[Influence of date seed flour and cellulose on growth, food utilization and parameters of fat metabolism of growing and adult rats]. In experiments with growing and adult Wistar-rats, the influence of date-seed flour on growth, food intake/utilization and lipid metabolism was studied. Cellulose powder was used as control substance. Unlike cellulose the date-seed flour increased the food intake and the gained body weights of the animals. The food utilization impaired after supplying both date-seed flour and cellulose. Date-seed flour as source of crude fibers in the diet caused a higher increase of weight and volume of the faeces than equivalent amounts of cellulose. Cellulose fed animals showed a higher crude fiber content of the faeces. The crude fiber of date seeds is supposed to consist of compounds more easily digested than cellulose such as hemicelluloses. Date-seed flour led to a significant increase of serum total lipids and serum cholesterol of growing rats. In the liver of adult rats the neutral fats and total lipids were increased too. A clear fatty infiltration in the liver of growing rats was detected. Cellulose did not significantly influence the lipid metabolism of both growing and adult rats. There must be a certain compound in the date seeds causing this lipid anabolic effect, which is not compensated by their relatively high crude fiber-content.


[Comparison of metabolic effects of infusions of glucose and glucose substitutes]. The side effects of high dosed infusions of glucose and glucose substitutes (fructose, sorbitol, xylitol) in metabolically healthy volunteers have been studied. Infusions of glucose or fructose in high dose cause an increase in blood lactate levels. This effect, to a lesser degree, is observed with sorbitol. No effect, however, was seen with xylitol. Following the termination of the glucose infusions the lactate levels remain elevated, whereas after termination of the fructose infusions the lactate concentration is normalized within a short time. A decrease in the serum phosphate levels was observed for all the substances used. The most active were glucose and xylitol, followed by fructose and sorbitol, respectively. Similarly, all these substances cause an elevation of the serum bilirubin levels, though enzyme activities in serum remain unaffected. Xylitol had the greatest effect on bilirubin levels, however, glucose was also effective. The only side effect caused by the glucose substitutes was the stimulation of uric acid synthesis. In this respect xylitol was most effective. Some of metabolic effects of glucose and glucose substitutes are not yet clearly understood. However, even at very high doses these effects are not to be regarded as true "side-effects".


[Comparison of side effects of infusion of glucose and glucose substitutes at different doses]. Glucose, fructose, sorbitol or xylitol were infused for four hours at different dose levels to metabolically healthy volunteers. The metabolic effects of the so-called glucose substitutes were compared to that of glucose. Even at very high doses (2.0 g/kg bodyweight per hour) of infusion of glucose or fructose a steady state was attained. This, however, was not the case with xylitol or sorbitol at lower doses (i.e. 0.5 g/kg bodyweight per hour), where no steady state was reached. The blood glucose concentration is not influenced by any of the glucose substitutes. During infusion of very high doses of fructose a small increase in serum insulin level is found, however, without any alteration in blood glucose concentration. Glucose as well as glucose substitutes cause an immediate suppression of free fatty acid concentrations in serum. In case of glucose there is a manifold increase in fatty acid concentration after the infusion is terminated. On the other hand, the free fatty acid concentration remains low even several hours following termination of the high-dosed fructose infusion. Theoretically one would expect an increase in triglyceride concentration, at least at the high dosed carbohydrate infusions. In contrast to this theoretical expectation, in the case of glucose and of xylitol a significant reduction of triglyceride concentration in serum was observed. Fructose and sorbitol did not exhibit this effect. Glucose and fructose are well utilized in metabolically healthy subjects. The maximum turnover rates for both polyols are lower. Unlike glucose, the glucose substitutes obviously do not cause any serious disturbation in hormonal regulations. Only in the case of glucose, counterregulation is seen following the termination of the infusion.


Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity and serum lipid pattern: A comparison between Indian immigrants and Danes. A comparative data on erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, serum cholesterol and serum fatty acid pattern between Indian immigrants and Danes have been presented. The erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the Indian immigrants has been found to be significantly increased as compared to that in the Danish group when t-buthylhydroperoxide was used as a substrate. Also a significant correlation (R less than or equal to 0.09) was found in the GSH-Px activities in the Indian group with the three peroxides, viz., hydrogen peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and t-butylhydroperoxide, used. This correlation was, however, missing in the Danish group. Serum cholesterol was found to be significantly lower in the Indian group as compared to the Danes. Also total serum fatty acid patterns between the two groups differed considerably.


[New methods of chemotherapy also for extrapulmonary tuberculosis?]. The chemotherapy of all forms of tuberculosis is basically performed according to homogeneous principles. Different opinions exist within the extrapulmonary forms particularly with regard to the duration of the treatment. Here, the so-called long-term therapy is frequently still postulated with 18--24 months. But newly developed, highly effective antituberculotic medicaments do not only allow but actually demand a shortening of the time of treatment in interest of the patient. Apparantly rifampicin and also pyrazin amide are able to effect on the germs in rest -- the persisters. Up to now the last mentioned gave the actual rise for the long-term application. Under the notion short-term therapy on the one hand by the application of the preparations mentioned and on the other hand basing on the experiences in the medicamentous treatment of the pulmonary tuberculosis now in the same measure the possiblity of a total duration of the therapy of on an average twelve months develops for the extrapulmonary manifestations of tuberculosis. Here, the two-phase regime is preferred with a continuous application of medicaments lasting for three months and following controlled phase with intermitting application of antituberculotics twice a week. The duration of application for rifampicin in these cases should neither trandgress nor be below three months.


[Female genital tuberculosis].

[Female genital tuberculosis]. As one of the forms of extrapulmonary tuberculoses the genital tuberculosis of the woman is--despite regressing numbers of morbidity and mortality--a disease still existing, which is to be found at every age. The own results of examinations and experiences which could be obtained from 140 female patients with bacteriologically and histologically ascertained diagnosis are included into the actual survey of the clinic of the genital tuberculosis from the gynaecologists and obstetrician's point of view. These results, too, emphasize the necessity of a complex diagnosis, therapy and aftercare of the female genital tuberculosis, which together with the vast prophylactic tasks may only be coped with by a rational cooperation in the interdisciplinary scale.


[Current viewpoints on osteoarticular tuberculosis]. Nowadays the osteoarticular tuberculosis is a disease of adult and senile age. Among my own patients were most frequently affected the spinal column (55.7%), the hip-joint (10.1%) and the knee-joint (9.4%). If other diagnostic methods fail, to the interest of an early ascertainment of the diagnosis the performance of a test excision should not be delayed. On modern conditions a conservative treatment is sufficient in most cases and achieves good results. Here, the chemotherapy follows the usual directives, in which cases on account of the lacking proof of causative organisms frequently must be issued from the probable position of resistance. Excluding early diagnosed, purely synovial tuberculoses of the joint in young patients, even nowadays every tuberculous skeletal focus needs immobilisation. In case that conservative therapy does not lead to an improvement of the findings, operative measures are indicated. Here, the removal of the focus is the first place. A final solution of the problem of the osteoarticular tuberculosis is to be expected above all within the general combat against tuberculosis.


[The current state of cutaneous tuberculosis]. Thirty-three years after the introduction of the chemotherapeutics and as result of massive prophylactic and preventive measures the tuberculosis of the skin shows a clear epidemiologic and clinical change. Nowadays the clinical picture of the tuberculosis of the skin restricts essentially to the classical forms of the lupous, verrucous and colliquative tubervulosis of the skin, the specific etiology and pathogenesis of which are ascertained. The so-called tuberculids should at present only be treated in a qualified sense in the chapter of tuberculosis of the skin. After a short description of the diagnostic possibilities and after a historical survey on former measures of treatment the present GDR standard in therapy is explained. The qualification for carrying on the isonicotinic acid hydrazide monotherapy in the tuberculosis cutis luposa and verrucosa is proved on the basis of bacteriological, pathologo-anatomical and clinical peculiarities of these forms of tuberculosis of the skin.


[Lactacidosis in guanide treatment--a current disease syndrome]. It is reported on two eldery female diabetics with severe lethal lactacidosis. The clinical picture as well as the laboratory constellation leave no room for doubt about it, though only in one case the estimation of lactate could be performed. A renal insufficiency as involving factor is to be supposed in the two cases. With the help of literature the essential points of view of the clinical picture are discussed and it is referred to its origin also under influence of buformin.


[Indications and results of an additional differentiated pharmacotherapy of obesity]. Despite frequently good early successes the several therapeutic methods of obesity show in general unsatisfactory long-term results with large numbers of recidivations. Considering non-existing causal-therapeutic possibilities in the present paper in reported on a complex and differentiated therapeutic programme in 549 obese persons. After an initial subtotal fasting cure of ca. 100 kcal/a day with gradual increase of diet in more than half the obese persons an additional differentiated pharmacotherapy was performed. The indications resulted above all from the frequent syntropy with diabetes mellitus (28%), arterial hypertension (23%) and hyperlipidaemia (14%). In 122 test persons (adipose patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia and extremely obese patients without essential factors of risk, respectively) a treatment with 2 x 50 microgram tri-iodothyronine--partly in combination with diuretics--was performed in intermittent and gradually decreasing dosage. Apart from a vast normalisation of the lipid parameters a reduction of weight from 32.6 +/- 14.8 kg could be achieved after 31 +/- 14 months. Of 131 adipose hypertensive patients 74 received additionally diuretics on account of increased water retention with also good long-term results concerning the reduction of weight and normalisation of blood pressure. The biguanides were a therapeutic enrichment particularly in the treatment of adipose elderly diabetics with obligatory diet. Apart from an improvement of the carbohydrate tolerance regularly a more intensive reduction of weight was obtained.


