Injuries to the cervical spine sustained while carrying loads on the head. The level and type of injury in 12 patients with cervical spinal cord injury as a result of accidents while carrying heavy loads on the head is analysed. Lateral radiographs of the cervical spine in subjects loaded with 200 lb bags on the head, to assess the effects on the normal configuration of the spine, were obtained. Radiological assessment of a further group of labourers with long periods of this type of employment was done in an attempt to demonstrate any increased predisposition to osteo-arthrotic change in the cervical spine.


Ambulation without wheelchairs for paraplegics with complete lesions. Some salient features of the physical training programme for paraplegics at the State Rehabilitation Institute in Oslo are mentioned. A ten-year follow-up study of 42 clients with complete lesions (TI-L3) is presented. After an intensive physical training programme of some 10--15 weeks 74 per cent were able to climb and go down 20 standard stairs and 71 per cent were able to walk 100 metres indoors with crutches. The authors stress the importance of ambulations independent of wheelchairs whenever this is possible.


Nursing management in relation to beds used within the National Spinal Injuries Centre for the prevention of pressure sores. A report is given on the various types of beds used to prevent the formation of, and to treat, pressure sores in both new and old lesions.


Simpson-Edinburgh low-pressure air bed: an early clinical evaluation. A simple, inexpensive low-pressure air bed has been developed for use in situations where decubitus ulcers may arise. This bed is currently being evaluated in patients with spinal injuries, both in the hospital situation and in the home. Early experience is highly encouraging as regular turning of the patient can be safely omitted. We feel that widespread use of this bed could greatly decrease the incidence of pressure sores.


The use of operant conditioning techniques in the respiratory rehabilitation of the tetraplegic. This paper discusses the development of a pilot project in respiratory rehabilitation as part of the total rehabilitation of the tetraplegic and high paraplegic. The principles of neuromuscular exercise and of behaviouristic psychology introduce the subject of operant learning in the rehabilitation setting. Incentive spirometry is described as the basic element in the development of a respiratory rehabilitation programme. The preliminary results are analysed and a recommendation made that such a programme materially increases the respiratory function of the tetraplegic, and, not least, assists in his ability to combat intercurrent respiratory infection.


Mobility and equipment for the ventilator-dependent tetraplegic. The opportunity to realistically equip the ventilator-dependent tetraplegic to return to his community can be met by a concerned team in specialised spinal cord injury centres. Proper equipment, independent electric wheelchair mobility and family training, encourages acceptance of the ventilator-dependent quadriplegic and increases his life-style options. Ideally, the initial 6-month medical management and rehabilitation programme is followed by periodic re-evaluations for medical follow-up, equipment changes and functional upgrading. The medical community must continue to respond to the challenge to offer adequate living facilities and financial resources for equipment and programme development.


The high-level tetraplegic: psychological survival and adjustment. From the date of injury tetraplegics with spinal cord lesions of C4 and above are faced with unparalleled social and psychological adjustment. The individual will be involved in a process of re-establishing his identity by learning to develop and adapt his only remaining resources, his mind and his ability to communicate. This patient population is absolutely dependent in all aspects of meeting basic needs during the initial stages of the injury. If we attempt to return the patient to an active role in society, the rehabilitation team must be aware of the dynamics by which the patient achieves control of both himself and his environment. He will undergo a marked regression of his physical and emotional being and will face the turmoil of realigning ego parameters. The focal point of patient, family and staff interaction is the months of rehabilitation, where the team deals with the problem of social reintegration. Family involvement is essential from the beginning and reaches a high point at discharge and home planning. The scope of the paper will be to trace the psycho-social development of the patient with cervical lesion of C4 and above through the initial, rehabilitation and discharge phases of the injury. Our aim is to develop sufficient insight to the problems facing our patient population that we may aid in their search for meaningful lives.


An evaluation of residential care for tetraplegics. A total of 280 tetraplegics admitted to the National Spinal Injuries Centre between 1970--1975 were followed up. Sixty-five cases found to require residential care were examined.


Some reflections of a medical social worker in a spinal paralysis unit. Seventeen years as the social worker to a spinal paralysis unit has clearly demonstrated the very great importance of treating the 'whole patient'.


Importance of communication in counselling the spinal cord injury patient. The purpose of this paper is to emphasise the value of counselling in the medical and vocational rehabilitation of the spinal cord injury patient in a world passing through a stage of deep and rapid evolution, and the importance that effective communication may have in it so that a better social integration or reintegration of the patient may be achieved.


The role of the psychologist in the treatment of spinal cord injury. Advances in the treatment of spinal cord injury have shifted the emphasis from problems of survival to problems of psychological integration into the community. However, the patient's expectations for a fairly normal life are often not realised because of discrimination against disabled persons by able-bodied persons. Therefore, rehabilitation should include psychosocial skills training to teach spinal cord injury persons to cope with these issues in their own world. To accomplish this, the psychologist can contribute to the rehabilitation process as a consultant to the rehabilitation team, as a researcher of the rehabilitation process, as an evaluator of patient skills and strengths, and as a counselor. Each of these roles is discussed and a conceptualisation of the rehabilitation process is presented.


Cooperation between physicians and advisory services in a vocational rehabilitation centre. The importance of cooperation between physicians and all other services in vocational rehabilitation is shown by demonstration of three follow-up studies. Vocational rehabilitation is understood as a new dimension in the therapy of disabled people.


Physiotherapeutical mistakes in the early stages after spinal cord injury. To avoid paraosteoarthropathy no postural changes or passive movements should be done in the first 4 weeks after spinal cord injuries. Physiotherapists who are in charge of treatment of paraplegics should have a fundamental knowledge of spinal cord injuries to prevent such severe complications.


The role of the microbiologist in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries. Local and systemic infections represent major obstacles to the successful rehabilitation of patients following spinal cord injury. Their detection, prevention and management are greatly aided by the inclusion of a microbiologist in the rehabilitation team and by the provision of a simple laboratory in close geographic proximity to the spinal cord injury unit. The role and scope of activities of the SCI team-microbiologist, and the suggested location and basic equipment for a small laboratory are described. Some of the advantages to be gained from such microbiological monitoring are discussed.


