftings of one extremity during continuous subthreshold pressor stimulation of the same limb or during micropolarization of the contralateral sensorimotor cortical with a 0,2--1,8 mca current. In animals conditioned during pressor stimulation, trace motor reactions appeared in response to the stimulation or to micropolarization of the sensorimotor cortex and of several subcortical structures. In animals conditioned during micropolarization, trace motor responses were obtained both to sensorimotor cortex polarization and to pressor stimulation of the "conditioned" leg. The authors suggest a common physiological mechanism of the phenomena observed.


[Effect of micropolarization of cat brain structures on extinctive inhibition]. The influence of bipolar micropolarization (MCP) (in the range of 0.01--0.1 mca) of the midbrain reticular formation (RF), the dorsal hippocampus (HC) and the temporal cortex (TC) on conditioned behaviour in conditions of extinctive inhibition of an active avoidance reaction to an acoustic stimulus was studied on seven cats in a shuttle chamber. It was shown that: 1) MCP or RF and TC restores the semiextinct conditioned reflex, while MCP of HC deepens its extinction; 2) MCP of RF reduces the conditioned reflex latency, while MCP of HC and TC increases it; 3) during MCP of RF there is an increase in the number of intersignal spontaneous motor reactions and of reactions to surroundings, while during MCP of HC and TC their number decreases; 4) MCP of RF and TC produces no disinhibition, if the conditioned reflex is deeply extinguished. The influence of MCP on conditioned behaviour is regarded as a directed modulation of reproduction of the dominating traces of one of the two contesting temporary connections which determine the achievement or non-achievement of the motor reaction.


[Comparative evaluation of the response of rat-mothers to the natural pain squeaks of a ratling and to a tape recording of it]. Two kinds of stimuli were presented to the mother rat at random: the natural pain acoustic signal of its infant in response to electrical pain stimulation and the tape recording of the signal performed within the sound frequency region (up to 20 kHz). The mother rat was placed in a special long cage with two parts of different size. Her reaction was ethologically estimated. The natural pain signal proved to be more effective than its magnetic tape recording. The role of the spectrum ultrasound part of the pain acoustic signal is discussed.


[Closing an intra-analyzer temporary connection in visual cortex neuronal element microsystems]. The work was aimed at studying the formation of microsystems of learning neurones in the cortical visual zone of immobilized cats during elaboration of a temporary connection based on a combined stimulation of two its points in acute experiment. 18.6 per cent of the cells developed responses to the stimulus which had been ineffective before conditioning. The most numerous group consisted of units which displayed a complex form of elaborated response. Presumably the untis observed are part of a system of learning neurones controlling the intraanalyser interactions by the mechanism of temporary connection.


Nickel content of various Dutch foodstuffs. The nickel content of 260 samples from various types of foods available in the Netherlands was measured by means of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. In most samples the nickel content was found to be less than 0.5 mg/kg. Two products contained considerably more nickel than all the other foodstuffs, viz. nuts and cacao products, in which nickel concentrations up to 5.1 and 9.8 mg/kg, respectively, were measured. Occasionally nickel contents above 1 mg/kg were found in margarine and sauces.


[Development of species specific acoustic sensitivity in hole-nester fledgelings]. A study was made of acoustic sensibility of hole nestlings to species-specific signals of adult birds. It has been established that the final formation of sensibility to such signals is not completed in the embrional period of development, but continues, at least during the first half of life in the nest. In the embrional period, the formation of sensibility is concluded only within the spectrum of the "alimentary" signal complex, providing for adequate alimentary behaviour of the nestlings immediately after hatching. In the early postembrional period, the formation of acoustic sensibility in the spectrum of other species-specific signals (alarm signals) is completed in parallel with the organization of behavioral reactions controlled by these stimuli.


[Role of the globus pallidus in establishing delayed responses in cats]. Unilaternal ablation of the pallidum leads to acute disturbances in delayed reaction in cats. In the case of a 3 or 5 sec delay the accuracy of finding the food behind the screan or of the choice of the side of reinforcement drops by 30 to 40%; in the case of a delay of 10 sec this accuracy drops by 55 to 60%. Along with this and as a natural result, it takes the cat a longer time to get to the place where the food is kept. At a 15 sec delay, the previously elaborated delayed reactions disappear completely. After a bilateral incomplete ablation of the pallidum, only some cats with light pallidal lesions succed in acquiring delayed reactions (in 22 to 29% of cases) with a minimum pause (3 sec). It is assumed that the pallidum takes part in the mechanisms of comparison and retention of the traces of sensory information in the apparatus of memory.


[On the colour reaction of hydroxyproline with 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (author's transl)]. With the as yet unexplained chloramine-T-oxydation of hydroxyproline the formation of pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid and pyrrole could be established. On the oxydation with peroxyde as well as with chloramine-T pyrrole is the starting base for the colour reaction with Ehrlichs reagent. From a comparison of thin layer chromatographic und UV-VIS data of the dyes formed by the oxidation of hydroxyproline and the pyrrole colour reaction the formation of a dipyrrylphenylmethene salt and ms-tetra-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-porphin is made probable.


[Properties of nuclear and dispersed elements of the cortical end of the auditory analyzer according to total evoked potentials to sound]. In chronic experiments on cats short-latency evoked potentials (EPs) to clicks were recorded simultaneously in three cortical areas--auditory (nuclear elements of the cortical end of the auditory analyser) sensorimotor and visual ones (scattered auditory elements). EPs to above threshold clicks in the auditory area differed from EPs of non-auditory areas by a greater amplitude and relatively stable configuration. The EP threshold in the auditory area was lower and the increase in its amplitude throughout a rise in clicks' intensity far greater than in the non-auditory areas. The above difference in responses of nuclear elements in the primary auditory cortex and of scattered elements in non-auditory areas are considered as the sign of specificity of their functional organization, i. e. as the manifestation of the participation of auditory nuclear elements in a relatively delicate analysis of auditory stimuli and that of scattered ones--in a more simple and limited analysis.


[Change in the impulse reactions of sensomotor cortex neurons to combined stimulation of thalamic relay nuclei]. In acute experiments on unanaesthetized cats immobilized with d-tubocurarine, a study was made of the impulse responses of the sensorimotor cortex neurones to stimulation of the thalamic relay nuclei (VPL and VL). Distinct changes of the responses were found as a result of multiple paired stimulations of these thalamic structures. The nature of the changes proved to be different for the responses to the first (VPL) and second (VL) thalamic stimulation: the paired stimulations facilitated the responses to VPL stimulation and suppressed those to the VL stimulation.