[Reproducibility of the answers of various groups of cardiovascular patients in a standardized questionnaire, differentiated by age and gender]. For the purpose of the valuation of a questionnaire developed by us for the anamnestic recognition of angiocardiopathies, which consists of 63 questions, a repeated interrogation was performed with 220 patients of different age and sex during 14 days. The average reproducibility of the yes/no-decisions was good and varied only slightly in the 8 groups of diseases (86.3--99.4%). The average degree of reproducibility referred to the sexes is nearly the same (94.7% and 95.5%, respectively). Referred to the age groups the highest reproducibility was established in the patients older than 60 years (95.7%) and the lowest in patients between 50 and 60 years (93.3%).


[Comparative studies on the determination of uric acid with the continuous flow machine, the manual reduction method and the enzymatic color test]. The manual and automatised determination of uric acid by means of phosphotungstic acid as well as the enzymatic test are compared: 1. When the manual reduction method is performed in the deproteinisation losses of uric acid develop (too low pH-value, absorption). For the precipitation of protein the pH-value 3 must not be undercut. Use uranyl acetate (no trichloro-acetic acid). 2. By dialysing of serum the automatized method avoid errors in precipitation. On the other hand, the simultaneous determination of non-uric acid chromogens is valid as for the manual method. Therefore, the automatically established values are higher. 3. Normal regions for the automatized phosphotungstic acid method are: males 4.8--8.2, females 3.5--7.5 mg uric acid/100 ml serum. 4. Comparisons of the quality of the manual and automatized reduction method for the enzymatic colour test are performed: In the precision the methods tested achieve comparable results (VK 2.1--3.5). The investigations of the correctness by means of control sera achieved acceptable results. The enzymatic colour test gives, since scarcely influenced by pharmaca and nearly specifically, the most reliable results. When using reduction methods analytic and preanalytic sources of error (e.g. pharmaca) must vastly be excluded. The automatised reduction method gives the advantage that there do no more appear any losses of uric acid. There is another normal region for the methods tested.


[The origin of complex coagulopathies in sleeping pill poisonings]. About 80 per cent of haemostasis disorders were found by systematic examinations of the clotting potential in 130 unselected moderately severe up to severe intoxications by tablets (degree of severity II--IV according to Reed). These disorders are essentially corresponding to a disseminated intravascular coagulation, but provided an extreme case they also may lead to a combination with production-, defect-, and casualty-coagulopathy. Occurring disorders in coagulation are to be treated dependent on stages by heparinisation, in case of need directed haemosubstitution and provided that a hyperfibrinolysis is proved also by antifibrinolytics. In special cases a--not too late beginning--therapy with streptokinase should be taken into consideration. These measures are to be classified into an optimal therapy regimen of detoxication and the exertion of influence of vital functions.


[Theory and critical aspects of the so-called steal effect of coronary dilators of the dipyridamole type]. The stenocardias appearing in the dipyridamol test are explained by the hypothesis of a steal effect. This notion is, concerning its contents, to be demarcated against other regulatory processes. With the help of a simple model can be made clear that the thesis of a steal effect stands in contradiction to haemodynamic basic conceptions and cannot be used for the explanation of the paradoxical effect of dipyridamol.


[Experiences with ultrasound hepatography in the A picture method in the diagnosis of liver metastases]. In 600 patients by means of the A-picture method ultra-sound investigations of the liver were performed in order to find metastases of the liver. After an intermediate evaluation of 120 patients anatomical control findings by laparoscopy, operation and section are present. In 88% the result of the ultra-sound investigation proved as correct. False positive findings were provoked above all by the coarse-nodular liver cirrhosis. Despite certain restrictions the ultra-sound investigation of the liver is an important diagnostic remedy to find liver metastases, since it is painless, simple and harmless.


[Contribution to the differential diagnosis of lung infarct, pulmonary tuberculosis and lung neoplasms]. It is reported on the rare case of a symptom-free, atypically localised haemorrhagic pulmonary infarction without provable cause in a 52-year-old male. The patient became conspicuous on account of a plum-sized focal shadow in the right lateral upper field detected during a mass examination. The state was regarded as bronchial. carcinoma. Operation and following histological investigation of the resection preparation finally resulted in the diagnosis.


[Treatment of diffuse lung fibrosis with D-penicillamine]. Pulmonary fibroses which are regarded as reactive final stage of a great number of pulmonary diseases apart from their unfavourable prognosis may also therapeutically be scarcely influenced. With D-penicillamine a remedy was found which first intervened directly into the collagenic metabolism. Mechanisms of action, therapy indications and side-effects are compiled taking into consideration a broad survey of literature. Together with the casuistic description of three cases of treatment of a pulmonary fibrosis with D-penicillamine is reported on won experiences. As criterion of the therapeutic effectivity the general condition, the X-ray findings, above all, however, functional parameters of the lungs are regarded. When the pros and cons of the expenditure and the high frequency of side-effects of D-penicillamine compared with the changing therapeutic results with this medicament are considered must also thought of the fact of an otherwise not existing possibility of an effective influencibility of the pulmonary fibrosis. Actual tendencies and experiments for the improvement of the fibrose therapy are discussed.


[A simple method for the prediction of the time of onset of uremia in patients with chronic kidney failure]. Following a method described by Mitch and co-workers in patients with chronic retention of substances normally contained in the urine the reciprocal values of serum creatinine determinations were figured in the long-term course. Of 22 patients 20 showed an extensively linear decrease of 1/creatinine in the period, independently on the fact, whether a pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis or cystic kidneys were the basis disease. The correlation calculation confirms with a mean correlation coefficient of 0.842 in a dispersion of +/- 0.106 the connection mentioned so that possibilities of the prognosis for the moment of the dialysis and for an objective judgment of the therapeutic success are outlined.


[Drug-induced readjustment of therapy-resistant hypertension]. By a combined vasodilator-[diisopropylamine (disostat), dihydralazine (depressan)] furosemide- (furesis-) infusion therapy was tried to achieve a new stabilisation of the blood pressure of therapy-refractory patients with hypertension. Propranolol (Obsidan) was additionally administered for the suppression of a sympathetic counter-regulation. On 3 patients is demonstrated how by a ten days' intensive decrease of the blood pressure and decrease of the extracellular fluid volume the therapy resistance may be interrupted and a repeated response to an oral antihypertensive standard therapy may be achieved.


[Gastric mucosal cysts as a histomorphological equivalent to polypoid gastric mucosal lesions]. Report on a 57-year-old female patient with numerous polypoid lesions of the gastric mucosa. This aspect has been described only recently and it is not listed in the scheme of classification of gastric polyps, usual up to now. This clinical picture is histomorphologically characterized by multiple cysts of varying size within an otherwise intact and non-inflammatory glandular body of the corpus mucosa. No relation to the so-called cystic gastritis can be detected. Etiology and pathogenesis are unknown. A doubtful hamartoma or a functional secretory disorder are discussed.


[Thyroid neoplasms and HL-A system].

[Thyroid neoplasms and HL-A system]. In 40 patients with carcinoma of the thyroid gland and 301 healthy test persons who are no relatives 23 HLA-antigens of the locus A and B are typed. There was not found a statistically significant difference concerning the frequency of HLA-antigens between the two groups. The cause of the negative results of these examinations with regard to the relation between tumour and HLA is discussed.


[Possibility of the effect of a long-term activity as a welder on the development of a chronic obstructive airway syndrome]. On 62 welders and in a control group consisting of 90 test persons dynamic functional parameters of the lungs were established. In these cases welders older than 40 years after an activity lasting at least 2 decades gave references to a chronic obstructive disease of the respiratory tract, which after exclusion of other etiological factors may be regarded as a sequel of irritatively and toxically effecting welding fumes and gases.


[Pathophysiologic and therapeutic problems of varicose leg ulcers from a dermatologic viewpoint]. At 90% ulcerations of the lower legs are venously conditioned. Prerequisite for the development are a pronounced varicosis or thromboses of the deep veins which finally lead to the varicose symptom complex (edema, pigmentations, dermatosclerosis, congestive eczema and ulcus cruris). Prerequisite for healing is the removal of the varicose veins by operations or varicosclerosation and tight dressing for the prevention of edemas. The treatment of congestive dermatosis has to be performed according to the principles of the treatment of eczemas, in which case here and also in the therapy of ulcus cruris should be proceeded possibly bland, in order to avoid sensibilisations. These appear above all after the application of externa which contain sulfonamides, antibiotics, Peruvian balsam as well as preservation remedies. A strong dispensarisation helps to prevent recidivations.


[The retothel sarcoma of the stomach].

[The retothel sarcoma of the stomach]. At the instance of a female patient with a retothelial sarcoma (immunoblastoma) of the stomach who after 2 1/2 years post operationem (local tumour excision) does not give a reference to an unfavourable course the author deals with the rarity of this gastric tumour. A  deánite attitude is adopted to clinic and problem of the preoperative diagnostics of this rare gastric tumor as well as to the prognosis. By radiological and fiber-gastroscopic investigation of the stomach cannot always preoperatively made the diagnosis corresponding to the histologic structure of the tumour. Therefore, in this case the surgical intervention is aspired to. Postoperatively in patients with rare or malignant tumours of the stomach control examinations are regularly to be recommended. Altogether the prognosis of retothelial sarcomas of the stomach are not more unfavourable than those of the gastric carcinomas.


Influence of moderate hypothermia and deep local hypothermia with or without cardioplegia on intramyocardial oxygen tension during ischemic cardiac arrest. The effect of ischemic cardiac arrest on intramyocardial oxygen tension (MpO2) in hearts of dogs under normothermia, moderate hypothermia as well as in heart in deep local hypothermia and in hearts subjected to deep local hypothermia combined with Bretschneider cardioplegia was examined. In the last mentioned condition the myocardial oxygen depletion was slowest and even at the end of 30 minutes of anoxia MpO2 was significantly higher in comparison with the other groups. Release of myocardial ischemia resulted in an immediate rise of MpO2 to overshoot levels in animals in normothermia and with deep local hypothermia alone, while in animals in moderate hypothermia and with combination of local hypothermia with cardioplegia reversed only to preanoxic values. On the basis of MpO2 measurements and of postischemic recovery of cardiac function the authors conclude that the combination of deep local hypothermia with cardioplegia is superior for myocardial protection to other used techniques.