When is an ileal conduit indicated in the spinal cord injured patient? Ileal loop diversion is only considered for persistent or progressive hydronephrosis (failed conservative treatment directed at the bladder). This conservative approach is based on a comparison of our ongoing prospective mortality study on 470 paraplegics plus 175 spinal cord patients that have survived at least 30 years v. an updated literature review of ileal conduits performed for benign disease.


Anti-coagulant therapy in the prevention of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the spinal cord injury. A prophylactic regime of subcutaneous low-dose heparin for the 1st month, followed by warfarin for the 2nd and 3rd months after spinal cord injury resulted in a dramatic reduction in the incidence of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.


Factors influencing readmission to hospital: II. Paraplegia. This study of 200 paraplegics shows that occupational status at the time of becoming paralysed exerts as great an influence upon readmission to hospital as does the level or the extent of the lesion and that the effect of the level of the lesion on readmission to hospital increases with lower occupational status.


Myelopathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (erythema nodosum). Two patients with sudden onset of myelopathy associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Erythema Nodosum) are described. Pertinent literature is extensively reviewed and these two new patients are added to previously reported 26 patients.


Localisation of upper oesophageal foreign bodies in a recumbent tetraplegic patient. Report of oesophageal obstruction in a tetraplegic patient following swallowing of a chicken bone. Removal following x-ray localisation.


Urihesive: a new aid in the management of urinary incontinence in male paraplegic patients. Our past practice with incontinent paraplegic patients has been to attach to the penis the sheath incorporated in urinary drainage devices by means of Elastoplast tape. Frequent development of skin lesions due to local irritation, and the necessity to wind Elastoplast tightly around the penis, which may produce urethral diverticula, has led us to use Urihesive to attach the sheath to the urinary drainage device. Urihesive has been used continuously for several months in 18 paraplegic patients. It has proved to be highly superior to Elastoplast, for the following reasons: It produces a better seal, resulting in no leakage of urine, and has better elasticity; it prevents the development of skin lesions and aids healing to existing lesions; there is no urethral constriction and the patient is more comfortable.


Two technical aids for intermittent sterile catheterisation. The use of a spray bottle for an antiseptic solution, and a method of attaching the catheter to a disposable urine bag are suggested and discussed.


Shoulder complications as a cause of delay in rehabilitation of spinal cord injured patients. (Case reports and review of the literature). We describe ten patients with spinal cord disease or injury who developed upper extremity and shoulder complications during rehabilitation. These shoulder complications caused delay in rehabilitation. We discuss the aetiology, treatment and management of shoulder complications in spinal patients and in patients with other neurological diseases.


An ergonomic appraisal of the use and functional efficiency of condom urinals in the male patient with spinal cord paralysis. The variety and method of use of condom urinals was reviewed and an investigation conducted to ascertain the problems which arise. Effects arising from material failure and methods of use were disclosed.


Experience with the management of thromboembolism in patients with spinal cord injury: Part I. Incidence, diagnosis and role of some risk factors. Fifty acute SCI patients are reviewed retrospectively for incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and the problems encountered in the diagnosis. The possible role of some risk factors in triggering thromboembolism and the consequent implications in anticoagulant therapy are discussed.


Prevention of thrombophlebitis in spinal injury patients. This paper deals with the prevention of thrombophlebitis by means of massage and elastic stocking compression. In a group of 26 patients no evidence of thrombophlebitis or pulmonary embolism was observed.


[Change in the carbohydrate metabolic indices in the hemolymph of freshwater molluscs infected with trematode parthenitae and larvae]. The effect of parthenites and larvae of trematodes on the contents of total sugar, glucose as well as on the variations in the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases of the haemolymph of Lymnaea stagnalis, Planorbis corneus and Viviparus viviparus has been studied. The studies have revealed differences in the degree of effect of individual species of parasites on their hosts depending on their localisation, infection intensity and developmental stage.


[Life cycle of the trematode, Plagioporus skrjabini Kowal, 1951 (Allocreadiata, Opecoelidae)]. The life cycle of the trematode Plagioporus skrjabini has been investigated. These trematodes use the mollusk Theodoxus fluviatilis as the first intermediate host and sand hoppers as additional hosts (under experimental conditions-Pontogammarus robustoides, Chaetogammarus ischnus, under natural conditions-P. robustoides, P. crassus, Dikerogammarus villosus, D. haemobaphes, Ch. ischnus, Amathillina cristata). Bullheads (Neogobius kessleri, N. fluviatilis) serve as definitive hosts. Cercaria and metacercaria are described.


[Tapeworm fauna of gallinaceans (Galliformes) of Vietnam]. 131 specimens of 3 species of Galliformes from Vietnam were investigated (Gallus gallus dom., G. g. jaboruillei, Francolinus pintadeanus and Lophora nycthemerus). In them 9 species of cestodes were found as follows: Davainea proglottina (Davainea, 1860), Cotugnia digonopora (Pasquale, 1890), Raillietina tetragona (Molin, 1858), R. echinobothrida (Megnin, 1880), Skrjabinia cesticillus (Molin, 1858), Paroniella tinguiana Tubangui et Masilungan, 1937, Amoebotaenia cuneata (Linstow, 1872), Echinolepis carioca (Magalhaes, 1898), Dilepidoides bauchei (Joyeux, 1924). In domestic hens there were found all 9 species of cestodes while in wild Galliformes--only 7, which are mentioned for them for the first time.


[Morphological variability of thorny-headed worms of the genus Neoechinorhynchus (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) that parasitize fishes of the Arctic Ocean province in the boundaries of the USSR]. Study of the morphology of 602 specimens of N. rutili (Müller, 1780) and N. crassus Van Cleave, 1919 collected in 10 species of fishes from waterbodies of the Kola Peninsular, the Ob, Yenisei, Lena, Kolyma and Chauna rivers has shown that all absolute specific characters considered (13 in female and 17 in male) have a considerable range of variations due to the modificational individual and age variability. Differences have been revealed in morphometric indexes of some characters in members of the European and Siberian populations of N. rutili that is due to a geographic variability of the species. It has been established that most constant characters of all species studied are the length of the proboscis and its hooks.


[Biology of Khawia japonensis (Caryophyllidea, Cestoda), a parasite of the Amur carp]. The development of the cestode Khawia japonensis (Yamaguti, 1934) has been studied experimentally. At 18 to 26 C, in 12-14 days oncospheres develop in eggs, whose infective properties manifest themselves in 30-31 days. In the caudal segments of Limnodrilus udekemianus they penetrate the body cavity through the intestinal wall and migrate to the anterior margin as they mature. In 55 to 60 days (at the same temperature) mature proceroids become localized in 9-12 segments. The development of embryonal hooks and penetration glands was retraced.