[Methods for determination of vitamins by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (author's transl)]. A method is described for the rapid determination of vitamin E in vitamin-concentrates, -pre-mixes and mineral supplements. After saponification of the sample, the vitamin is extracted with petroleum-ether. In this extract the vitamin E is determined spectrophotometrically by HPLC without any further clean-up.


Changes in starch content and amylase zymograms during storage of Golden Delicious and Cox's Orange Pippin apples. Changes in starch content and amylase zymograms were followed during storage of Golden Delicious and Cox's Orange Pippin apples. Although the former was stored at 3-4 degrees C under controlled atmosphere (3--4% O2; 7--8% CO2 by volume) and the latter in air at 17 degrees C, in both, the multiple forms of amylases remained active, even after the starch content decreased to zero. It is the lack of starch substrate, therefore, rather than of enzymes that limits the amylase action in the stored apple.


[Rhythmic activity (25--35 Hz) of autonomic nerves and its physiologic role]. A study of daily ongoing activity of the sympathic and vagal nerves has shown that 14,6% of this activity are of a rhythmic form (25--35 c/s) arising synchronously in both nerves. Its formation is attended by an enhancement (by 50--100%) of the nerve tone. The appearance of the rhythmic activity bears a non-specific character. A spatial synchronization within the range of 25--35 c/s has been found between the rhythmic activity of the vegetative nerves and that of brain structures. It is suggested that the rhythmic activity of the vegetative nerves reflects a homeostatic mechanism, which is indicative of the appearance of alertness in the nervous system.


Aminopeptidase from Brevibacterium linens: activation and inhibition. Activation and inhibition of a purified aminopeptidase from Brevibacterium linens was investigated using L-alpha-leucyl-4-nitroanilide and L-leucyl-L-leucine as substrates. The enzyme was activated by cobalt, provided that the enzyme was preincubated with the metal. Strong inhibitory effects were derived from heavy metals, metal-complexing compounds, reducing agents, the modification of aromatic amino acids, and the presence of hydrophobic substances or certain amino acids in the test mixtures. Supposing that this B. linens aminopeptidase plays a part during surface-ripening of cheeses, possible consequences of specific technological conditions for its activity are discussed.


Correlation of chemical structure and taste in the cyclamate series and the steric nature of the chemoreceptor site. The requirements of compounds in the cyclamate series for sweet taste stimulation are: synclinal conformation between NH and SO in the aminosulphonate group, length less than 0.7 nm of the group on the nitrogen, and hydrophobic character of the latter group. A hypothetical receptor site for these compounds should have a spatial barrier at a distance of about 0.7 nm from the nitrogen interaction point with the receptor site, and a hydrophobic interaction area between the nitrogen interaction point and the barrier.


Fine structural analysis of the morphological changes involved in the blanching, cooking, dehydration and rehydration of green bean pod tissue. The influence of blanching and cooking on green bean pod tissue (Phaseolus vulgaris var.nanus L.) was studied by transmission electron microscopy and characteristic histological and cytological effects were recorded. The analysis of dehydraded and rehydrated samples (dehydration by hot air, rehydration by boiling) showed that much of the shrinkage after dehydration can be compensated by water absorption during rehydration. The morphological appearance of boiled raw tissue, however, is not reached.


Volatile monocarbonyl compounds of carrot roots at various stages of maturity. Volatile carbonyl compounds of carrot variety Feonia Hunderup S-64 at various stages of maturity were analysed as their 2,4-DNPH's by a combined TLC-GLC-MS method. Twenty-three different carbonyl compounds were identified, of which undecanal, buten-2-al, methylbutenal, pentan-2-one, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and 5-methylfurfural have not previously been found in carrot. During maturation the content of acetaldehyde and acetone increased significantly, while that of methylbutenal decreased.


[The influence of different phosphates on the flow properties of processed cheeses (author's transl)]. Processed cheese was manufactured with different types of phosphates (P1 monophosphate to P4 tetrapolyphosphate) and by various techniques. The limiting viscosity numbers of sodium casein and the casein of processed cheese were determined and the axial ratio calculated. The axial ratio of processed cheese protein was a/b=20,0 and that of sodium casein 10,0 resp. We deduce that the apparent increase of the axial ratio is caused by the depolymerization of casein caused by emulsifying salts. The flow curves of processed cheese were analysed. There is good agreement with the power law of Ostwald tau=k.Dn. Therefore processed cheeses are characterized as pseudoplasts. The influence of melting salts on the flow properties can be described by a differing emulsifying effect (P1 less than or equal P4). Temperature, concentration and salt effects are discussed for the viewpoint of correlation between aggregation-desaggregation processes and dehydration and hydration of casein.


[A method for differentiating between vinegar produced by fermentation and vinegar made from synthetic acetic acid based on the determination of the specific 3H-radioactivity (author's transl)]. The applicability of the specific 3H-radioactivity for the distinction of synthetic and biogenic vinegar was tested. The acetic acid was isolated from the vinegar as calcium acetate, and the calcium acetate was combusted at 830 degrees C to CO2 and H2O. The water was measured either after two destillation steps by liquid scintillation counting or after reduction to hydrogen and reaction to ethane in a gas proportional counter. The difference in the 3H-content between the two types of vinegar in Austria is about 80--100 T.U. Since the level of activity is subject to appreciable annual fluctuations a series of synthetic and biogenic comparison samples always has to be included.


[Analysis of polysaccharides used as food additives. VI. Identification of mixtures of polysaccharides by methylation analysis (author's transl)]. Polysaccharide mixtures used as stabilizers having identical sugar units, but differing in their linkages can be identified with confidence by means of methylation analysis. Such mixtures are methylated with sodium hydride and methyl iodide in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide. The methylated products are acid hydrolyzed and the resulting methyl sugars are separated and identified by thinlayer- or gaschromatography.


[Functional efficiency of the vesico-ureteral closure mechanism in female patients with recurrent urinary tract infections without reflux]. On account of different relapses of infections in 15 female patients with relapsing non-obstructive infections of the urinary tract without radiologically provable vesico-ureteral reflux altogether 183 washing out tests of the urinary bladder were performed. 83.6% of the tests resulted in a pure bacteriuria of the bladder and 14.2% in a supra-vesical participation. Of the 51 female patients 38 = 74,5% were always suffering only from bacteriurias of the bladder. In 13 patients = 25.5% we also or always found a supravesical participation. 15 female patients underwent a reflux test with technetium-levelled sulphocolloid. In no patient the tracer could be localised in the supravesical urinary tract. By reason of these results we are of the opinion that in the majority of female patients the vesico-ureteral occlusion mechanism does not allow an ascent of the germs. Therefore, the majority of patients is not imperilled by pyelonephritis. Among the female patients with relapsing non-obstructive infections of the urinary tract without radiologically provable reflux are some with marginally competent ostia. In these more or less frequently an occult reflux with ascent of the germs into the supravesical urinary tract may develop. These patients are potentially imperilled by pyelonephritis.