[Comparison of the effect of catecholamines on the blood flow in the coronary and in the femoral circulation]. The effect of adrenaline and noradrenalin on the coronary circulation was studied in narcotized dogs. In 14 dogs every 20 seconds the venous blood from coronary sinus was examined. In a second series of animals the blood flow in the coronary artery and in the femoral artery was recorded continuously after intraarterial, resp. intravenous injection of catecholamines. In some experiments a constant perfusion pressure in coronary and femoral systems was maintained by help of a stabilizing device. The results of these experiments unequivocally proved that application of catecholamine was always followed by dilatation of the myocardiac and constriction of femoral vascular system. In no case catecholamines caused initial vasoconstriction of coronary vessels. The reasons for that paradoxical efficacy are discussed.


[Reperfusion of the myocardium after acute ischemic lesion]. In a complex experimental study on 52 dogs the myocardium was examined after ischemia and reperfusion of various duration. Morphologic, metabolic, and functional findings proved that a short-term reperfusion after coronary occlusion for more than 2 hours has disadvantageous effects on the regression of ischemic lesions. During the early period (up to 3 days) this is caused by the "no-reflow" phenomenon. Combined qualitative and quantitative findings are required for correct appraisal of the ultrastructural alterations after reperfusion. In acute coronary occlusion, early revascularization after passing the crucial initial phase is advantageous, because the extent of myocardia necrosis is decreased by the prolonged reperfusion, thus leaving a larger myocardiac reserve in case of re-infarction. Clinical conclusions are drawn.


[Use of an automated venous occlusion plethysmograph for late postoperative studies on the arterial blood flow of the leg after use of the external iliac artery for retrograde perfusion]. The authors report on a new segment plethysmograph by help of which quick and completely automatic measuring of top flow is possible in high quality. The device is present as model for laboratory use and has proven good in practice. It was used, e.g., for the control of arterial blood supply in legs of patients who years ago were perfused via an external iliac artery during open heart surgery. Corresponding with the clinical findings, also by plethysmography no statistically significant differences of blood flow values were found in the legs with perfused or non-injured arteries.


[The effect of truncular subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and pyloroplasty on the nitrogen balance in bionomal rat gastric surgery using the isotope labeled amino acid 15N-glycine]. By use of stable isotope labeled amin acid 15N-glycine the effects of truncular subdiaphragmatic vagotomy and of pyloroplasty, which are comprised in the method of bionomic gastric operations, were studied separately. The assessment of nitrogen equilibrium in rats after only truncular vagotomy, only pyloroplasty, truncular vagotomy combined with pyloroplasty, and without surgery serving as controls yielded results as following: After truncular vagotomy the 15N equilibrium was worse than in the control animals or after pyloroplasty only. The cause of that is an enhanced nitrogen loss in urine. After truncular vagotomy with pyloroplasty, though, 15N excretion in feces was significantly higher than after only pyloroplasty. It may be concluded from these results that truncular vagotomy is primarily responsible for the disturbances in protein metabolism. Pyloroplasty in combination with truncular subdiaphragmatic vagotomy also causes a higher nitrogen excretion in the feces indeed.


[Gastric motility and selective proximal vagotomy (SPV)]. In the era of selective vagotomy the gastric motility is increasingly important. Measuring methods are demonstrated as to electromyography, intraluminal pressure measuring, measuring of emptying using isotope labeled food, and serial X-ray technique with amplifier photography. Measurings were performed in 12 patients, before and 4 months after selective proximal vagotomy. The bioelectric gastric activity is hardly influenced by selective proximal vagotomy. Enhanced antral peristalsis (tonic and peristaltic contraction) and delayed emptying are observed in cases without pyloroplasty. The authors therefore recommend that preoperative examination of motility in combination with intraoperative findings should indicate the pyloroplasty.


[Measurement of granulocyte phagocytosis in vitro in the determination of non-specific cellular resistance in peritonitis]. First measurements of phagocytosis of neutrophilic leukocytes were made in 15 patients with peritonitis. All sorts of peritonitis were present. The measured values always show the summary of all present pathophysiologic and therapeutic influences on the phagocytic activity. It will be possible to estimate the patients resistance and the severity and prognosis of the illness. The higher risk of postoperative complications can be resulted by a reduced phagocytosis.


[Role of leukocytes in the healing process in surgical wounds]. In the last period of time there has been stated that in human lysosomes of neutrophilic leukocytes an in ones of some experimental animals occur, which stimulate the growth of lymphocytes and fibroblasts in the study in vitro. With regard to this it was assumed that similar stimulating processes may take place in the surgical wounds. The experiments were carried out on guinea pigs which were wounded and afterwards the wounds were sutured and the allogenic proteins preparations were introduced into its in dose of 100 microgram as follows: lysosomal proteins of granulocytes, mixed and separated on the the DEAE-cellulose columns; lysosomal proteins of macrophages, the proteins isolated from plasma and nuclei both the granulocytes and macrophages. The evaluation of healing was based on the measurement of mechanical resistance of wounds adhesions and was completed with the pathomorphological examinations. It has been shown that the mixture of lysosomal proteins of granulocytes, intruduced into the wounds, caused the acceleration of the healing processes. After giving into the wounds some fractions of proteins which were separated on the colums with DEAE-cellulose, the stimulating processes of healing were seen, while after adding the other ones-the inhibiting processes. The protein with similar evidences were not show inside other structures studied of granulocytes and macrophages. The results obtained seem to support the supposition that in lysosomes of neutrophilic granulocytes there are the factors which regulate the repair processes in wounds.


[Experimental study on the problem of wound contraction]. In several wounds primary closure by means of suturing should not be done. An open skin defect mostly heals by wound contraction. The effect of air temperature, infection, and disconnection of edge and bottom of the wound was studied in experiments on rabbitts. The authors found that low temperature slowed down the wound contraction and lengthened the healing period. The disconnection of wound edge and bottom inhibited the contraction, as did an infection. The importance of these findings for clinical practice is discussed.


[Dermatological incompatibility reaction to X5Cr-Ni-Mo 18.10 steel implants in animal experiments]. Metal allergy is surveyed in detail. Especially the development of eczema by means of metallic implantates containing chromium or nickel. The results from two series of experiments on guinea-pigs are presented. The first series proves that after preceding sensibilization by potassium bichromate or nickel-II-sulfate eczemas may be induced in the guinea-pig by X 5 Cr Ni Mo 18.10 steel implantates. Positive skin reactions in the patch test prove the possibility of sensibilization by X 5 Cr Ni Mo 18.10 steel in a second series of animals preoperatively negative.


[Modification of the GAMBRO PF-3A perfusion machine for use in experimental research]. The presented modification of the GAMBRO perfusion device PF-3A can be successfully employed in experimental research. Exact measurements as to the course of perfusion can now be done.


[The influence of the continuous epidural anaesthesia on uteroplacental blood flow (author's transl)]. Continuous lumbar epidural anaesthesia causes a drop in maternal blood pressure by decreasing flow resistance in the peripheral vascular bed. By infusion of 1000 ml NaCl blood pressure can be kept constant. Our work shows, that dilatation of the peripheral vessels has a positive effect in patients with reduced uteroplacental flow, as it results in an augmentation of placental flow. In women with normal placental function such an effect could not be seen. The practical use of these results is illustraded by a case report.


[Medical care of pregnant women with beta-thalassaemia minor, including care during delivery (author's transl)]. The diagnostic and therapeutic problems connected with beta-thalassaemia minor during pregnancy are demonstrated by describing the cases of 26 women hospitalised during a total of 38 deliveries in the authors' clinic. All patients came from the Mediterranean area and showed the disease pattern of beta-thalassaemia minor both in the erythrocyte count and in haemoglobin electrophoresis. This aenemia, which is rather rare, reamined largely constant, with few exceptions. Iron substitution during pregnancy was effected only if an iron deficiency was found, the iron level in the serum being subjected to repeated control examinations. These risk pregnancies were controlled by CT scanning, mainly to detect any possible foetal hypoxia caused by aenemia. There was no increased incidence of deformities of the newborn, nor of premature births. However, there was a slight increase of the mean placental weight. This hypertrophy was probably the manifestation of a compensation mechanism. The proportion of slightly depressed newborn was also increased. The importance of examining the partner as well, is emphasised.


Pre-induction ripening of the cervix with extra-amniotic prostaglandin E2 in gel. Pre-induction ripening of the unfavorable cervix was attempted in 104 normal term gravidas by means of a single extra-amniotic instillation of a viscous gel containing 0.5 mg prostaglandin E2. The procedure was highly successful and no adverse effect on mother or fetus was observed.


[Observations on prostaglandin effects with myometrium strips of human gravid uterus in vitro. Influence of diclofenac on contractions induced by prostaglandin (author's transl)]. The effect of Diclofenac (Voltaren) was studied on PGE2- and PGF2alpha-induced contractions of pregnant human myometrium in vitro. Tests to establish experimental conditions revealed that PGE2 and PGF2alpha affect the myometrium differently from I. and IInd trimenon uteri. PGF2alpha always induced contractions in corpus uteri as well as cervix strips. PGE2 relaxed myometrium strips obtained from superficial muscle layers and from cervix tissue and caused contractions in the myometrium from the central parts of the corpus uteri. Diclofenac (Voltaren) at concentrations of 10(-5) to 10(-4) M inhibited PGE2 and PGF2alpha-induced contractions. The inhibition was demonstrated by planimetric evaluation of the contractions curves. Contraction activity of I. and IInd trimenon myometrium strips was reduced by Diclofenac but not completely inhibited. From uteri at term, three contraction curves showed complete cessation of PGE2-and PGF2alpha-induced contractions by Diclofenac (10(-4) M). The dose-dependent reduction of myometrial contractions induced by exogen prostaglandins indicates that Diclofenac possesses a direct effect on PGE2 and PGF2alpha-induced contractile activity of the uterus.