[Ectoparasites of small mammals, their nests and of the nests of birds in the floodplain of the Kamchatka River]. The paper presents data on the specific composition and abundance of bloodsucking arthropods parasitic on small mammals and birds in the valley of the Kamchatka river. One species of ixodids, I. lividus, 9 species of gamasids, P. crassipes, E. kraepelini, G. bispinosus, V. bujakova, H. casalis, H. mandschuricus, M. decoloratus, P. bujakovae, Macroheles sp., and one species of fleas, C. riparius, were first recorded from Kamchatka. 723 rodents were bacteriologically examined for tularemia with negative results.


[Systematic position of the trematode, Faustula keksooni (MacCallum, 1918)]. The concept of the exceptional peculiarity of the genital system structure of Faustula keksooni (MacCallum, 1918), on the basis of which this trematode was accorded a distinct status of the order Faustulata, is considered as erroneous one. The literary data on the reexamination of the holotype are given. The status of the parasite in the family Fellodistomidae is discussed.


[New genus of monogeneans of the family Diplozoidae Palombi, 1949 (Monogenea)]. A study of the morphology of the species Diplozoon inustiatus Nag., 1965 has revealed distinct differences of this species from other members of Diplozoidae. On this bases Diplozoon inustiatus has been accorded a status of a distinct genus, Inustiatus. The diagnosis of this genus and a redescription of the species I. inustiatus are given.


[Ectoparasites of small mammals in the eastern portion of the Baikal-Amure mainline]. 11.501 ectoparasites of 45 species were collected from small mammals (rodents, shrews and double-toothed rodents) in the north-eastern part of Priamurje. The parasitecoenoses are formed in general by gamasid mites (60.4%) and lice(24.7%) but faunistically fleas (19 species or 42.2%) are dominant. Among all ectoparasites the gamasid mites, Laelaps clethrionomydis and Hirstionyssus isabellinus, and the louse Hoplopleura acanthopus account for 64.9%. The impoverishment of the arthropod fauna in the northern part of Priamurje as compared to southern ones proceeds at the expence of chigger mites and more thermophilous species of gamasids and ixodids. With cultivation of forests the content of members of parasitecoenoses becomes more homogenous and their abundance falls.


Advances in invasive cardiac diagnosis and management. Cardiac catheterization is now a relatively safe procedure when performed by an experienced pediatric cardiology team in a medical center with full ancillary pediatric services as well as cardiac surgery available on a 24 hour basis. Advances in equipment and techniques such as improved radiological equipment, newer catheters, and angled angiocardiographic views have improved diagnostic studies such that intraoperative changes in the preoperative diagnoses fortunately are rare. The use of prostaglandin E1 in neonates with either pulmonary atresia or the coarctation syndrome to achieve ductal dilatation with resultant marked clinical improvement preoperatively is a major advance that should become a standard method of therapy over the next few years. Newer catheterization techniques include devices for enlarging atrial septal defects (balloons and blades), closing atrial septal defects, closing a patent ductus, and performing myocardial biopsies in infants. All of these latter techniques hold promise for extending the pediatric cardiologist's role in providing newer diagnostic as well as therapeutic techniques in the care of infants and children with heart disease.


Disorders of heart rate and rhythm.

Disorders of heart rate and rhythm. The clinical approach to a child with a disorder of the heart beat is still that of a careful history, physical examination, and an ECG with a long rhythm strip. A diagnostic approach is presented which is based on rate, rhythm, and mechanism. Newer diagnostic methods are presented as well as advances in the basic cellular electrophysiology. Disorders of automaticity, triggerable cells, and re-entry are analyzed. Finally, therapy is revised for conventional drugs, and new and nonapproved drugs are listed. Indications and limitations for cardioversion, electrical pacing, and surgery are presented.


Cardiac catheterization by percutaneous femoral venous approach in infants weighing less than 5 kg: observations in 97 cases. The technique of cardiac catheterization after percutaneous introduction of a catheter can now be accomplished in neonates thanks to the refinement of the equipment and to the physicians' experience. In 100 catheterizations performed in infants of less than 5 kg, the new technique was utilized 97 times. Thanks to the utilization of introducers it permits Rashkind atrioseptostomy. Its main advantage is the preservation of venous integrity and this allows repeat investigations through the same route.


Gastric teratomas in infants: report of two cases. Gastric teratoma is a rare benign tumor with a striking male predominance in patients under one year of age. The common presenting features are a palpable mass producing gastro-intestinal hemorrhage or respiratory distress. Approximately 50% of gastric teratomas may show calcification on plain abdominal roentgenograms. Two cases in newborns are reported, and the clinical and radiologic features of gastric teratomas reviewed.


An evaluation of plain roentgenograms prior to oral cholecystography in children. Plain roentgenograms were taken prior to oral cholecystography in 100 children. Three children had their gallstones obscured by the oral cholecystographic agent. Consideration should be given to obtaining plain roentgenograms in children with a strong clinical suspicion of gallbladder disease and a normal oral cholecystogram.


Differential X-ray diagnosis of renal dystopias and ectopias in children. A survey was made of the types of renal allotopia in children based on 5250 urographic examinations. The X-ray anatomy of allotopic kidney and the clinical symptoms of the conditions were discussed. The diagnostic value of individual X-ray techniques was critically appraised and the merits of renal angiography were stressed in terms of both diagnostics and the selection of appropriate surgical procedure. The inadequate terminology of allotopically displaced kidney was discussed.


Two peculiar types of enchondromatosis.

Two peculiar types of enchondromatosis. On the basis of 3 personal observations and of 6 cases from the literature, two peculiar types of enchondromatosis are delineated: 1. Enchondromatosis with generalized, irregular vertebral lesions, and 2. Generalized enchondromatosis with mild platyspondyly.


The unusual case: persistence of metaphyseal changes in penicillin treated congenital syphilis. A case of congenital syphilis is described in which the diagnosis was not made until the age of 9 and with persistance of metaphyseal changes in spite of prolonged penicillin treatment.