[Secondary vesico-ureteral reflux in the adult age]. The transurethral dehiscence of the ostium is a therapeutic method which causes the spontaneous passage of incarcerated intramural ureteroliths. However, it may be performed only in the centre of the roof of the ureter to a maximum length of 0.5 cm. With lateral indentation the antireflux principle of the ostia of the ureters is abolished by damaging the reins of the intravesical musculature of the ureters. An asymptomatic reflux necessarily becomes a reflex disease, when it is complicated by an infection of the urinary tract. In secondary vesico-ureteral reflux by dehiscence of the ostium at adult age the indication to the operative treatment shall be made narrowly, since with the sanation of the infection of the urinary tract the reflux often disappears.


[2 1/2-year experience with highly-effective short-term dialyses in Erfurt]. At present 18 of 19 dialysis patients undergo the highly effective short-term dialysis, which is used in the Erfurt centre since November 1974. The therapy is performed by two parallel dialysators C-DAK 4 for 3 to 4 hours (24.4 square metres -- hours/week). During the period of observation of 2 1/2 years altogether 35 patients were treated with the short-term dialysis. There are compared clinical and paraclinical parameters of 12 patients who on an average for 2 years underwent the short-term dialysis. The serum levels of retained substances of protein and albumin as well as the "optimum weight" did not or only unessentially differ from each other. Also the blood pressure values scarcely deviated from each other before and after dialysis. The manifold use of the C-DAK 4 is the cause for an increased substitution of erythrocytes. Insufficient compensation of the circulation and a low body weight are regarded as contraindication to the short-term dialysis.


[Short-term dialyses using a conventional hemodialyzer]. 1. Twelve patients who were treated twice eight hours a week for at least one year were admitted to a dialysis plan of twice seven hours a week and fourteen patients who were dialysed twice eight hours a week for at least one year were dialysed thrice four hours a week. The patients were dialysed with a spool dialysator with cuprophan membrane of a surface of 1 m2. Blood flow was 200--250 ml/min., dialysate flow 500 ml/min. After 3, 6, 10, and 12 months the clinical picture, hydratation, protein katabolism, degree of anaemia and renal osteodystrophy as well as number of complications, degree of rehabilitation, concentration of the medium-molecular substances and of phenylalanine and the glucose tolerance were compared and the opinion of the patients concerning different types of the plan of dialysis was inquired. 2. The plan of dialysis of thrice four hours a week with a conventional dialysator is sufficient for a good state of the most patients. In none of the parameters investigated by us we could establish noticeable differences between the dialysis plan twice eight hours and twice seven hours and thrice four hours a week. The patients themselves clearly preferred a plan of dialysis of thrice four hours a week. 3. The concentration of medium-molecular substances in the blood is no sufficiently sensitive indicator for the determination of the quality of a permanent dialysis treatment in a good clinical state of the patient.


[Effect of factors related to hemodialysis on certain blood-coagulation parameters]. It is reported on the changes of the thromboelastogramme, the fibrinogen level, the number of thrombocytes and the time of coagulation, which developed due to the haemodialysis with intermittent and regional heparinisation, as well as on the isolated effect of heparin, protamine and the heparin-protamine-complex. Among others the cause was discussed, why there are in some cases higher values of the time of coagulation in the patient than in the extracorporal circulation during haemodialysis. For practical reasons was emphasized that the protamine may also have a pronounced anticoagulation effect.


[Early stages of experimental brain tumours in rats. Investigation of serial sections (author's transl)]. The results of transplacental induction of brain tumours by a single intravenous injection of ethylnitrosourea in a dosage of 20 or 30 mg/kg body weight to pregnant BD IX and Albino rats on the 17th day of gestation are presented. From 46 animals of the offspring 43 rats developed 185 intracranial neoplams. 157 of them were early stages. Most of the animals had multiple tumours. One rat showed 13 separate tumour nodules. The average number of brain tumours was 4.3 per rat. 101 tumours had a diameter of less than 1 mm. The neoplasms were classified as 179 glial tumours (mainly polymorphous gliomas, oligodendroastrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas), 4 sarcomas and 2 gliosarcomas. All the oligodendrogliomas and about two thirds of the polymorphous gliomas were early stages. The following preferential localizations in the rat brain were established: White matter of cerebrum, hippocampus, basal ganglia, cortex of cerebrum and brain stem. 25.4% of the tumours were localized in the subependymal area. Bulbus and tractus olfactorius, leptomeninx, and cerebellum were very rare sites of tumour growth.


[Angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with involvement of the central nervous system (author's transl)]. A fatal case of angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy with involvement of many organs including the central nervous system is reported in a 28-year-old man. The patient died from bronchopneumonia 4 months after the onset of symptoms and 2 weeks after the beginning of a cytostatic therapy.


[Diagnostic significance of morphological changes in biopsies of the pelvic crest (author's transl)]. Pelvic crests of 265 autopsies were histologically investigated. In nearly all cases with chronic diseases a remodelling of bones and especially processes of bone resorption were found. A fibroosteoclastic bone resorption was evident in 28 of 40 cases with chronic renal failures, in 5 of 26 cases with chronic lung diseases and/or chronic insufficiency of the right heart ventricle, in 4 of 12 cases with chronic diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract, and in a case of lung cancer. Processes of bone formation were less prominent. The findings indicate that several chronic diseases caused by different overlapping pathogenetic mechanisms can principally lead to the same spectrum of alterations of bone structure. This and the aetiological ambiguity of typical patho-histological reaction patterns of bones require a critical reserve in the interpretation of adequate findings in bone biopsies. It has been pointed out that the use of morphometric methods and the use of slices of undecalcified bones are necessary to obtain a reliable diagnostic tool in bone biopsies.


The frequency of the pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in autopsies with bronchial carcinomas (author's transl). Among 98 autopsies with bronchial carcinomas 7 cases were found with pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. The incidence of the osteoarthropathy was neither correlated with the tumor localization nor with the histologic type of cancer. The Bamberger-Marie syndrome has not been the first clinical evidence of a pulmonary carcinoma in our cases.


[Dicephalus tribrachius (author's transl)]. A report is presented on a case of Dicephalus tribrachius in a 5-days-old female baby. In consideration of the literature peristatic disorders of an euzygotic twin germ during the first days of pregnancy are discussed as a possible cause of this malformation.