[Obstetric conjugate diameter (conjuata vera obstetrica). New results obtained via ultrasonic measurements during pregnancy (author's transl)]. The obstetric conjugate diameter can be measured by means of ultrasonic devices, particularly those with slow production of the ultrasonic image (Kretz and others). The mean value of the conjugata vera obstetrica was 11.7 cm in the 382 measurements conducted by the authors. With 7.85% of the measurements, the obstetric conjugate diameter was below 11.0 cm. This means that a narrowed pelvis due to a shortened obstetric conjugate diameter was a relatively frequent occurrence, basing on a biparietal pelvic diameter of 10 cm at the time of delivery. During pregnancy and repeat pregnancy, no clinically significant increase of the obstetric conjugate diameter can be found. Ultrasonic examination is very suitable as a screening method to detect and identify complications in the mechanism of birth well in time before the onset of labour. The technique can be acquired relatively easily. Measurements are reproducible at any required rate, and will not disturb or molest the pregnant women. It does not involve any radiological load. Nevertheless, ultrasonic examination cannot be considered as the full successor to the x-ray film. In particular, lateral x-ray examination is still important in case of clinical suspicion of a "long pelvis" (according to Kirchhoff) or the rare forms of contracted pelvis, if a complication of the birth mechanism cannot be excluded despite normal obstetric conjugate diameter.


[Controlled vacuum extraction by measuring the pressure exercised by the truss (author's transl)]. The article explains a method for measuring the adhesivity between the anterior part of the foetus and the suction bulb of the vacuum extractor described by Malmström (1). The cover plate of the suction bulb, which is fitted with an expanding measuring strip, is used for reading off the measurements. This enables a quantitative recording of the pressure existing between the foetal part and the truss which corresponds very closely with the adhesivity of the suction bulb to the anterior part of the foetus. The device allows control and recording by means of an instrument with indicator and scale and a recording device. In this manner, vacuum extraction can be subjected to continuous control, thus rendering this obstetric procedure safer and easier.


[The acute puerperal inversion of uterus (inversio uteri puerperalis) (author's transl)]. Four cases of acute inversio uteri are discussed. Most important for the success of manual reposition and a postoperative process without complications is an instant therapy using beta-stimulators.


[Subungual malignant lentigo with longitudinal nail pigmentation--diagnosis and surgical treatment]. A subungual Lentigo maligna was found to be the cause of a longitudinal melanotic stripe in the thumbnail of a 45-year old male. Because of the possibility of a malignant process, a histological diagnosis must be made in all cases of pigmented nail stripes. The best procedure is complete excision of the lesion in a bloodless field, followed immediately by frozen section analysis. According to the result either a larger operation is made during the same session or the wound closed. This procedure enables a specific therapy of pigmented subungual lesions, and contributes to the early recognition and prophylaxis of subungual malignant melanomas.


[Hemodynamic results after tricuspid valvuloplasty (author's transl)]. Postoperative hemodynamic studies were conducted at rest and during exercise in 24 patients who, in addition to mitral and/or aortic valve surgery, had De Vega's tricuspid anuloplasty. To determine the degree of tricuspid insufficiency (TI), right atrial pressure (PRA) tracings, biplane right ventricular cineangiograms, and ultrasonic Doppler flow patterns were obtained. 20 patients had postoperative by a mild to moderate TI, but after operation the TI had improved by one or more degrees in 14 cases. In addition, a mild to moderate tricuspid stenosis with pressure gradients from 2.0 to 7.8 mm Hg were found in 12 patients. There was no significant change in mean right atrial pressure (PRA) with 8.0 +/- 4.5 mm Hg preoperatively and 7.5 +/- 3.5 mmHg postoperatively at rest. During exercise PRA rose to 17.0 +/- 6.5 mmHg. This pressure increase is in part due to the persistent elevation of left atrial and pulmonary artery pressure, in part to the TI and the tricuspid stenosis. De Vega's anuloplasty does not answer the tricuspid challenge, since the results are unpredictable.


[Hemodynamic comparison of Starr-Edwards, Lillehei-Kaster and homograft valves in the mitral position (author's transl)]. In 16 patients with Starr-Edwards (SE) disc valves, 10 patients with Lillehei-Kaster (LK) valves, and 4 patients with fresh aortic homografts (HG) in the mitral position the hemodynamic qualities of the valves were studied. All three valve types in general showed similar results, but they differed clearly as far as special parameters are concerned. So SE valves had the highest pressure gradients, HG valves the lowest, whereas LK valves were in between. The results of the study lead to the conclusion that tilting disc valves implanted in the mitral position are the best compromise, since they are always available and their hemodynamic response can be tolerated.


[Opening areas of artificial valves (author's transl)]. The calculation of opening areas of artificial valves by the Gorlin-formula results only in small areas. This is why the converting factors of artificial valves are unknown. In addition, the flow characteristics are different from those of native valves and do not correspond to the conditions necessary for the Gorlin-formula. According to the narrowest flow diameter, however, in all artificial valves the areas can be calculated from volume-time curves and pressure gradients at the moment of maximum flow. In addition, in tilting disc valves the opening area can be estimated from the angle of the opening disc during time of steady flow.


[Evaluation of regional myocardial dysfunction by echocardiographic pressure-dimension analysis (author's transl)]. Ecg, left ventricular pressure measured by micromanometer-tipped catheter, and dimension measured by echocardiography were simultaneously recorded in 24 patients with coronary artery disease and 9 normal subjects. In analogy to pressure-volume diagrams, pressure-dimension diagrams were constructed, the area in systole and diastole and the cycle efficiency calculated. In patients with coronary artery disease the normal rectangular shape of the pressure-dimension diagram shows two typical deviations: 1. a dimension decrease during isovolumetric contraction and dimension increase during isovolumic relaxation in 42% of the patients, in 31% in patients with stenosis of the right coronary artery, in 56% in patients with stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery, in 85% in patients with a reduced ejection fraction. 2. An exact reflected image was found only in patients with stenosis of the right coronary artery and reduced ventricular function in 23%. The abnormal dimension changes are the result of an asynchronized contraction and relaxation with inward movement of one part and outward movement of another part of the left ventricle. These changes are caused by ischemic or fibrous areas of the ventricle. Independent of left ventricular pressure and dimension changes we found that the cycle efficiency was useful to study regional myocardial work. It ranged from 81.7 +/- 2.5% in the normal subjects to 74.8 +/- 1.8% in patients with reduced ventricular function. From the diastolic part of the pressure-dimension diagram the regional compliance was calculated. Dependent on coronary artery disease the regional compliance was decreased even at rest.


[Cardiokymography: noninvasive assessment of the regional myocardial wall motion in the detection of coronary artery disease (author's transl)]. Cardiokymography is a technique to assess myocardial wall motion by means of an electromagnetic field induced over the left precordium. The normal cardiokymogram (CKG) is characterized predominantly by systolic inward movement. An abnormal contraction pattern--either at rest or provoked by a stress test--reveals a different tracing with decreased or absent systolic inward motion and/or systolic outward motion (bulging). In 50 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) the CKG was recorded before and after treadmill exercise test and the results compared to coronary angiography. Out of 33 patients with angiographically documented CAD (more than 50% luminal narrowing) 25 showed an abnormal CKG after exercise. There was one false positive postexercise CKG in the group of 17 patients without angiographically documented CAD. The CKG allows the qualitative assessment of regional myocardial wall motion, which is a sensitive and specific marker of ischemia. In conjunction with an ECG-stress test the CKG helps to detect the evolving ischemic abnormalities of myocardial contraction. The CKG represents a marker of ischemia independent of the ECG and helps to improve the diagnostic accuracy of stress testing for detection of CAD. The stress CKG is especially advantageous in those cases in which the interpretation of the stress ECG is difficult or even not possible. Its simple and inexpensive technique makes it a useful adjunct to the stress ECG in the diagnosis of CAD.


[R-wave augmentation in acute myocardial infarction (author's transl)]. In 18 out of 419 successive myocardial infarctions an increase in R-wave amplitude compared to the pre-infarction ecg had been observed. It concerned to leads III, aVF and II in posterior and inferior infarctions. The alteration of R-wave amplitude was accompanied by a dextroversion of electrical heart axis in the frontal plane. Direction of inscription of QRS loop changed in most cases. R-wave increase was demonstrated in the first ecg after the beginning of subjective symptoms and disappeared within few hours or days in general. Clinical course was rather serious in the cases described. As a pathophysiological mechanism of the phenomenon mentioned above either the influence of an injury potential upon ecg pattern or the presence of left posterior conduction defect is discussed.


[Pericarditis of the heart niches (author's transl)]. Pericarditis of the Niches of the Heart (PNH) is an inflammatory process, progressing in stages, at the base of the pericardium. It is acquired during life and results finally in the formation of callosities. Lymphozytes, plasma cells, blood capillaries, and histiozytes as collagen fibres of various density characterize the PNH histologically. In 104 (48%) of 216 examined pericardiums of all age groups, PNH could be shown. The frequency of occurrence increases with age. No correlation to any fundamental disease was found. Mechanical influences are the primary cause of the origin of PNH. The pulsations affecting the plica of the base of the pericard as well as frictional, tensional and shear forces may initiate the process via small lesions of the serosa.