Unusual bone involvement in congenital syphilis mimicking the battered child syndrome. Congenital syphilis is re-emerging in modern society. The pediatric radiologist may contribute to its early diagnosis. A case of unusual bone involvement with fracture of the olecranon and facial bone lesions is described; the condition had to be differentiated from the "battered child syndrome". The problem of congenital syphilis as an infectious disease versus bone dystrophy is also discussed.


Extra-osseous localisation of 99Tcm methylene diphosphonic acid (MDP) in a primary neuroblastoma. A case of primary neuroblastoma in a seven year old boy is presented in which 99Tcm methylene diphosphonic acid (MDP) used as a bone scanning agent localised in the primary tumour. The possible mechanism for this is discussed.


Multifocal tuberculous osteomyelitis.

Multifocal tuberculous osteomyelitis. A case of multifocal tuberculous osteomyelitis is reported. The lesions were found in the skull and ribs in a 10 year old girl with pulmonary tuberculosis and with tuberculous lymphadenitis. Complete healing was achieved under chemotherapy. Although radiologically the lesions appear "cystic", their true nature is that of granulomatous--caseous tuberculous osteomyelitis.


Visualization of the intestinal tract by amniography in a fetus with esophageal atresia. In pregnancies complicated by hydramnios, amniography can be used for the detection of fetal gastrointestinal obstruction. A case is presented in which the appearance of contrast material in the fetal gastrointestinal tract was noted in an infant who proved to have esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. Presumably, the contrast reached the intestinal tract by aspiration and passage through the fistula.


Thymic uptake of gallium-67 citrate in a healthy 4 year old boy. Gallium uptake in a mediastinal mass has been most often seen with lymphoma. A case is reported of thymic uptake in an otherwise healthy 4 1/2 year old boy who had recently had pneumonia. Serial films always showed an unchanging prominent though normal thymus and follow up gallium scans showed disappearance of thymic uptake. This and other similar cases indicate the need to consider a non-neoplastic thymus when gallium accumulation is noted in the anterior mediastinum of a child.


Differentiation of orbital cellulitis from preseptal cellulitis by computed tomography. Computed tomography (CT) was used in the management of four patients with periorbital inflammation. These patients were selected for CT scanning because of the difficulty, on clinical examination alone, in determining the degree of orbital disease. The CT scans confirmed the presence and defined the location of an orbital abscess in three patients and eliminated the presence of an abscess in the fourth. On the basis of this experience, CT scanning is recommended in the evaluation of children with periorbital inflammation in whom proptosis, ophthalmoplegia, or loss of visual acuity develops, or in whom severe eyelid edema prevents adequate eye examination.


Measles vaccine efficacy in children previously vaccinated at 12 months of age. During a large outbreak of measles in Ohio in 1976 it was possible to measure measles vaccine efficacy by age at time of vaccination and number of years since vaccination. Using a summed incidence method to control for the confounding variable introduced by mass immunization clinics held during the outbreak, vaccine efficacy was greater than 95% for children vaccinated at 12, 13, and 14 or more months of age. Vaccine efficacy for those vaccinated at 12 months of age was notably better than for those vaccinated at younger ages but not different from those vaccinated at older ages. Although recently administered vaccine appeared more efficacious than vaccine administered in the past, this difference was not significant when controlled for age at vaccination. Evaluation of the mass clinics held during the outbreak demonstrated that 59.6% of the inadequately immunized children attended the clinics, but this was not substantially different from the proportion of adequately immunized who attended (52.4%). Recommendations for measles revaccination need not include children previously vaccinated at 12 months of age or greater.


Measles vaccine efficacy: influence of age at vaccination vs. duration of time since vaccination. To evaluate the recent decision of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice to increase the recommended age for initial measles vaccination from 12 to 15 months, we carried out a case control study of vaccine failure in a recent measles epidemic. Compared to children vaccinated at ages 15 months or older, we found an increased risk of vaccine failure among those vaccinated at 12 to 14 months (relative risk = 19.2, 95% confidence interval = 4.6 to 80.1). In order to sort out the influence of age at vaccination from elapsed time since vaccination, we subjected the data to discriminant analysis. Age at vaccination subsumed all of the effect of duration of time since vaccination. Thus, we find no evidence of waning immunity over time.


Current status of mumps and mumps vaccine in the United States. Reported mumps in the United States has declined to all-time low levels following the increasingly widespread use of mumps-virus vaccine. Mumps vaccine has proven safe and effective. Its incorporation into combined live-virus vaccines, especially measles-mumps-rubella, has made mumps vaccination a practical and economically feasible component of routine immunization activities. Because of the favorable experience to date with mumps vaccine and the associated drop in mumps morbidity and mortality, mumps control programs likely will receive increasing public health attention in the coming years.


Clinical significance of monitoring anterior fontanel pressure in sick neonates and infants. The intracranial pressure was monitored via the anterior fontanel, using a noninvasive technique, in 78 acutely ill, 39 normal term, and 6 normal preterm infants. In normal term and preterm infants the anterior fontanel pressure (AFP) was 10.2 +/- 0.4 and 9.5 +/- 0.8 cm H2O, respectively. Infants with hyaline membrane disease had elevated pressure (13.3 +/- 0.6 cm H2O), which was higher than that of normal preterm infants. Following an episode of intracranial hemorrhage in four infants, the AFP increased to 26.2 +/- 2.5 cm H2O. Elevated pressure was noted in infants with meconium aspiration syndrome (24.1 +/- 1.8 cm H2O); the pressure decreased during the phase of recovery (15.6 +/- 3.5 cm H2O). Elevated pressure was noted in infants with meningitis and hydrocephalus. Repeated measurements helped to diagnose shunt obstruction in an infant with hydrocephalus.


Infant recognition of mother's voice.

Infant recognition of mother's voice. Each of a group of one-month-old infants was reinforced, contingent upon nonutritive sucking, with its mother's voice and the voice of a stranger. In this experiment, two conditions were applied. Under the first, the mother's speech was aimed at communicating with the infant, while, under the second, the mother's speech lacked prosodic and intonational aspects of normal speech. It was shown that infants will suck more for their mother's voices under the intonanted condition only. It was concluded that a young infant prefers its own mother's voice provided the mother speaks normally.