[Heart-operations in the first year of life (author's transl)]. During the last 3 years (April 1974 to April 1977) 246 patients in their first year of life underwent surgery because of complex severe congenital heart defects. Corrective surgery was attempted whenever possible, palliative procedures were used only in forms of cardiac malformations not feasible for repair. All corrective operations were done in profound hypothermia (20 to 22 degrees C) with circulatory arrest. 73,6% of all infants survived the operation and were alive 30 days after operation-most of them markedly improved or completely free of symptoms. It is concluded that correction of congenital heart defects with the technique described seems to be a promising improvement of open heart surgery in the first year of life.


[The syndrome of the fifth day (author's transl)]. After operation of uncomplicated forms of appendicitis in children postoperative complications characterised by sudden vehement stomach-ache, quickly increasing tension of the abdominal wall, rise of temperature, pulse and white blood cells as well as vomitus, mostly on the fifth post-operative day could be observed. French authors call it "the syndrome of the fifth day". We observed this syndrome in 12 patients of 2.814 appendectomies in infancy. The treatment demands an immediate introduction of an intensive care by gastric suction intravenous fluid replacement and high doses of antibiotics. If these measures are not followed by an improvement within a few hours, a relaparotomy will be indicated. Then liquid pus is to be found in the abdomen and only a fibrin film in the primary operation field. In single cases we found a partial suture dehiscence. The aetiology of this complication has not been cleared yet.


[Clinical value of the dexamethasone-HCG test in females with hirsutism with special reference to 17-beta-hydroxyandrogens]. The dexamethasone-hcg-test was administered to 34 hospitalized patients, aged 17 to 45, who were suffering from hirsutism in order to reveal the source of their androgen levels, which in most cases were elevated. In addition to the usual estimation of urinary 17-ketosteroids and urinary 17-OH-corticosteroids plasma 17-beta-hidroxiandrogens and androstendione were measured by RIA. The results of the tests varied to a high degree and could not be related to the clinical findings. The authors conclude that administration of dexamethasone-hcg-test is of small value in detecting the source of hirsutism.


[Comparative vaginal cytology testing of gestagen components of 2 combination preparations]. The changes in cytohormonal patterns we have studied on 34 patients using various combinations of exogenous estrogenes and progestagens. Comparative analysis of data with the progestagen compounds Non-Ovlon or Gravistat showed a same effect on vaginal smear.


[Primary tumor duplicity in cervix cancer in the material of the Berlin University Gynecological Clinic, 1955--1969]. A report is given about the primary event of multiple maligne tumors by patients with carcinoma of the cervix. We found a second maligne tomor in 1.5% of cases. The manifestation was variable. Specially frequent is the coincidence of carcinoma of the cervex and carcimoma of the endometrium. The average age runs up to 62 years. The interval up to the diagnosis of the second tumor amounts 3,8 years. The probability of developing a second maligne tumor declines when the interval becomes longer. The necessity of an interdisciolinary team-work between acters in the follow up care of cancer patients is pointed out.


[Experience with second-look curettage]. Report about 31 second-look-curettages 3--12 months after radiotherapy of cancer of endometrium. In 5 cases the microscopic examination showed carcinoma of the endometrium, in 1 case the tissue formation was atypical. In 2 cases the curettage was not feasible. Indication of the second-look-curettage was discussed.


[Experience report on 495 conizations].

[Experience report on 495 conizations]. Report on 495 conisations in the 1966--1976 periol. Postoperative bleedings habe been observed in 5,25 per cent of all cases. In 60 out of 91 prestate cases (58 carcinomata in situ and 33 states of the Ia category) an exstirpation of the uterus was the final method of therapy. 2 recidive cases and 1 cases of a second outbreak are described. The exstirpation of the uterus with insertion of a vaginal collar is recommended as the optimum method of therapy. A conservative position os token only in the case of a strongly expressed wish to become pregnant.


[Endometrial chondroma].

[Endometrial chondroma]. A case of ectopic cartilage formation is reported in the endometrium of woman suffering from tuberculosis of the internal genitalia. The possibilities as far as the theories relating to the explanation of cartilage formation are analysed.


[Effectiveness of Canesten preparations in blastomycoses of the female genitalia]. According to the examinations of the authors the administration of Canesten vaginal tablets for treatment of vulvovaginitis caused by blastospores resulted in 81% of the cases in a lasting healing, in cases with an affected anamnesis in 75%. With additional treatments of Canesten solution and cream administration the efficiency was further increased and thus results of 90% or 76%, respectively could be achieved. With sanitation of auto- and heteroinfectious foci the recurrences of fungal infections could be avoided. There had been no teratogeneous effects in the newborns following Canesten treatment in pregnants. In course of Clotrimazol administration general characteristic side effects were not observed, a slight and quickly passing inflammation occured in few cases.


[Ultrasonic diagnosis within the graded program for pregnancy monitoring]. On the base of actual knowledge about ultrasound diagnosis in obstetrics some questions with regard to contents and organisations of complete pregnant women care must be answered. It is attempted to show ultrasound diagnosis to be a durable part of obstetric care and to be a component part of routine examination. In this way some conventional examination methods can be cancelled or carried out in a better form. Through that obstetric care can be increased to a higher niveau.


[Significance of various parameters of ultrasonic fetometry for the weight computation of the fetus]. In ultrasonic diagnostics, the fetal weight has been estimated on the basis of different dimensions of the fetal head or body either alone or in combination. When single dimensions have been used in late pregnancy, it has been possible to estimate the weight with an accuracy of 300--500 g, calculated as a standard deviation. When several dimensions are combined, the accuracy of the estimate is improved by 20--40%. The most commonly used dimensions are the biparietal diameter of the head and the thoracal or abdominal cross-section of the body. The ratio between the dimensions of the head and the body is also significant in diagnosing retardation of fetal growth. Although certain more complicated and time-consuming methods, such as the measurements of the volume of the fetal head and body, could yield somewhat more accurate estimates of fetal weight, they are not expedient in practical work. Scientific research is naturally a different matter.


[Factors influencing the accuracy of fetal-weight computation]. Parameters which have influence on the accuracy of the calculation of fetal weight. We estimated about 1500 cases in which we within three days before birth carried out an ultrasonic measurement. Most of the differences between the calculated prenatal and the scaled postnatal weight are caused by errors of measurement and abnormalities of the fetal development in pathologic pregnancy. In severe intrauterine retardation the actual fetal weight will be calculated about 600 g to heavy. In fetopathia diabetica with fetal hypertrophy the weight will be calculated about 400 g to small. Opposite to these sources of error the biologic variation and the inaccuracy involved by the mathematical regression model are small. The regression formula should be adapted by 1000 cases.