[Hemostaseological problems with artificial heart-valves (author's transl)]. The risk of thrombo-embolic episodes in patients with artificial heart-valves has been reduced by means of improved material and of anticoagulation. Kinetic studies, however, indicate a correlation between the risk of thrombo-embolism and an increased platelet turnover. Therefore a therapy with platelet aggregation inhibitors has been recommended. In addition to an increased platelet turnover, other risk factors have been evaluated like the material, the number, and the position of the artificial valves, the time elapsed since surgery, cardiologic disease, and anamnestic criteria. We proposed a semiquantitative risk score taking in account all these risk factors to avoid unnecessary coagulation treatment and to recommend antiplatelet therapy, where necessary. This risk score could be a basis to evaluate controlled studies.


[Hemodynamic changes in patients with arterial hypertension after beta-receptor blockade with propranolol and metoprolol (author's transl)]. In 19 patients with arterial hypertension the hemodynamics were determined with a Swan-Ganz-thermodilution catheter at rest and during supine ergometer exercise before and after 5 mg intravenous Propranolol (P) (10 pats.) respectively 10 mg of intravenous Metoprolol (9 pats.). During exercise, P caused a significantly higher increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCP) (15.0 +/- 4.0 to 25.3 +/- 4.0 mm Hg), than M (10.9 +/- 4.8 to 17.4 +/- 5.5 mmHg) (p less than 0.025). There was a uniform reduction of the cardiac output (CO), after P and M. P caused a reduction of the CO by a decrease in heart rate and stroke volume, M through a significantly greater decrease in heart rate (p less than 0.0005), without a change in stroke volume (p less than 0.05). The changes in PCP and stroke volume give evidence of a more negative inotropic effect of P compared to M.


[The reproducibility of stroke-volume measurements by impedance cardiography. A critical analysis (author's transl)]. 40 determinations of the stroke volume were carried out by impedance cardiography in one and the same subject. The stroke volume varied between 136 and 209 ml (x, x = 169 ml, S.D. = 17.5 ml). The mean error was in the same range as obtained by the Fick principle or by dye-dilution technique as referred to the literature. However, analysing the factors affecting the variability of the determined stroke volumes we may infer, the Kubicek formula for stroke volume is neither theoretically nor empirically sufficiently proved. A quantitative determination of the stroke volume or of any other circulatory quantity by the impedance cardiography seems to be impossible by our present method of procedure.


The detection of Hammondia hammondi in Australia and the identification of a free-living intermediate host. A cat fed commercially prepared cat food and free-living rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) passed coccidian oocysts which were morphologically similar to Toxoplasma gondii. Mice dosed with these oocysts did not develop toxoplasmosis, but instead developed small, thin-walled parasitic cysts containing small bradyzoites in their striated muscles. These cysts measured 35 to 90 micron by 9 to 40 micron and they resembled cysts of Hammondia hammondi. Unlike T. gondii this coccidian parasite was shown to have an obligatory two-host cycle and consequently it is considered to be H. hammondi. This represents the first recorded detection of H. hammondi in Australia. The source of the H. hammondi infection was a Rattus rattus. This represents the first record of a natural intermediate host for H. hammondi.


[Electron microscopic and morphometric investigations of the integument of Acanthocephala (Aschelminthes) (author's transl)]. The integument of the acanthocephalans Echinorhynchus gadi, Acanthocephalus lucii, Polymorphus minutus and Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus have been investigated by stereoscan and transmission electron microscopy. The absorptive surface is considerably increased by invaginations of the outer plasma membrane (pore canals and vesicles). The rate of this enlargement has been calculated using morphometric methods. The values range from 20 to 62. The values are compared to values obtained from other gutless parasitic helminths and from the free-living rotifers which are presumably to be regarded as closely related to the acanthocephalans.


Effects of parasitism and stress on hemolymph protein of the African giant snail, Achatina fulica. Effects of parasitism and stress on the protein concentration of hemolymph have been investigated using the rat lungworm Angiostromgylus cantonensis in the snail host Achatina fulica. The normal hemolymph protein concentration, averaging 1.77 g/100 ml in noninfected snails, did not show any reduction when the hosts were infected with third stage larvae. When the infected snails were bled repeatedly, protein concentration showed a significant decrease by 0.6 g/100 ml. Starved, infected snails were capable of maintaining their hemolymph protein level within the normal range. This treatment, however, in combination with frequent bleeding, caused much stress to the snails and reduced survival. The number of survivors depended on the frequency of bleeding and on the food level.


The use of deep frozen, stored bovine blood for in vitro feeding of tsetse flies. A method of blood preparation is described which resulted in the successful rearing of Glossina p. palpalis with in vitro feeding. Cells of defibrinated bovine blood were washed in 0.89% NaCl solution prior to deep-freezing. Cells and serum were stored (--28 degrees C) for up to four months. For feeding, both components were mixed in the volumetric proportion 1 : 1. Adenosine triphosphate was added at a concentration of 10-3 M to stimulate uptake of blood. Survival rate and mean weight of puparia remained constant over three generations while productivity increased.


[Alteration of enzyme activities in serum of Eimeria stiedai infected rabbits (author's transl)]. In experimental investigations on Eimeria stiedai infected rabbits, serum enzymatic studies have been carried out in correlation with the examination of parasitological and pathological parameters. The rabbits were orally infected with a single dose of either 100,000 or 250,000 sporulated oocysts. Increase of the activity of the sorbit dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH) could be found first between 3 and 10 days after infection indicating the beginning of the acute phase of liver coccidiosis. The increase of the conjugated bilirubin and of the gamma-glutamyl-transferase (gamma-GT) could be found not earlier than 10 days after infection and is to be explained as sign of disturbed efficiency of excretion. The various investigated parameters reached their peak of alteration about the end of the prepatent period and at the beginning of patency between 14 and 21 days after infection. The results emphasize the value and usefulness of serum enzymes, particularly the glutamate dehydrogenase (GlDH) and the gamma-glutamyl-transferase (gamma-GT) with about 30fold activity, as indicators in the course of Eimeria stiedai infection of rabbits. The enzymes returned to physiological values at the end of the experiment, 42 days after infection. Significant differences could not be detected within the infected groups. The activities of the alkaline phosphatase (AP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), choline esterase (ChE), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and isoenzym 1 (alpha-HBDH) showed only slight alterations and proved to be no significant parameters for the pathophysiological evaluation of the liver coccidiosis.


The formation and final structure of the oocyst wall of Eimeria acervulina: a transmission and scanning electron microscope study. The formation and final structure of the oocyst wall of Eimeria acervulina is described, based on a detailed electron microscope study of the maturing oocysts. After fertilization of the macrogametocyte the wall-forming bodies of type I progressively undergo disaggregation into smaller bodies and eventually move into spaces left by the pellicular membranes of the zygote, which simultaneously separate and elevate away from the zygote cytoplasm to form the outer layer of the oocyst wall. A newly formed membrane separates this layer from the cytoplasm. Following the formation of the outer layer, another membrane separates and elevates away from the cytoplasm, and the wall-forming bodies of type II, which by now have migrated to the periphery, move into the spaces and fuse together to form the inner layer of the oocyst wall. A newly formed membrane separates this layer from the cytoplasm. The wall of the young oocyst thus consists of two membrane-bound layers of approximately similar thickness; the outer layer being osmiophilic whilst the inner one is paler. An overlaying membrane covers the oocyst. The surface of the oocyst wall was smooth in appearance when viewed with the scanning electron microscope.


Serial passages of larval Echinococcus granulosus from equine origin in mice. III. Infections with sterile daughter cysts. Daughter cysts 0.2-3.0 mm in diameter from secondary Echinococcus granulosus cysts, collected from mice one year after experimental infection, were transferred to fresh mice. The metacestodes developed into larger cysts showing fertility and daughter cyst formation at autopsy 9-14 months post infection. The average total growth of all cysts per mouse expressed in log weight (mg) amounted to 0.25 +/- 0.03 per month. Thus, for the maintenance of the parasite in mice, daughter cysts can be used as successfully as protoscolices and small 'latent' cysts.


[Parasitic influences on undifferentiated tissue (author's transl)]. The imaginal discs of chironomid larvae infected with mermithid nematodes provided a useful model for the study of parasitic effects upon undifferentiated tissue. Specific aberrations concerning mitotic rate, cell death, organogenesis, cell pattern differentiation and cell differentiation are described and discussed.


[Consciousness and evoked cerebral cortical electrical activity]. The analysis of the late positive wave (component P300) of an averaged evoked potential, recorded to visual stimuli in different experimental situations has shown that local activation of the cerebral cortex during conscious experience (Pavlovian "light spot") is of a dynamic nature and is determined by signal significance of stimuli and predominant voluntary activity. In cases when it is necessary to decide on the choice of reaction anterior areas of neocortex are activated. If the function of perception is dominating the local activation essentially occurs in corresponding cortical area at which the perceived stimulus is timed. The cortico-thalamo-cortical mechanism of focused attention and its role in providing for conscious human experience is discussed.


[Transfer phenomenon in alimentary conditioned reflexes of dogs]. Experiments on transfer phenomenon in alimentary conditioned reflexes of instrumental variety were carried out on dogs in stands and in conditions of unrestrained locomotion. In either experimental condition, after one of classical conditioned reflexes was changed into instrumental one, all conditioned stimuli started to elicit the unstrumental reflex without its special elaboration. If an instrumental reflex was initially elaborated to one stimulus, and then classical reflexes were elaborated to other stimuli, then these stimuli started to elicite the instrumental reflex as soon as they became alimentary signals.


[Evoked potentials of the dog sensomotor cortex following systematic application of series of electrocutaneous stimuli]. Standard 5-member series of weak electro-cutaneous stimulations of the fore-paw were applied in chronic experiments to two dogs with implanted cortical electrodes. The stimuli caused no apparent motor reactions and were not reinforced by any other type of stimulation. Evoked potentials (EP) in the sensorimotor cortex were gradually forming in the course of experiments in such a way that the amplitude of averaged EPs to the extreme stimuli of the series became larger than those to the middle ones. The elaborated U-shaped dependence of the averaged EP amplitudes in the sensorimotor cortex on the ordinal number of the electrical stimuli correlates with the same EP dependence observed in the auditory cortex of dogs in response to series of clicks. The described form of EP organization in response to the stimuli of one modality facilitates the elaboration of the same type of organization in response to the stimuli of an other modality.