Central and peripheral object distances as determinants of the effective visual field in early infancy. While visually fixating on a central, coloured object, thirty-six infants aged between two and five months were presented with a peripheral target to the right or to the left of midline. Both objects were presented at two distances: either 30 or 90 cm from the infant. The extent of the effective visual field was measured by the presence and the latency of saccadic shifts of gaze from the fixation object toward the target object placed at varying degrees of eccentricity. The effective visual field expanded between two and four months. Near peripheral targets were detected at greater angles of eccentricity than those more distant, but this effect was modified both by age and by the distance of central fixation. For two- and three-month infants the effective visual field was most reduced when the central fixation object was placed at 30 cm and the target object at 90 cm. The ability to respond to peripheral objects more distant than the fixation object develops after three months.


Reaching in the dark.

Reaching in the dark. Reaching for noise-making objects presented in darkness declines, then recovers, during infancy. The most probable explanation of this U-shaped function would seem to involve changes in reaching, changes in the perception of success, and changes in the body schema. There is no need to postulate any U-shaped change within the auditory system.


Apparent foveofugal drift of counterphase gratings. Counterphase gratings, and several other stimuli which consist of equal components of motion in both directions, appeared to drift foveofugally, rather than foveopetally, when presented to the retinal periphery. This 'foveofugal drift effect' was demonstrated by descriptive and nulling techniques and its magnitude was shown to vary across subjects. The effect was fairly brief under continuous fixation. Several lines of evidence suggested that eye movements were not responsible for the effect. The phenomenon implies a directional asymmetry in the human visual system which may be related to our consistent exposure to expanding patterns of visual flow.


Contrast summation effects and stereopsis. Contrast thresholds for stereopsis were measured for a variety of bandpass-filtered random-dot stereograms in a series of experiments. The principal finding was that contrast thresholds for stereopsis from 'complex' stereograms composed of mixtures of (a) two widely different spatial frequencies or (b) two or more widely different oriented random textures, are considerably lower than would be expected if stereopsis from such stimuli is mediated by the first component to rise above its own stereopsis contrast threshold. Instead, it appears that stereopsis comes about whenever the supradetection-threshold contrast of a stereogram exceeds a certain level, regardless of whether this contrast is provided by a single component or by a mix of two different ones. The implications of these findings for models of stereopsis are discussed.


McCollough effect and eye optics.

McCollough effect and eye optics. Astigmatism induced by cylindrical lenses leads to colour sensations similar to the McCollough effect. Consequences for the design of experiments and a new interpretation of the McCollough effect are suggested.


The effect of refractive error on size constancy and shape constancy. The effect of refractive error was determined for both size constancy and shape constancy. Although an error of 1.5 diopters reduces shape constancy, 3.0 diopters of blur had no effect on size constancy. The results are discussed in terms of the multiple mechanisms subserving the perceptual constancies. The importance of cues from the peripheral visual fields for size constancy and the role of foveally mediated texture and stereopsis cues for shape constancy are emphasized.


Explaining imaginal inference by operations in a propositional format. Solving problems by imaginal inference often seems inefficient for an organism that is manipulating propositions. One explanation for the apparent inefficiency is that the problems are being solved not in propositional format by operations in an analogue format. Imaginal inference might then be the most efficient method compatible with the limitations inherent in the analogue format. In the present paper an alternative rationale is given for the use of imaginal inference by explaining how the processes involved in mental problem solving are related to those in perception: it is suggested that the mechanisms used in problem solving have evolved from a  perceptual system in which hypotheses about events in the sensory field are generated from an internal representation of the world. This thesis denies that perception is passive and suggests that originally for perception. Acceptance of the thesis implies that the capabilities of a propositional format in problem solving would be limited. This limitation could account for the apparently inefficient use of that format in imaginal inference.


Eye movements during the viewing of Necker cubes. Eye movements were recorded while subjects viewed a Kopfermann-like series of Necker cubes and signaled perceptual reversals. At the instant of reversal, subjects tend to fixate the vicinity of the externally appearing corner. These fixations at the instant of reversal tend to have longer duration than those immediately before or after. The longer fixation times associated with pperceptual reversal probably reflect the time required to construct the alternate three-dimensional interpretation of the cube. After construction of this new model, the subject then fixates the vicinity of the newly interpreted externally appearing corner.


The use of category information in perception. Three tachistoscopic experiments are reported in which presentation of the target stimulus in a letter/digit categorization task was preceded by a briefly exposed priming stimulus (letter or digit). The primer was subject to backward masking from either the target or a pattern mask, and observers were unaware of its occurrence. With a primer duration of 25 ms, when masking was presumed to be at a central level, performance deteriorated when the two items were from different categories. This inhibition effect was reduced when the characters were physically similar. In contrast, there was little evidence of facilitated processing when primers validly cued targets. At shorter primer durations, when masking is presumed to be peripheral in origin, between-condition differences were less marked. An interpretation in terms of an active model of information processing, with utilization of both categorical and physical information extracted from the primer, is proposed.


Illusory contours and the ends of lines. A series of lines pointing towards a central region induces an illusory brightness effect that is systematically related to the angle formed by the lines and the contour of the illusory brightness. As the lines veer to become tangents the illusory brightness decreases.


Automimmune response to dopamine-receptor as a possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. Clinical and neuropharmacological evidence indicates the involvement of dopaminergic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, as well as in iatrogenic Parkinsonism and drug-induced schizophrenia-like syndrome. The evidence hitherto presented stresses the existence of a reversed relationship between Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia and implicates the possibility that dysfunction of dopamine-receptors may be a central phenomenon in both diseases. In view of the recent demonstration of two separate dopamine-receptors, it is postulated that a striatal receptor blockade may cause Parkinson's disease, whereas a limbic receptor blockade may result in schizophrenia. The recent discovery that several autoimmune diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, are the result of an immunopharmacological block at receptor sites, together with several observations of immunological disorders in Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia, suggests the possibility that certain types of Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia might be the consequence of an autoimmune blockade of striatal or limbic dopamine-receptors, respectively.


HRC adjustable pneumatic swing-phase control knee. Since 1972 the Hyogo Rehabilitation Centre has been developing a variable-resistance-type pneumatic control device, the HRC Adjustable Pneumatic Swing-Phase Control Knee. Successful field tests have been carried out on 20 cases with Model IV since 1973 with only a limited number of mechanical troubles. This paper introduces the HRC adjustable pneumatic swing-phase control knee with follow-up studies.