[Experience with ultrasonic placentography]. The authors review their procedure adopted at ultrasonic placentography. Examinations were done before amniocentesis in 21 cases and because of supposed placenta praevia in 111 cases. Patients delivered at thier institution, so the site of placental implantation could be controlled. They had only one "dangerous" mistake: considering a placenta praevia to be only placental implantation on the lower segment, otherwise ultrasonic diagnosis was wrong in 5 cases. So the efficience of our method can be taken as 96,2 per cent. The call attention to the difficulties of of posterior wall placenta diagnosis. They state that ultrasonic placentography is the least harmful among available procedures and also the safest way the localisation of placenta.


[Smoking in pregnancy].

[Smoking in pregnancy]. Of a total of 1658 women, 11% had been smoking during pregnancy. The proportion of the prenatally dystrophic new-borns was statistically significantly higher in the group of smoking women compared to that of the non-smoking women.--Women smoking during gravidity have to be cared for by a risk service for pregnant women.


[Changes in the lecithin-sphingomyelin relationship in the amniotic fluid following the effect of dexamethasone]. Amniotic fluid samples were taken by transabdominal amniocentesis from 22 pregnant women in the 32-37th gestation weeks. Determination of lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio showed that in 20 cases the L/S ratio was 2 or less than 2. The patients were treated with i.m. Dexamethason in a total dose of 0,3 mg/kg body weight. Subsequently the L/S determination was repeated. Dexamethason treatment resulted in a significant increase of L/S ratio. In 3 cases out of 22 the L/S ratio was below 2. No neonate developed RDS from this patient material. The authors are convinced that the risk of RDS is an indication for amniocentesis. If the L/S ratio equals 2 or is lower than this value, steroid prophylaxis is recommended.


[Value of amniotic fluid-serum HPL quotients for the monitoring of pregnancies at risk]. The simultaneous determination of HPL in maternal serum and in amniotic fluid is a method for diagnosis of the fetal well-being. Results of amniotic fluid HPL levels are expressed as percent of maternal serum levels. The value is above 12% in cases where intrauterine fetal distress were found.


[Comparative study of the fatty acid makeup of the neuronal and glial cell phospholipids in the brain of reptiles, birds and mammals]. Studies have been made on fatty acid composition of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol and sphingomyelin from the neurons and glial cells of the brain of rats, pigeons (Columba livia) and tortoises (Testudo horsfieldi). It was shown that fatty acid composition of the phospholipids investigated in both cellular fractions of tortoises differs from that of rats and pigeons. Within the same animal, fatty acid composition of homologous phospholipids from the neurons and glial cells is not identical. Differences in this respect were found in all the animals studied, although they are more evident in cells of pigeons and rats than in the cells of tortoises.


[Effect of hydrolases and digitonin on the electrophysiological characteristics of the neurons of the snail, Helix pomatia]. Studies have been made on the effect of trypsin, chymotrypsin, pronase, lipases, hyaluronidase and digitonin on electrophysiological properties of the neurons of the snail H. pomatia under external application. Proteases and lipases gradually depolarize the neuronal membrane, decrease the amplitude and prevent the onset of action potentials, initially increase and then decrease the membrane resistance. The decrease in the membrane resistance coincides with the period of maximum inhibition of resting and action potentials in the neurons. The enzymes studied do not affect the membrane capacitance. Changes in electrophysiological characteristics induced by the enzymes are partially reversible provided the preparation is soaked in Ringer's solution for a sufficient time. Digitonin rapidly and irreversibly depolarizes the membrane, decreases its resistance and blocks action potentials. Hyaluronidase does not significantly affect neuronal electrophysiological properties when applied solely, but facilitates the development of changes during subsequent effect of proteases.


[Ecological characteristics of the hemoglobinograms of 3 species of sturgeons]. Studies have been made on fractional composition of hemoglobin in the Russian Acipenser güldenstädti, Siberian A. baeri and Amur A. shrencki sturgeons by polyacrylamide gel disc-electrophoresis. High electrophoretic heterogeneity (6--7 components) of hemoglobin in each of the species was found together with a distinct species specificity of hemoglobinograms. The observed differences in fractional composition of hemoglobin are of an adaptive character which makes it possible to consider the Amur sturgeon as a perspective object for acclimatization in the seas of the Southern region of the USSR with lowered salinity.


[Age changes in the respiratory cycle and pulmonary ventilation in kittens before and after vagotomy]. Studies have been made on the structure of respiratory period, the volume of pulmonary ventilation in decerebrated kittens during their first month of postnatal development. In most of the kittens respiration rate decreases with age, although in some of the animals it remained high. In newborn kittens, the afferentation from pulmonary mechanoreceptors is more significant for the limitation of the duration of expiration (TE) than that of inspiration (TI). Respiration rate in vagotomized kittens increases with age. The maturation of central mechanisms controlling the change of inspiration by expiration and the change of expiration by inspiration follows different patterns. After vagotomy, TI undergoes insignificant changes within the first 3 weeks, increasing on further development of the animals. High value of TE in these kittens results from poor activity of the central mechanisms which limit expiration. Intensive development of these mechanisms is observed from the 9th to the 18th day. After vagotomy, the decrease in respiration rate is not always compensated by the increase in respiration volume, which may account for the decrease in pulmonary ventilation.


[Seasonal changes in myocardial sensitivity to acetylcholine in the molluscs, Anodonta complanata and Anodonta piscinalis]. Seasonal changes in ACh sensitivity have been studied on isolated cardiac muscle of the bivalve molluscs together with ATP content of the hemolymph and the heart. The lowest ACh sensitivity of the heart was found in August and October (KACh in August was equal to 44.0.10(-6) M). Maximum sensitivity was observed in March and at the end of August--the beginning of September (KACh in March was equal to 1.27 X X 10(-6) M); at this period of year, ATP content of the hemolymph decreases approximately 100-fold, the release of ATP from the heart in the presence of ACh being also decreased. Maximum level of ATP in cardiac muscle was found in July. It was demonstrated that most significant changes in ACh sensitivity take place during spawning, especially when sex cells are transported from the gonads into the gills, as well as during the release of glochidia from the latter. Possible causes of seasonal changes in ACh sensitivity of cardiac muscle and the role of ATP in this process are discussed.


[Change in the chemical sensitivity of the visual cortical synapses in rabbit ontogeny]. In experiments on newborn rabbits under nembutal (pentobarbital) anaesthesia, studies have been made on changes of visual evoked potential in the visual cortex during application of 1% solutions of GABA and nembutal. At the age of 7--9 days, these drugs decreased the evoked response, which may be associated with their hyperpolarizing effect on cortical synapses. Between the 11th and the 13th days, no effect of GABA and nembutal upon the evoked potential was noted. Definitive reaction to application of these pharmacological drugs typical for adult animals is formed not earlier than to the 15th--17th day. Beginning from this time, application of GABA and nembutal significantly increases visual evoked potential. The postnatal evolution of chemical sensitivity of postsynaptic membrane of neurons of the visual cortex in rabbits is discussed.