[Lateral hypothalamus stimulation as a conditioned stimulus for an alimentary instrumental reflex]. Dynamics of the behavioral effects of LH-stimulation which was used as a conditioned stimulus of alimentary reflex, was recorded in dogs during reflex elaboration, extinction and restoration. Before the elaboration, LH-stimulation elicited either an alimentary instrumental relflex, previously established, or a searching, sniffing, licking, orienting reaction, in the majority of cases with variable latencies. Combination of stimulation and achievement of the alimentary instrumental reflex with subsequent reinforcement in short time stabilized the feeding response. Searching, sniffing, orienting reaction disappeared during the elaboration of the conditioned reflex. Elimination of food reinforcement led to extinction of the alimentary reflex to LH-stimulation. In some sessions full abolition of the feeding response was achieved. LH-stimulation inhibitory properties are assumed. The restoration of the alimentary response to LH-stimulation after single reinforcement demonstrated a high plasticity of this structure. The dynamics of the reflex elaboration, extinction and restoration was the same in response both to brain stimulation and to distant stimuli (sound and light). The implicit motivational properties of LH-stimulation were manifested in the ability to activate the feeding behavior in the satiated dogs.


[Transcommissural afferent projections of the lemniscal and spino-reticulo-thalamic systems]. In cats with section of classic, contralateral somatosensory pathways of the fore-leg at the midbrain level an instrumental defensive reflex "to this leg" can be elaborated. This fact suggests that the intact ipsilateral afferent somatosensory pathways of the brain-stem transmit kinsthetic excitations. The electrophysiological study (acute experiments under nembutal anesthesia) of somatosensory projections of the fore-leg, contralateral to the midbrain section, revealed bilateral evoked responses in the somato-sensory cortical areas with a latency of 18-20 msec. These responses evidence bilateral afferent projections of the ipsilateral part of the spinoreticulo-thalamic system. They constitute the functional basis for the formation of this conditioned instrumental defensive reflex. The lemniscal system as well as the ipsilateral part of spino-reticulo-thalamic system send bilateral afferent projections to the somatosensory structures of the brain.


[Ultrastructural changes in rabbit sensomotor cortex synapses following stimulation of the reticular formation]. Ultrastructural changes in the synapses of sensorimotor cortex caused by short and protracted stimulations of mid-brain reticular formation with single electric pulses were studied in rabbits. The observed submicroscopic shift in synaptic apparatus is regarded as a process of enhancing the activity of the sensorimotor synaptic apparatus with involvement of new interneuronal connections. Structural-functional changes in the synaptic apparatus occured at all levels of the sensorimotor cortex, with the predominance of this process at the upper level (layers I-IV); this is probably due to the greater representation of non-specific afferent endings in the upper cortical layers.


[Alteration of the slow cortical potential and neuronal activity during elaboration of conditioned reflexes in rabbits]. In experiments on alert rabbits it was shown that during the first blinking conditioned reflex to a sound, a slow negative potential appears in response to the conditioned signal in the auditory area of the cortex. At the cellular level, this correlates with the formation of polysensory neurone activity accompanied by a small increase in its action potential duration (generalization of excitation, depolarization). During stabilization of the reflex, its specialization, coordinative inhibition of other central responses related to narrowing of receptive areas, --a slow positive potential is evoked in EEG by the conditioned stimulus. At the cellular level correspondingly, a shift is observed from group discharges during intersignal periods to single rhythmic discharges in response to conditioned stimulation (concentration of excitation, lowering of excitability).


[Activity of hypothalamic neurons during elaboration of a defensive conditioned reflex]. During elaboration of conditioned defensive reflex to combinations of acoustic and electro-cutaneous stimuli in alert rabbits 44% out of 86 neurones in the ventromedial nucleus and 42% out of 40 cells in the perifornical nucleus of the hypothalamus elaborated conditioned responses. 71% of ventromedial neurones and 53% of perifornical cells (out of those that were conditioned) showed inhibitory responses while the rest demonstrated an activation. In half of the neurones that showed conditioned responses it was possible to elaborate differentiation and extinctive inhibition. Significant conditioned responses appeared following 20-30 pairings of sound and electro-cutaneous stimulation. Their extinction took place after 10-20 non-reinforcements. A correlation was found between conditioned activity of neurones in the ventromedial nucleus groups and changes in heart-rate. Different roles of lateral and medial nuclear groups of the hypothalamus in conditioning were shown. This may point to their participation, along with other brain structures, in the formation of respectively vegetative and motor components of the integrative behaviour.


[Age characteristics of the strength of conditioned inhibition in dogs during food and defensive reinforcement]. Dynamics of internal inhibition intensity was studied in case of alimentary and defensive reinforcements in 1-2-months, 3-4-months and one-year-old puppies. In half of the animals the intensity of inhibition was estimated 2-5 times before they reached 4 years of age. The animals younger than one year of age showed weak, medium and strong inhibition with both types of reinforcement. The majority of animals showed different typological characteristics in experiments with alimentary and defensive reinforcements. In alimentary system the inhibition intensity after initial enhancement stabilizes or decreases. In defensive system, up to 3-4 years of age all experimental animals showed weak inhibition. The differences between alimentary and defensive systems become more pronounced with age.


[Evoked potentials to perception of photic stimuli of different intensity in normal subjects and optic nerve atrophy]. In 30 subjects with normal vision an increase in stimulus brightness (8 gradations) led to reduction in pick-latencies (PL) of II-VII waves and to an increase in their amplitudes (A), maximal in the IV positive wave with PL amounting to 102-109 msec. Atrophy of optical nerves produced an impairment of power processing of the signal and its temporal characteristics, a decline of A III, IV waves (especially pronounced in IV) and a tendency to an increase in A V and VI waves. Informational significance of PL waves and characteristics of information processing with impaired vision are discussed.


[Identification of transcallosal excitatory monosynaptic responses]. Criteria of identification of transcallosal monosynaptic responses recorded extracellularily in the sensorimotor cortex to stimulation of the homotopic area of the contralateral hemisphere were studied in unanaesthetized, non-immobilized rabbits. It was found that major criteria by which a monosynaptic response differs from an antidromic one, are: absence of response blocking by a background impulse (the collision method), and comparatively low up to 200 Hz maximal frequency of paired stimuli reproduction. Criteria of a monosynaptic response, as compared to a polysynaptic one, are its stability, its low variability (0.1-0.2 msec with latency up to 10 msec) and relatively high (not less than 70-100 Hz) maximal frequency of paired stimuli reproduction.


[Effect of early motor training on evoked potentials of rat brain visual and sensomotor cortex]. Motor training (during 3-6 months) of rats in a treadmill started at the age of 1 month, leads to statistically significant increase in the activity of neuronal populations in the visual cortex judged by both latencies of primary responses and recovery cycles of responses to paired stimuli. It has been found that the significance of functional changes following locomotor training is more manifest in the recovery cycles than in the latencies of primary responses. The comparison of locomotor training effects in the visual cortex with those in the sensorimotor cortex reveals a more pronounced modulating influence of environment on the visual cortex. However the differences in these functional changes are more evident by absolute (msec) than by relative (%) cues.


[Dynamics of cardiovascular functions in rats in the presence of the emotional reactions of self stimulation and avoidance]. Dynamics of arterial pressure and heart-rate was compared during positive and negative emotional reactions caused by stimulation of emotiogenic areas of hypothalamus in unrestrained rats. It was shown that negative emotional reactions as a rule are accompanied by development of hypertensive dynamics in arterial pressure leading to arterial hypertension. During positive emotional reactions pressor-depressory effects are more common which decreases the probability of summation of single hypertensive reactions and the development of arterial hypertension.


[Electrophysiologic study of the functional characteristics of cortical input into the hippocampus of newborn rabbits]. Functional maturation of perforant pathway synapses on neurones of the dorsal hippocampus and fascia dentata was examined in unanaesthetized rabbits 1 to 25 days of age, by means of extracellular recording of fiold potentials and of neuronal responses to electrical stimulation of the cortical afferent input. In the areas CA1 and CA3 of the dorsal hippocampus, field potentials, activating and inhibitory neuronal responses to stimulation of the perforant pathway with single impulses were recorded from the first day of the postnatal life, while short-latency responses of the fascia dentata were revealed later--at the end of the first week or the beginning of the second week of life. The data obtained suggest that in rabbits, the synapses of the perforant pathway are functioning from the first days after birth. The postnatal development of the cortical afferent input to the hippocampus is related to the maturation of the dentate gyrus.


[Residues of ethylene chlorohydrin (ECH) in infusions of cocoa and in chocolate (author's transl)]. With a sensitive method residues of 0.2--0.6 ppm ECH are found in commercial and bendtop infusions of cocoa and 1.8--5.6 ppm ECH in chocolate. The balance is established with time between ECH and ethylene oxide (EO) in the boiling infusion and the distillate depending on time. It is found that the ECH concentration in the infusion is reduced in 15 min to 1/7 by evaporation alone. No reaction to EO or ethylene glycol or other metabolites is detectable. For the determination alkali is added to the sample, followed by distillation of any formed EO into dilute sulfuric acid, where ethylene glycol is oxidized to formaldehyd according to Malaprade. This is distilled off for further enrichment and determined according to Bremanis by photometry at 570 nm. The determination for limit was to 0.01 ppm, the standard deviation is s = 0.0034 ppm (N = 30), the yield 99.8%. The sensitivity may be increased tenfold by increasing sample size.