A new approach to the management of wounds of the extremities. Controlled environment treatment and its derivatives. Controlled Environment Treatment is a new approach to wound management--for the first time it provides the surgeon with the means of controlling and optimizing the wound environment for the duration of the healing period. Equipment is commercially available and the technique is now being applied internationally; the technique has been established for the treatment of limbs--application to the trunk requires further investigation and development. Spin-offs have already occurred, one being the control of certain types of lymphoedema by the patient in their own home; the other concerns the application of plaster of Paris to produce casts having significantly superior physiological characteristics using minimal manipulative skills. The former is known as Pressure Environment Treatment, the latter is known as Controlled Pressure Casting; equipment is commercially available internationally.


Analysis of variability in pylon transducer signals. A pylon transducer has been used to provide force and moment data relating to the stance phase of gait of below-knee amputees fitted with modular types of PTB prostheses. The data has been collected and modified using digital processing systems with particular interest in quantifying shape differences in the loading information curves. Earlier tests illustrated the need for more data to provide statistical support for conclusions. However, the requirements for more data greatly increased the data handling and storage problems. A method was devised whereby those features considered significant from an information point of view could be extracted from the transducer signals and then combined. The statistical combination of features was made to allow objective comparisons of strides for a particular subject.


A retrospective study of respiratory disease in a cohort of bacon pigs. I. Clinico-epidemiological analyses. Previous studies of respiratory disease problems in pig herds have to a large extent relied on mortality data and slaughterhouse findings. The present report deals with simultaneously recorded clinical data and post mortem information for individual pigs from a large herd. Among other things, the results suggest that the commonly applied treatments of clinical cases have limited effect, that routine meat inspection is a fairly sensitive tool in monitoring the disease status, that productivity is affected relatively more by clinical episodes than by subclinical occurrence, and that respiratory disease and diarrhea are interrelated in more than one way.


The relationship between disease incidences of fatteners registered at slaughter and environmental factors in herds. The incidences of penumonia, pleurisy and white spots in liver were registered on slaughtered fattening pigs and herd identity. Disease incidences were found to be close related to herd environmental factors, e.g. hygiene and husbandry, recruitment forms and raising methods, and ventilation efficiency.


Congenital tremor in pigs in Sweden. A case report. The authors describe an outbreak of congenital tremor in piglets in a herd for the integrated production of fattening pigs. All sows farrowing within a period of slightly over a month gave birth to piglets affected to a varying degree. All the sows were of the Swedish Land Race and covered by boars representing two different lines not genetically related to each other. The case history comprised information on oral treatment of the sows with an antiparasitic trichlorfon compound (Neguvon) during pregnancy. Morphological examination of the CNS revealed a marked cerebellar hypoplasia in all examined piglets. Teschen/Talfan virus was isolated from liver and spleen in one of the piglets, but this finding could be repudiated as merely coincidental. It is concluded that there is strong circumstantial evidence for Neguvon treatment as a possible etiologic factor in this tremor outbreak. All relevant data collected are seen from Tables I and II.


Congenital ataxia and tremor with cerebellar hypoplasia in piglets borne by sows treated with Neguvon vet. (metrifonate, trichlorfon) during pregnancy. In 1976--77 The State Veterinary Serum Laboratory received new-born pigs which had shown nervous disorders immediately after birth. In all the cases the sows had been treated with Nevugon vet. (metrifonate, trichlorfon) during pregnancy. In the majority of the affected litters the morbidity and lethality were 100 per cent. Analysis of the breeding data from some of the herds suggested that the period during which the fetuses are sensitive is rather narrow, i.e., approximately from day 45 to day 63. The disease was reproduced experimentally and it was concluded that oral treatment of pregnant sows with Neguvon vet. about the middle of the gestation period can result in severe nervous disorders in the piglets. Clinically the disease is characterized by ataxia and tremor, and corresponding to that there is a pronounced hypoplasia of the cerebellum and also a reduction in the size of the spinal cord.


Spinal  ataxia in the horse. A case report. The purpose of this communication is to report the first diagnosed case of spinal ataxia in the horse in Finland. The horse was atactic and had a wobbling gait. Especially in turning and backing the rear legs tended to swing outwards. Macroscopical studies revealed malformation of the cervical vertebral articular facets and narrowing of the cervical vertebral canal. The vertebral malformation caused the degeneration of the spinal cord, through the compression of the cord. In this paper the macroscopial and microscopical findings are discussed and compared with the findings of other authors.


[Patients on chronic hemodialysis. Hemodynamic study at rest and during exercise before dialysis, in hypertensive and normotensive patients (author's transl)]. In twenty chronic hemodialyzed patients a hemodynamic study was carried out just before dialysis at bed rest and during sitting bicycle exercise. At bed rest, cardiac index (mean +/- standard deviation = 5.2 +/- 1.1/mn/m2) and pulmonary wedge pressure (17.4 +/- 6.8 mmHg) were increased. At the highest level performed (60 ou 90 W) cardiac index increased in all patients and reached on average normal values as compared to normal sedentary subjects, but heart rate less increased than in normal subjects during maximum effort. These data suggest that these patients had no patent heart failure. Pulmonary wedge pressure was more increased in hypertensive patients (20.7 +/- 6.7 mmHg) than in normotensive patients (13.3 +/- 4.4 mmHg). Since cardiac index was similarly increased in both groups of patients the higher values of pulmonary wedge pressure in hypertensive patients could be related to either an increase in total blood volume, or a reduction in left ventricular compliance or an increase in cardiopulmonary blood volume.


[The bactericidal power of antibiotic combinations. Application in the treatment of osteo-articular infections due to Staphylococcus aureus (author's transl)]. Study of the bactericidal power of antibiotic combinations against 18 strains of staphylococcus aureus causing osteoarthritis showed that the combinations most often synergistic or indifferent were: rifampicin + lincomycin or synergistine, rifampicin + fusidic acid, synergistine + fusidic acid or trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, cephalosporins + gentamycin, rifampicin or fusidic acid + gentamycin, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole + rifampicin or fusidic acid. Study of the antibiotic therapy used here was based upon the inhibitory power of serum and the measurement of antibiotic concentrations in healthy bone. Combinations which are synergistic or indifferent in vitro endow the serum with a high level of bactericidal activity. Certain antagonisms (cephalosporins or penicillin M + rifampicin) found in vitro may be reflected neither clinically nor in study of the inhibitory power of the serum.