[Statocyst regulation of the heart and statokinetic reflexes in the crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, during linear acceleration]. In experiments on the shore crab H. sanguineus studies have been made of the effect of variable longitudinal acceleration during swinging (for 15--30 min) upon cardiac activity and gravitational reflexes. High sensitivity of gravitational receptors of the canal statocyst to the effect of acceleration was demonstrated. Removal of the statocysts increases the frequency and amplitude of cardiac contractions as revealed by ECG recording. Changes in stato-kinetic coordinations cause both the disorder of overturning reactions and the disorder of reciprocal inhibition in antagonistic muscles of the dactylopodite. Statocyst regulation of skeletal muscles and heart is presumably realised via contralateral inhibitory canal which is sensitive to linear accelerations.


[Optimal air flow directions for activating the giant neurons of the cercal system in the cricket, Gryllus domesticus]. Studies have been made of the directional sensitivity of the giant neurons in the abdominal nervous chain of the cricket during the effect of air flows and sound stimuli on the cercal system. It was found that the axis of sonic and air flow diagrams of the directional sensitivity for a given neuron are practically identical. On the basis of flow diagrams, in each of the connectives at the edge of terminal abdominal ganglion 4 giant neurons were identified which may form a system accounting for the reception of air flows of any directions approximating horizontal plane. It was found that 3 neurons from this system receive the main bulk of excitatory impulsation from the ipsilateral cercus, and only 1 of them--from the contralateral one. The data obtained are discussed in relation to morphological and physiological characteristics of the investigated group of giant neurons.


[Chemical danger signal in the "predator-prey" system in fishes]. Studies have been made on peculiarities of defensive reaction in Phoxinus phoxinus to external metabolites produced by the pike Esox lucius and excreted into the basin. It was shown that the skin and mucose of the pike contain low molecular weight substances (m. w. about 1300) which being introduced into the basin serve as a chemical signal of danger to Phoxinus phoxinus.


[Glycogen and glucose content in the tissues of the frog and reptiles]. In poikilotherm animals--the frog Rana ridibunda, lizards Lacerta strigata, Eremias arguta, snake Natrix tesselata--high glycogen and glucose concentrations have been found not only in the liver, but also in muscles and especially in the brain. The content of glycogen in the brain of the reptiles investigated is 63.5--4.2 times higher, whereas that of glucose--6.9--39.5 times higher than in the brain of rats. The level of free fatty acids in the blood of frogs and snakes studied is the same as in rats, being 3.8 times higher in the blood of the lizards.


[Radiocompetitive method of H antigen determination]. The authors describe a radiocompetitive method of H-d-monomere determination with the sensitivity of 2 ng/ml in double antibodies modification; this method was used for comparing the immunological affinity of the affiliated H-antigens. A difference between the immunological affinity to the antibodies in a monomere, polymere and the flagellum was shown.


[Measures of prophylaxis of nosocomial infections in somatic hospitals]. Data are presented on the complex of measures for the prophylaxis of infections at the obstetrical and surgical clinics; also information on the efficacy of new disinfectants made in the USSR for the disinfection of objects of external environment, hands of medical personnel and air in somatic hospitals is given.


[Properties of the nervous tissue cholinesterase and carboxylesterase in the locust, Locusta migratoria]. It was shown that locust cholinesterase splits various thiocholine esters with different rate. Hydrolysis of p-NPA is due to the effect of carboxylesterase. The latter differs from cholinesterase by a low sensitivity to eserine and cation-containing organophosphorus inhibitor methylsulfomethylate-O-ethyl-S-(beta-ethylmercaptoethyl) methylthiophosphonate, as well as by higher sensitivity to triorthocresylphosphate. The results obtained are discussed in relation to possible differences of the active surface of the enzymes studied.


[Effect of the cerebellum on the motor activity of the stomach in the scorpion fish, Scorpaena porcus]. It has been shown that after cerebellectomy or electrical stimulation of the cerebellum in the fish the motor activity of its stomach undergoes significant changes. From the 1st to the 5th day after cerebellectomy, the frequency and amplitude of the stomach contractions decrease. These indices return to the initial level only to the 7th day after the operation. Electrical stimulation of the cerebellum decreases the frequency, but not the amplitude of the stomach contractions. These changes take place within the 1st hour after stimulation. Electrical stimulation of the skin of the head of the fish does not affect motor activity of the stomach.


[Factors of transmission of salmonella infections under their sporadic spread conditions]. Epidemiological and microbiological studies carried out with the application of the principles of epidemiological observation permitted to ascertain the principal edpiemiological regularities of salmonelloses in one of the Moscow dictricts, to reveal the main factors determining these regularities, and the definite ways and conditions of their realization. Factual data indicating that there were no principal differences in the character of development of the epidemic process in case of the so called sporadic salmonelloses and salmonelloses occurring by the type of food poisoning foci were obtained.


[Narcotization of dolphins without blocking their own respiration]. Narcotization procedure for porpoises is suggested without blocking their respiration. Premedication: atropine (1 mg per 50 kg, intravenously), Seduxen (5 mg per 100 kg, intravenously). Narcosis: sodium oxybutyrate (1 g per 50 kg, intravenously), Droperidol (12.5 mg per 100 kg, intravenously), Phentanyl (0.5 mg per 100 kg, intravenously).


[Alimentary outbreak of streptococcal angina]. The authors describe an outbreak of alimentary angina occurring at one of the large enterprises of Perm in April, 1975--185 persons fell ill in the course of 3 days. The diagnosis of follicular angina was made in 61.6, of lacunar--in 38.4% of cases. Mild course was noted in 63.9, moderately severe--in 31.4, and severe--in 4.7% of cases. All these patients catered at the same place and ate sour cream. Hemolytic streptococcus was isolated in bacteriological examination of the nasopharyngeal mucus in 39 to 51 patients examined, as well as of the cook and confectioner of the catering establishment.


[Immunoepidemiological observations on the duration of post-vaccinal immunity in children vaccinated against measles]. In the course of 4 years the authors carried out an immunological and epidemiological observation over 4719 children which attended creches, kindergartens and schools, and were vaccinated with live measles vaccines L-16 and ASC in 1967--1972. A stable persistence of immunity was revealed in the majority of children vaccinated against measles which responded to the vaccination by the formation of humoral antibodies. Among these groups an insignificant number of persons with the appearance of measles sensitivity was noted during the observation period. The quality of the preparation, conditions of its storage, use, and different errors during the vaccination influenced the efficacy of the vaccination. Children immunized with the low-immunogenic series of the vaccine whose blood sera failed to display any specific antibodies in the reaction with 1 AU of the antigen, as a rule, were the ones that contracted the disease.