[The microflora of sour dough. IV. Communication: bacterial composition of sourdough starters genus Lactobacillus beijerinck (author's transl)]. The bacterial composition of three so called pure culture sourdough starters of varying origin was investigated. 245 isolates were obtained all belonging to the genus Beijerinck. According to their morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics they were classified into the subgroups: Thermobacterium (L. acidophilus), Streptobacterium (L. casei, L. plantarum, L. farciminis, L. alimentarius) and Betabacterium (L. brevis, L. brevis var. lindneri, L buchneri, L. fermentum, L. fructi vorans). In the three sourdough starters the identified lactic organisms varied in number and proportion. In starter preparation "A" only the varieties L. fructi vorans and L. fermentum were present. Preparation "B" contained a great variety of microorganisms with L. brevis and L. brevis L. lindneri predominating. In starter "C" L. brevis, L. plantarum and L. alimentarius predominated.


[Use of flocculants for detection of viruses in fluids (author's transl)]. Hydroxide flocs of iron, aluminium, zinc, and tin were tested for their capabilities of virus enrichment in fluids (such as water and liquid foods). The virus used was polio type II att. The flocculation with tin yielded the best results because it gave the highest recovery rates (90%) and good reproducibility. A satisfactory enrichment was also obtained with the flocculation with aluminium- and iron salts. The losses were 31 and 33%. The lowest recovery rates were obtained with nickel- and zinc flocculation (losses: 70 and 77%). The difficulties in filtering the flocs and eluting the virus with 3% beefextract could be overcome by centrifugation and dissolution of aluminium and iron flocs with sodium-potassium-tartrate (average recovery rates 5 and 27%). In addition we tested the flocculation in lemonade as a model fluid loaded with a high content of organic material which usually interfere with the formation of flocs and in consequence the enrichment of viruses. An enrichment of viruses in lemonade was possible only with previously prepared and aged flocs of tin and iron. The loss was 18 and 12% respectively.


Prevention--everybody's responsibility.

Prevention--everybody's responsibility. The importance of individual responsibility in many aspects of preventive medicine is emphasised in the introduction. A section on infectious disease as applied to Western society today follows with special mention of particular conditions such as turberculosis, influenza, rubella, gastro-intestinal diseases and Legionaire's Disease. The section on non-communicable disease is subdivided into coronary heart disease, malignant neoplasms and chronic bronchitis. It includes some discussion of screening. Short sections on prevention in the elderly, pregnancy and early life, dental health, accidents, alcoholism and drug misuse follow. In the conclusions the difficulty of determining priorities for different societies and the importance of establishing cost effectiveness of preventive measures are covered. The relative importance of societal, governmental and individual preventive measures are described and the authors emphasise that any expensive screening programme must adhere to established criteria.


[Results in prevention - a Swiss inventory]. A marked change of morbidity has taken place since the turn of the century. The chronic degenerative diseases contribute much more to general morbidity and death than the communicable diseases which were the main cause of death some 70 years ago. Prophylactic and therapeutic measures against communicable diseases were most successful, whereas no progress in the fight against chronic-degenerative diseases was observed. Endeavours to reduce morbidity and premature death have to be directed towards the behaviour and unhealthy habits of the population. As regards diseases with unknown causes early detection and early treatment have to be promoted in order to prevent a further increase of mortality.


[Ethical aspects in prevention. Prevention as a moral obligation]. The principle of avoiding or reducing unnecessary suffering belongs to the ethics of our culture. According to the concepts of the World Health Organization (WHO), this means an extension of preventive medicine to the realm of education and biopolitics. Education has priority, and it is recommended to adopt as a definition of health the same concept that has been suggested as the aim of education by the Swiss Scientific Council: namely an "ability of action" which encompasses man in his biological, intellectual, ethical and emotional aspects.


[Economic aspects of prevention. Efficiency and structure of the health care system]. The structure of the health care system has been examined, the health care sector being defined as all measures taken to promote and preserve good health. A review of the international literature came to the following conclusions:--The correlation between medical care and health status is at most very limited.--The empirical evidence suggests that efficient preventive programs--both for primary and for secondary prevention--would be possible.--We therefore come to the conclusion that the division between medical care and prevention is not optimal and that furthering prevention at the cost of medical care would increase the efficiency of the health care sector. Conclusive statements concerning the efficiency of additional preventive measures are not possible with the research undertaken to date.


[Sociological aspects of modification of social behavior. Spontaneous action, social stress and individual life style]. To interest people in health behavior there are two different ways. First of all the way using the methods of mass communication or as some call it: "social marketing". But this raises the problems of defining the population that should be referred to and to overcome the resistance of social structure. So generally there are only few chances in succeeding. The other way would be that those people engaged in realizing preventive medicine would try to cooperate with existing groups, organizations or institutions. This seems to be far more successful. To reduce the number of "arbeitsbedingte Krankheiten" (sickness that mainly but not only depends on working conditions) special opportunities are offered by industrial firms.


[Legal aspects of prevention. The constitutional principle of optimal health protection]. With respect to the health services, a State founded upon the rule of law is in duty bound to act with restraint. Its aim should be to guarantee that public health is maintained in optimal fashion. For this purpose it must endeavour to exert an effective influence on environmental factors. The three main categories of activity with which the health services are concerned, i.e. protection of health, promotion of health, and health care should be governed by the principles inherent in a State based upon the rule of law. As regards preventive measures, this means that the State has to shape the environment and society in such a way as to meet the requirements of a modern system for the protection of public health, its objective in this context being to eliminate or minimise health risks. A rational government programme for the promotion of public health must also be designed to promote a more health-conscious pattern of behaviour in the population at large and to encourage those citizens requiring treatment to invoke the aid of the health care services without delay.


[Concrete approaches to the promotion of prevention. Health education in schools]. Society nowadays entrusts the school with formative tasks which earlier were exclusively the role of the family unit. Numerous such tasks are in relation with the integration of the individual in society. As they usually concern attitudes and behaviors which the youth must actively adopt for themselves (get impregnated with), the school cannot limit its action to transmitting knowledge. This is true in particular for health education. Good mental health of the students is the precondition of a positive attitude vis-à-vis physical wellbeing. It is important therefore to give adequate emphasis to mental health requirements in teacher training.


[Communication theory and health education]. Health Education can be understood as a communication process, in which a communicator gives a message to receivers through a certain channel with a specific destination. The application of the results of communication research to problems of Health Education is difficult since, on the one hand, communication research does not sufficiently relate to the problems of Health Education and, on the other, the Health Educators often ignore the results of empirical research. Moreover, it is inherent in communication theory to overstimate knowledge as a vehicle of behavior change. The norms, laws and institutions of society often limit the possibilities of Health Education. Another limitation consists in the lack of information concerning many of the factors which cause health damaging behavior. The consequences of these considerations are that efficient Health Education has to be carried out not only on the personal but also on the societal level and that knowledge about the causes of health-injuring behavior must be improved. A model of integrated Health Education is presented.


[Improving the effectiveness of health education]. Discussions concentrated on ways of influencing the behavior of healthy individuals. The following was concluded; 1. Health education is an interdisciplinary activity. It should not merely be aimed at the behavior of individuals but also respect and influence values and institutions of society as well as legislation. 2. Family and school are the most important fields of activity. 3. Health education should be based on experiences from communication sciences. 4. In school, health education should be integrated in as many subjects as possible. Of special importance are the example of the teachers and adequate preparation and training. 5. Health education cannot limit itself to giving information, it also must motivate to a healthy way of life. 6. Exchange of experiences and information in health education should be improved. In Switzerland this can be done by a working party of the Swiss Society for Social and Preventive Medicine. 7. The intervention trials of the Swiss National Research Program can provide important stimuli for innovative approaches to health education is Switzerland.


[Health care for the population. Making prevention more popular]. In order to get the information about prevention issues to "go through" and to foster behavior modifications in the individuals, there is a need to disseminate in with the communication techniques used in the commercial sector in particular; in a way, the matter is to make prevention fashionable. At the institutional level, it is important to remove the obstacles which hinder or delay the availability and use to preventive services. This should be done in obtaining a real transparency of the health care system, especially as regards the type of care given, the equipment and the costs involved.


[Preventive health care of the population: current trends]. Within the overall costs of health services in Switzerland, it is estimated that the cost of all preventive services amount to 5%--2%. Even though detailed data on the provision of preventive services are missing, several new models allow for optimism in regard to redressing the balance between prevention and cure in the future.


[Prevention in medical services].

[Prevention in medical services]. Report of a working party. The group agrees: 1. That the level of existing educational services in health care is not sufficient. New programmes with educational aims should be assisted by the creation of institutions, which would--develop  programs and strategies--coordinate with existing services--assist with their realization--evaluate the programs. 2. That there is a sensible minimal program of early detection, which can be provided without expensive technology. Insurance carriers should finance such a minimal program within their policies.


[Environment. Preventive health action in the creation of the environment]. The present quantitative importance of prevention is in Switzerland extremely low in comparison to the health budget of the national community. It has taken in recent years increasing place however in speeches and talks as well as in medical thinking. Prevention presently tends to be seen as a medical specialty among others and perhaps prefigures a new form of medicine, the object of which would be the societal body more than the body of the sick individual. In this perspective (would that be good?), a new type of physician-informatician-statistician might be trained, with the mission to manage and supervise the health status of the population. Preventive health action through the environment at large could fulfill an important role in the foreseeable developments. New health "morals" are currently emerging, which are bringing together numerous adepts. This might mean that the time of a "health society" (or health-determined society) is not far.


[Preventive measures in the management of the environment]. The natural and the man made environment influence the wellbeing and the health of the population. The management of the environments aims at the improvement of health and the disposal of health risks. The physical and psycho-social environment has to be taken into consideration, especially in connection with work, housing, energy consumption and spare time activities. Laws concerning environmental protection and energy supply could contribute to improvement of the environment.