[Recurrent familial thromboembolic disease due to congenital deficiency in anti-thrombin III. Preliminary study of 3 cases (author's transl)]. The three cases reported, two mesenteric venous infarctions and one asymptomatic carrier, prove the responsibility of the anti-thrombin III deficiency in the development of apparently primary entero-mesenteric venous infarctions. Thus such a deficiency should be sought routibs. Furthermore, these 3 cases confirm the usual characteristics of the 10 familial cases collected since the princeps description of Egeberg: recurrent thromboembolic disease in the young subject involving essentially the lower limbs, relative resistance to heparin, family history of thromboembolic disease confirming the hereditary nature of the disease with dominant transmission, laboratory confirmation of the quantitative deficiency in antithrombin III, the levels and activity of which are reduced by half, and decrease in laboratory sensitivity to heparin contrasting with normal clotting studies. The family history reveals associated conditions within the syndrome: asthma and Biermer's anemia as well as similarities in leucocyte HLA groups.


[The neonatal detection of congenital hypothyroidism (author's transl)]. Congenital hypothyroidism appears to be the commonest infantile endocrine disease (1/3000 to 1/5000 newborn). Previous experience has shown that the clinical diagnosis during the neonatal period is often difficult and that the long term result is dependent upon the rapidity with which hormone treatment is begun. A rational approach to these data and the possibility of miniaturisation of methods for the radio-immunological estimation of T4 and TSH led to the possibility of neonatal detection on a routine basis being envisaged. Recent results, both in France and elsewhere, confirm the value of such screening, which nervertheless continues to pose some problems. The authors here summarize current information concerning this form of screening which will surely soon take its place amongst routine neonatal examinations on the same basis as that for phenylketonuria.


[Granulomatous hepatitis: aetiological study of 107 cases (author's transl)]. In this series, the commonest aetiology was tuberculosis (30 cases, 28%), followed by sarcoidosis (18 cases, 17,7%), mediterranean fever (Olmer's disease) (13 cases, 12,1%), brucellosis (8 cases, 7,4%), typhoid fever (7 cases, 6,6%) and idiopathic forms (8 cases, 7,4%). These were followed by Hodgkin's disease, toxoplasmosis, adenosarcoma, and leprosy. Finally, there were single cases due to infectious mononucleosis, B.C.G. reaction, hypogammaglobulinaemia, coeliac disease and temporal arteritis. Half of the patients had hepatomegaly and an increase, in general moderate, in hepatic enzymes (transaminases, alkaline phosphatase). The highest enzyme levels were seen in cases of brucellosis, hepatic enzymes being normal in patients with sarcoidosis.


[Septo-optic dysplasia with antidiuretic hormone deficiency and central adrenocortical insufficiency. Three cases report in infants (author's transl)]. Three cases of septo-optic dysplasia are related in infants. A neurogenic diabetes insipidus and an central adrenocortical insufficiency is proved. An growth hormone deficiency is founded in one case. The other anterior pituitary functions are normal. The pneumo-encephalography with congenital absence of septum lucidum and the ophtalmologic anomalies are typical. The treatment is envisaged. In one case an autopsy sustains the radiologic aspect.


[Renal artery acute thrombosis following abdominal angiography. 3 cases (author's transl)]. Three cases of acute thrombosis of the renal artery following an abdominal angiography were operated on. In each case a tight stenosis of the renal artery was present. Two different clinical features were observed: when the thrombosis occurs in a solitary kidney, anuria follows immediately the angiography and this is highly suggestive of the diagnosis; when the contralateral kidney functions well, the thrombosis, probably, will not be recognized. Treatment should always be surgical. In two cases emergency surgery resulted in kidney salvage, whereas in the last the diagnosis was overlooked and delayed surgery could not avoid nephrectomy. Viability of the kidney may be ensured by the collateral circulation and this fact justifies surgery in all cases.


[Assessment of postoperative infective risk by delayed hypersensitivity tests. The influence of deficient nutrition and its correction (author's transl)]. Cellular immunity was assessed in 120 patients by simple skin tests (tuberculin, candidine, varidase, C.C.B., trichophyton). There is a close relationship between total anergism and the risk of severe infection in digestive surgery, and between anergism and deficient nutrition as determined by laboratory and anthropometric criteria. Preoperative correction of nutritional deficiency, which is often underestimated, has an inconstant effect upon skin test responses, but seems to decrease severe postoperative infective complications.


[Retroperitoneal haematomas in patients receiving anticoagulants. Therapeutic indications. One case (author's transl)]. Despite the customary absence of any preexistent lesion, aetiological studies should not be neglected, in particular intravenous pyelography and, above all, angiography. Wilst an attitude of therapeutic abstention has been the rule up to the present time, the indications of treatment may be modified in the absence of a local cause: - the small retroperitoneal haematoma benefits most from medical treatment; - surgical treatment should nevertheless be applied early in the case of: . large retroperitoneal haematomas, . whenever anticoagulant therapy must be maintained at all costs. . in the case of nerve compression. - Pre-operative angiography ensures selection of the safest surgical approach.


[Treatment of hypercorrection after surgical procedure on hallux valgus. Medial osteoplastic ridge (author's transl)]. Hallux varus hypercorrection is reduced and maintained by a medial osteoplastic ridge fixed by screws in the head of the first metacarpal bone. It can be indicated to associate an extensor Hallucis longus lengthening.


[The ultrasonic diagnosis of jaundice. 199 cases (author's transl)]. Thank to a thorough ultrasonographic analysis of biliary tree ("shotgun sign"), liver and pancreas, a positive diagnosis of obstruction was carried out in 92% of cases. The success rate in diagnosis of level of obstruction was also 92%. Aetiologic diagnosis was successful in 61% of cases only (almost 100% in jaundices of pancreatic origine). No false positive diagnosis of obstruction was made in non-obstructive jaundice. This enabled to carry out instrumental cholangiography (i.e. "skinny" needle percutaneous cholangiography, and ERC) only in case of clinical, biological and sonographic discrepancies, or in hilar obstructions.