[Maturation of the retinal structures in the ontogeny of mammals]. Using various neurohistological, electronmicroscopic, cytochemical and electrophysiological techniques, studies have been made on the development of peripheral visual pathways in human subjects and some homoiotherm animals (pigeon Columba livia, cats, rabbits). Heterochronous maturation of the conducting pathways in the retina was observed. The data obtained on rabbits suggest that heterochronous maturation of the receptors accounts for heterochronous differentiation of various elements within the system retina--visual cortex.


[Transfer of drug resistance plasmids from Staphylococcus epidermidis to Staphylococcus aureus in mixed culture]. A possibility of transfer of chloramphenicol-resistance and penicillin-resistance plasmids from 4 different donor S. epidermidis strains to 2 S. aureus strains was demonstrated. Chloramphenocol-resistance plasmid was found in S. epidermidis 1065/77 which was not expressed in this strain but could be transferred to and was expressed in Staphylococcus aureus strains. Penicillin-resistance and chloramphenicol-resistance plasmids were transferred simultaneously in 40 per cent of the colonies.


[Arginine metabolism in Citrobacter].

[Arginine metabolism in Citrobacter]. The authors studied ways of utilization of arginine and of the products of its metabolism (ornithine, agmatine, and urea) in the microoganisms of Citrobacter genus. Arginine- and ornithine-decarboxylase activity was revealed by spectrophotometric method of decarboxylation products in the form of dinitrophenyl-derivatives in a small number of strains. Almost all the strains studied demonstrated a sufficiently high agmatine-ureohydrolase reaction. Arginase was constantly revealed. These microbes were capable of urea utilization in prolonged incubation.


[The choice of optimal sensitizing dose of the antigen in the preparation of cholera erythrocytic diagnostic agent, with consideration to the avidity of antibodies under study]. The authors studied the comparative antigenic activity in the indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) of erythrocytic diagnostic agents sensitized with various doses of cholera O-antigen. A definite dependence of the IHAT results on the avidity degree of the antibodies determined in the serum was demonstrated. To ascertain the maximal levels of highly avid antibodies (in the hyperimmune cholera sera) it is possible to use antigen doses exceeding the optimal sensitizing ones. In examination of less avid antibodies (for example in the blood sera of cholera patients) the diagnostic agent in such doses displayed decreased IHAT titres. To increase the reliability of the IHAT results it is recommended to choose the sensitizing antigen doses for the preparation of the diagnostic agent to be used in the IHAT with consideration to the avidity of antibodies examined in the blood sera.


[Characteristics of the biological activity of staphylococcal allergens obtained from various strains laboratory animals]. The authors suggest an optimal scheme of guinea pig sensitization for the assessment of specific activity of staphylococcal allergens. On milliard cells of killed staphylococcal culture are injected to the animals into the paws of the limbs; two and a half weeks later an intradermal test with an allergen in a dose of 10 microgram by protein was made. Differences in the specific activity of staphylococcal allergens prepared of various strains were revealed. Biochemical properties of the strains proved to be of significance for the sensitization.


[Clinical picture of cerebral cysticercosis]. The author studied 82 patients with brain cystocercosis (male--48 and females 34 cases). Cystocercosis was most frequently encountered in individuals from 21--50 years of age. The rural population constituted 74% while the urban--26%. The report contains data on the characteristic symptoms of brain cystocercosis and its differential diagnostical signs with brain tumors. Besides such states as epileptical, hypertensive, occlusional, psychopathological annd meningoencephalitic the authors distinguish the meningeal form which proceeds as a chronic remittent serous meningits.


[Several clinical features of syringomyelia]. On the basis of clinical studies of 387 patients with syringomyelia the authors describe different forms of this disorder. The results of these studies conducted by means of one derivation echoencephalography  depending upon the age and disease duration in patients with syringomyelia are demonstrated. The possible mechanisms of syringomyelia development are being discussed.


[Clinico-physiologic characteristics of syringobulbia]. In a complex study of 42 patients with syringomyelobulbia with the aid of EMG and EEG the author most frequently observed symptoms of damage of the descending root and the nuclei of the 5th nerve, the nuclei of the 9, 10 and 12 nerves, as well as nystagmus and the Horner symptom. The dysraphic signs were marked in 40 patients. Conductive sensoral and motor disturbances, changes of arterial pressure and general vascular reactivity, bioelectrical brain activity, a decrease of gastric secretion were revealed. The significance of some diagnostical signs for recognition of syringobulbia is stressed.


[Selective aminoacidemia in essential tremor]. The paper is related to a study of the blood concentration of free amino acids in idiopathic tremor by means of a high voltage electrophoresis with subsequent ascending chromatography. The studied group consisted of 20 patients (9 males and 11 females of 18--70 years of age). The control group included 30 normals (males and females of 18--48 years). The study demonstrated a selective increase of lysine and cystine in the blood, which exceeded the normal content several times. An investigation of the spectrum of free amino acids may be utilized for differential-diagnosis-diagnosis purposes and in cases of difficulties in diagnosis.


[Epidemiology and clinical polymorphism of hereditary ataxia]. The paper is concerned with a clinico-genetical analysis of 66 patients with hereditary ataxia from 44 families. The authors describe typical and atypical variants of separate clinical forms, underline the intra-and interfamilial polymorphism of the clinical picture. The study contains a detailed description of intellectual and extraneuronal changes, a characteristics of the EEG, EMG and REG changes.


[Bell's palsy (etiology, pathogenesis, clinical picture, course, outcome)]. The authors studied 908 patients with Bell's paralysis. In 373 cases the etiology was cooling, in 52--vascular diseases, in 207 cases the etiology was not established. An analysis of the clinical picture development permits to assume that different modern theories of the pathogenesis of Bell's paralysis (the theory of primary ischemia, secondary ischemia a combination of primary and secondary ischemia) do not exclude each other, finding a different application depending upon the etiology of the paralysis. The report contains a detailed description of the clinical picture and development of Bell's paralysis. It is established, that the facial nerve in Bell's paralysis is usually affected in the inferior part of the Fallopian tube. A follow-up study of 536 patients demonstrated that in 174 cases (32.4%) (those who were discharged from the hospital with an incomplete therapeutical effect) a contracture of the mimical muscles was formed. In 70 of them the symptom of "crocodile tears" was found. In 73 patients there were homolateral relapses of Bell's paralysis.