[Leisure time and sports. Sports for all ages]. Studies about life-time sport of different groups of population in Switzerland showed that 82% of 1990 apprentices in the town of Zürich and 59% of young peasants were active in sports in their leisure time. On Saturdays, 45% of the inhabitants of Zürich spent any hours with leisure time sport, on Sundays even 70% (including mountaineering). From seniors (80 years old), 63% were active in sports formerly in their life, from men dead before 65 years from the same factory only 44%.


[Medical significance and requirements of sports]. Kind and intensity of physical activity with preventive value of degenerative diseases are well known by sports medicine. The core of the problem is the transfer of established knowledge into action and the creation of attractive programs making physical activity an enjoyment and which let us forget the final objective, i.e. prevention of ill health.


[Prevention in leisure time and sports]. Sport as leisure activity can make an essential contribution to fitness and quality of life. It has public health significance and its organization should not be left to chance or to individual and weak groups. Therefore a forum for casual discussion is needed which can enable the exchange of information on planned or existing projects, the cooperation in planning new programs, and thereby help to avoid unnecessary duplication.


[Healthy nutrition - prerequisite for life enjoyment and quality of life]. Bad nutritional habits can cause or enhance various, especially chronic, diseases. The right amount of calories, an adequate composition and the distribution of the meals over the day are the basis of good nutrition. A coordinating office could improve the information of our population, since many different professions must cooperate. Nutritions education must be improved. Industry, professional organisations, nutritionists, consumer organisations and specialists for communication must cooperate to solve the difficult problem of nutritional habits and to demonstrate that good nutrition can--as the gastrotonomy of the future--help to enjoy life.


[Economic management. Why economic regulation of prevention?]. There is much lip service but little practical every day behavior aiming at prevention. Instructors and practitioners or health promotion and health protection experience much less recognition than the healers of diseases. Infrastructure and training for prevention let much to be desired. Only a political action on a higher level can give preventive measures the weight they deserve. Economic mechanisms seem the most appropriate way of regulation.


[Proposals for economic regulatory mechanisms]. Economic mechanisms are needed to guarantee that longterm needs are not forgotten over short term benefits and desires. In traffic, variable costs (cost per mile) should be increased relative to fixed costs, traffic education should be supported and--where needed--fines for undesirable behavior should be introduced. Toxic substances should be taxed. As far as tobacco and alcohol consumption is concerned, abstinence or temperance should be rewarded. In medical care and medical education, prevention should be promoted by increased financial support.


[Insurance system. Prevention from viewpoint of the insurer]. The purpose of an insurance must not be restricted to the payment of claims to those insured persons who suffered a loss, for loss prevention is much preferable to claim settlement. A whole range of different institutions and measures has been established by the Swiss insurers, in which many insurance branches participate. The loss preventing activities can be listed as follows:--Activities of the fire insurers to prevent and fight fires. This is the prevailing duty of the Consulting Agency for Fire Prevention (BfB) as well as the Fire Prevention Service for Industry and Trade (BVD).--Activities of the accident insurers to prevent accidents. The fight against accidents, mostly traffic accidents, in sports and at home is the foremost task of the Swiss Council for the Prevention of Accidents (BfU), an institution created by the Conference of Accident Insurance Managers (UDK) and the Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA).--The Health Service in life insurance, after all the periodical medical examinations and consultations granted by many insurers to their insured persons, as well as the pamphlets aiming at health education published by several Companies and finally institutions and measures to promote fitness, e.g. VITA-Parcours.


[Observations on prevention legislation]. The proposed law should concentrate on prophylaxis and educational measures aimed at diseases of public health importance. It should stimulate action on the federal, cantonal and private level and the cooperation of all parties concerned. Where feasible and adequate, finances should be raised from those making preventive and curative actions necessary.


[Findings on the saddle and multangulum-naviculare joints in erosive polyarthritis]. The x-rays of 110 patients with erosive Heberden-Bouchard arthrosis and the x-rays of 104 patients with non-erosive Heberden-Bouchard arthrosis were compared in order to determine the frequency and the severity of arthrotic changes in the thumb-saddle and the multangulum-navicular joints. In erosive Heberden-Bouchard arthrosis we found more characteristic arthrotic changes than in the non-erosive form. The more characteristic the erosive changes of the finger joints, the more extended the changes were in the thumb-saddle and the multangulum-navicular joints. Erosions of the carpal joints do occur during an erosive Heberdandan-Bouchard arthrosis, but seem to be very rare.


Effect of glycosaminoglycans on the detection of antibodies to collagen in synovial fluid. Antibodies to collagen in the synovial fluid of RA patients were determined by radioimmuno assay using 14-C-labeled collagen and by passive hemagglutination with collagen coated erythrocytes. The effect of various glycosaminoglycans, possibly present in synovial fluid, on these two assays was investigated. None of the glycosaminoglycan preparations tested significantly changed either antibody titers or the amount of 14-C-radioactivity precipitated in radioimmunoassay. Digestion of the synovial fluid with chondroitinase ABC likewise had no effect on the results. It is therefore concluded that the glycosaminoglycans present in synovial fluid do not interact with native or denatured collagen under the experimental conditions existing in the determination of antibodies to collagen.


Acute autoimmune collagen-induced arthritis in rabbits. Three groups of rabbits were investigated: I. 9 rabbits, immunized with rabbit collagen type I, received 1 intraarticular injection of same antigen in the right knee, and control preparations in the left knee. II. 4 rabbits, immunized with calf collagen type I, received the same intraarticular injections as in group I. III. 2 non-immunized rabbits received also the same intraarticular injections. Synovial fluid and synovium were obtained in all groups 18 hours after intraarticular injection. Knee-joints of all animals immunized and challenged intraarticularly with rabbit collagen showed strong cellular exsudation (mean 1.800 X 10(3) cells,) in contrast to control joints (mean 21 to 484 X 10(3) cells). Histologic investigation of synovium of group I animals showed in rabbit collagen injected knees in contrast to controls, vascular reactions with enlargement of small vessels, thikening of endothelial cells, perivascular infiltration and aggregation of polymorphonuclears in lumen of vessels. Intraarticular injection of rabbit collagen in calf collagen immunized rabbits, induced a limited cellular exsudation, (mean 670 X 10(3) cells) which was lower than in rabbit collagen immunized animals, however also more pronounced than in control joints. Whilst results after intraarticular injection of rabbit collagen in rabbit collagen immunized animals are interpreted as early signs of autoimmune arthritis, results after intraarticular injection of rabbit collagen in calf collagen immunized animals are regarded as milder symptoms of synovitis induced by crossreactivity of antigens.


[Xeroradiography in comparison to roentgen studies in gout, hyperuricemia and dyspurinia]. In 24 patients with gout and in 15 patients with clinical oligo- and polyarthritic syndromes associated with hyperuricemia and dyspurinia xeroradiographic examinations of the clinically affected joints and soft tissues were carried out. In 32 cases comparisons were made with the classic x-ray examinations. In most cases the findings correlated, particularly the rarifaction of the bone structure including cystic changes of fingers and toes. In advanced cases, particularly in the hallux, erosions occurred and at the same time the changes in the soft tissues were recorded. Cystic changes in the larger bones were better estimated by the classical x-ray examinations. The soft tissues are shown better xeroradiographically. Xeroradiography has the advantage that it can record the structure of bones and soft tissue at the same time.


Osteoarthritic femoral head not invaded by an adjacent carcinomatous metastasis. Anatomical studies of the upper part of a femur with a prostatic carcinoma metastasis not involving the remodelled territory of the osteoarthritic head are discussed. A more systematic study of the possible interaction between tumoral metastases and osteoarthritis is urged.


[Studies and computer analyses on the kinetics of nephrotropic contrast media in patients with different kidney function]. The local quantity of the contrast excretion depends on the filtration rate and the plasma level. Since the latter is influenced by dosage and kind of application from this result immediate practical consequences for the excretion urography, for which at present a large dose and the bolus injection are preferred.


[Possibilities of testing sex steroid effects in the uropoietic system]. Progesterone as the main representative of gestagen-effective sexual steroide does not cause allone a statistically significant dilation of the lumina of the ureters compared with the adequate values of the control urogrammes. The fact that in pregnant rabbits no dilation of the ureters and of the renal pelvis was to be found allows the suspicion that during the pregnancy of the animal species used there are other mechanical conditions than during the human gravidity.


[Nature and incidence of causes of death in chronic polyarthritis]. The study comprises 79 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their death rate and causes of death in comparison to an age- and sex-matched conrol group. The patients had died in the years from 1952 till 1977 and an autopsy was done on all of them in the University Institute of Pathology. Infections turned out to be the most common cause of death (48%), second in rank were various cardiac diseases (20%) while the percentage of other causes of death never exceeded 10 per cent. Possible relations between infections and their importance as a cause of death are discussed.


[Technical problems in the demonstration of prostatic hormones]. From this short description of the course of our experiments it becomes evident to every experimentator which diverse technical problems had to be mastered to get evaluable preparations. After extensive preliminary we are able since the beginning of this year to carry out the systematic elaboration of the entire bioptic material. On account of the long exposition time we, however, nowadays cannot yet demonstrate figures of radioactively labelled preparations.


[Temperature measurements and course in a kidney preservation unit]. It is reported on two models of organ containers in which the course of the temperature was measured and registered on different conditions. The principle of construction used allowed the resignation of a special isolation. The results show that behaviour and course of the temperature in the organ containers meet all requirements.


[Aliphatic diamines and histamine in the serum of patients with chronic polyarthritis]. The concentration of histamine, cadaverine, putrescine as well as spermidine and spermine was measured in blood serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In comparison to normals there is no statistically significant difference in the concentration of putrescine and spermidine in blood serum of RA patients. Spermine which could be detected in all samples too did not show distinct abnormalities from healthy subjects. Histamine and cadaverine present in measurable amounts were only in particular cases. A relation between increased histamine and basophile count was not demonstrable. There is apparently no correlation between histidinemia which is reported in the literature for RA patients in blood serum and plasma, and histamine production in the blood.