[Trigeminal-facial reflex of the orbicularis orbis muscle in patients with flaccid paralysis of the facial musculature]. With the aid of electric stimulation of the supraorbital nerve the authors studied the trigeminal facial reflex and evoked potentials of the facial nerve in patients with sluggish paresis of the facial muscles; 48 patients with neuritis of the facial nerve, 26 patients with polyradiculoneuritis, 5 patients with encephalitis and the syndrome of nucleus damage of the facial nerve (including 38 children) and 3 patients with myasthenia were studied. It is demonstrated that along with the equal extent of flaccidness of the facial muscles there are different characteristics of indices of the latent period and the amplitude of the trigeminal facial reflex, which are of diagnostic and prognostic significance.


[Clinical manifestations and vascular reactivity in patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy]. Using a neurological, psychiatric, experimental neuropsychological and REG study with the use of functional tests, the authors studied 66 patients with different stages of dyscirculatory encephalopathy and 20 normals of the same age (a control group). These patients demonstrated different degrees of disturbed intellectual and mnestic activities, a drop of attention and general activity, the speed of reactions, as well as different forms of expressed psychoorganic symptoms developing on the background of diffuse and eventually of microfocal neurological symptomatology. The REG data revealed relation between the stage of the disease on the one hand and the state of the vascular tone, elasticity of the vascular wall, level of arterial pessure and pulse blood repletion, the state of the venous outflow on the other. Changes of such parameters indicate to a prevalently functional character of these changes in the I stage and  partly in the II stages of dyscirculatory encephalopathy and mainly organic in its III stage.


[Latent endogenous depressions. I. Pseudoorganic neurosomatic symptomatology]. On the basis of a clinical follow-up study of 384 patients with cyclothymia and schizophrenia with the picture of larvated depressions the author distinguishes 5 groups of somatovegetative sensations according to anatomo-physiological projections: cardiovascular (37%), neurological (32%), abdominal (23%), bone-muscular (5%), skin (3%). The traits of pathological sensations, imitating genuine somatoneurological pathology is discussed in a differential diagnostic aspect.


[Clinical and social adaptation of patients with involutional depression]. The authors studied some traits of social adaptation in 92 patients with involutional depressions. It was established that the level of social adaptation in the majority of patients with involutional depression (46 cases) correlates with the affect during psychopharmacotherapy, expressed in an alleviation of psychopathological disturbances, with an eventual transition of depressions to a pseudoneurotic level. In such cases there was significant improvement of adaptation. Only in 5 cases, despite the treatement there was an expressed drop of social adaptation on the background of a formed stereotyped "frozen" melancholic state.


[Psychogenic onsets of slowly progressive schizophrenia]. The authors studied 26 patients with slowly progressive schizophrenia, where prior to distinct symptoms of a schizophrenic process there was a reactive depression in the framework of the dynamics of psychopathy and in patients with an eventual development of the schizophrenic process. The report contains arguments indicating to the possibility of assessing the period of reactive lability, prior to the manifestation of schizophrenia, as a latent phase in the development of an endogenous process.


[Intellectual activity at different stages of an episode of periodic schizophrenia]. In 44 patients with periodical forms of schizophrenia at different stages of the stereotypical acute attack, the authors performed experimental psychological tests in order to study different aspects of intellectual activity (attention, memory, special-constructive and semantic thinking). It was established that the development of attacks was accompanied by increasing disorders of voluntary attention. Depending upon the sign of dominating effects, disordered active attention was accompanied either by acceleration and lability, or by delayed and inert psychic processes. This leads to an increasing disturbances in the organization of all forms of intellectual activity, up to a total inhibition of active psychic reflection at the clinical phase of the attack. The supposition is made that these disorders are connected with the changes in the level of brain vigilance.


[Brain potentials evoked by stimuli of different intensities in normal subjects and in hysterical psychopathy]. The author studied evoked potentials of 5 different intensitities to electroskin stimula in normals and psychopathic personalities of a hysterical type. It was established that different in their genesis the components of evoked potentials change differently in a change of the stimula intensity. The highest intensity of the stimula is reflected in the early sensory component of evoked potentials, the amplitude of which in normals in an increase of intensity successionaly rises. In hysterical personalities the amplitude of early sensorial components of evoked potentials in an increase of stimula intensity increases only to a certain limit, after which it begins to drop. This phenomenon called "reducing" indicates to a weakness of the sensory systems and relative prevalence of nonspecific brain systems in hysterical psycopathy.


[Variants of postprocess pathological personality development]. The authors consider some cases of postattack conditions in schizophrenia as a result of postprocess pathological personality development. A study of a group of schizoprenic patients (74 cases) made it possible to distinguish 6 variants of postprocess pathological personality (hypochondric, asthenical, development with querulous reactions, of a protracted reaction type, withdrawal from contacts, reaction of an animation type, reactions of protests). The authors propose to indicate the variant of a personality development in the framework of a functional diagnosis in order to make a more definite orientation of the rehabilitative measures.


[Genetic factors in the etiology of undifferentiated oligophrenia]. A clinico-genetical study of 262 families of patients with clinically nondifferentiated oligophrenia established that genetical factors play an important role in its etiology. According to the mechanism of inheritance these families were divided into 2 groups: a group of families with a monomeric inherited oligophrenia (58) and a group of families (204) where oligophrenia is inherited as a simple mendelian sign, and in relation to this group polymeric mechanisms of inheritance are more acceptable. Both groups differ by the frequency of secondary cases, the degree of defect in the patients, coefficient of inbreeding. The second group of nondifferentiated olgophrenia is especially difficult for an etiological differentiation, because it is quite possible that they include cases with exogenously determined oligophrenia.


[Interhemispheric interrelationships in oligophrenic patients]. The author registered evoked electrical activity from the right and left occipatal area in oligophrenic  patients to letters and nonverba stimula presented unilateraly to different halves of the field of vision. For control purposes a group of normals was studied according to the same method. A hemispheric asymmetry seen in the group of normals was not detected in oligophrenic patients. It is assumed that this is one of the nervous mechanisms of declined intellectual activity.


[Dactyloscopy undifferentiated oligophrenia]. The paper deals with a study of dematoglyphics in 458 oligophrenic patients (265 boys and 193 girls) from 7--18 years of age and 373 normal children of the same age. In all the ill boys, irrespective of the degree of mental retardation there was a decrease of arc patterns and an increase of the whorle frequency. In girls with oligophrenia in the degree of debility there was a significantly lower amount of arc patterns and an increase of whorles, the frequency of loops did not differ significantly with that of the control group. In girls in whom the oligophrenic defect was of the degree of imbecility or idiocy there was a more frequent amount of arc and whorle patterns at the expense of a decrease of loop patterns, while in the control group there was a somewhat more frequent amount of arc an loop patterns and less frequent--of whorles.