[Initial pattern and evolution of Hodgkin's disease with pulmonary involvement (author's transl)]. Between 1972 and 1975, we treated 20 patients suffering from Hodgkin's disease with initial pulmonary involvement. They all had mediastinal involvement. After 6 months of multi-agent chemotherapy: --4 of the 20 patients entered in complete remission and have stayed free of disease up to now. --8 had kept persistent pulmonary and mediastinal involvement; in spite of further and repeated chemotherapy courses, none of them was put in complete remission. --8 still had lymph node involvement but no more pulmonary involvement; out of these 4 received mantle radiotherapy which resulted in 3 complete remission, and 4 received chemotherapy alone which entailed only one complete remission. On the whole, the percentage of complete remission is 40%. The overall actuarial survival is 40%. No relapse has occured in patients entered in complete remission. These results lead us to underline that, when pulmonary involvement disappears after 6 months of chemotherapy, no pulmonary relapse occurs; the prognosis depending on the sterilization of lymph nodes. On the opposite, when there is still pulmonary involvement after 6 months of chemotherapy, it persists in spite of different and repeated chemotherapy schedules.


[Congenital dysfibrinogenaemia. Two new cases (author's transl)]. Congenital dysfibrinogenaemia is a rare disorder related to an abnormality in the behaviour of the fibrinogen molecule. The diagnosis may be made with the aid of simple tests, including prothrombin'time, even though this examination may be normal in a small number of cases. Two new cases are reported here. Neither of the two women involved had a past history of severe haemorrhage, the diagnosis being made at the time of routine coagulation studies. According to the international nomenclature, we suggest the names fibrinogen Paris IV and fibrinogen Buenos-Aires II. In order to avoid missing the diagnosis, fibrinogen should be estimated by different methods in the presence of hypofibrinaemia. There is disagreement between fibrinogen levels estimated by the thrombin chronometric method, in general low, and levels obtained by gravimetric and immunological methods, usually normal.


[Chemotherapy for digestive carcinomas. General principles (author's transl)]. A review of the basic principles concerning the biology, and in particular the kinetics, of the malignant cell, serves as a basis for the study of the main drugs which make up the current arsenal of the chemotherapist and to define their mode of action. The indications of chemotherapy in digestive carcinomas are then outlined, drawing the distinction between palliative chemotherapy used in tumours with spread, whether operable or inoperable, and adjuvant chemotherapy which may be indicated for certain carcinomas resected in a macroscopically satisfactory manner, but where the risk of recurrence is greater than 50%.


[The treatment of Paget's disease using salmon thyrocalcitonin. 8 cases (author's transl)]. An open trial of synthetic salmon thyrocalcitonin was carried out in 8 cases of progressive and multifocal Paget's disease over a period of three months and at a dose of 80 MRC.U twice daily. A clinical improvement was seen in half the cases. The action was also marked upon laboratory parameters with, in particular, an average decrease in alkaline phosphatase of 51% and in urinary hydroxyproline levels of 29.4%.


[Hysteroplasty for septate uterus by cleavage and mobilisation of the septum (author's transl)]. A new technique of hysteroplasty is proposed for the septate uterus. The uterine incision is anterior medline, leaving the posterior wall of the uterus untouched. The septum is split into two hemi-septa which are increased in such a way as to obtain two pediculated flaps, covered by endometrium. Anterior and posterior distribution of the flaps makes it possible to recreate a spacious single cavity.


[Renovascular hypertension: prediction of surgical treatment by angiotensin II blockade and saralasin (author's transl)]. The response of arterial pressure to an infusion of saralasin was compared to the effect of surgical correction of renal vascular lesions (3 to 6 months after surgery) in eleven patients whose hypertension was associated with uni or bilateral stenosis of renal artery. Saralasin was infused after four days of dietary sodium restriction (10--40 mEq/day). An excellent correlation (r = 0.83, p less than 0.005) between the effects of saralasin and surgery was obtained. There was no correlation between the response to saralasin or to surgery and the ratio of renal vein renin activities. It is suggested that saralasin may be a good tool for predicting the effect of surgery in renovascular hypertension, when infused in moderately sodium depleted patients.


[Neurogliale cerebral tumors: test of chemotherapy treatment. Forty five cases (author's transl)]. It is impossible to tell the exact prognosis of the patients affected with neuroglial cerebral tumors which are being treated with cytostatic chemotherapy. This impossibility has made it necessary to repeat the different examinations given before and during the treatment of 45 patients. We contemplate a series of clinical, immunological, biological, hematological tests; then electro-encephalogram, brain scan and a echography reveal the variations in volume of the tumor. If some of the examinations are not conclusive, the others, specifically the electro-encephalogram, the mental state evaluation are accurate in determining the final evolution. Immunological shows modification of cellular immunity with a decrease of T cells (57% +/- 5,9) which are hyporeactive (PHA 1/10: 42% +/- 7,5). EEG pertubations and clinical evolution are in agreement in 80% of cases. The median survival of patients as far as EEG signs are concerned in the third month is 375 days if there is an electival improvement and 188 days in the opposite difference which is significant. Scan ications are not conclusive because of peri tumoral edema evolution and hift of medical structures can be shown by echography.


[Real-time cross-sectional echocardiography using a mechanical sector scanner (author's transl)]. Ultrasonic one-dimensional echocardiography have proven extremely useful these last years in cardiac diagnosis. However, it allows only, structures lying along a narrow ultrasonic beam, to be visualized. In order to state more precisely the spatial relationship of the various cardiac structures, some two-dimensional systems, which displays the heart by constructing a plane image composed of many straight lines have been perfected. The authors, using such a system, specify its principal technical and clinical aspects and comment from iconographics documents and from their experience with more than 100 explorations, its advantages.


[Clinical basis of acupuncture analgesia (author's transl)]. Based on 249 observations acupuncture analgesia has been studied in its clinical picture and its abilities in surgery. Clinically, whatever may be the acupuncture sites, the first appearance of analgesia is noticed on the hands, the feet, the vertex, the auricles of the ears. Then, from these areas the propagation of analgesia extends towards the trunk where analgesia zones are to meet. A generalized analgesia may be obtained on the whole body with non specific, even arbitary acupuncture sites. It is incomplete, not so efficient as analgesia with novocaine. It involves only superficial layers of the skin, the buccal muquous membrane and that of the pharynx, the cornea, the teeth... Deep layers of tissues, muscles, nerves, deep viscera... are not affected by analgesia. Sixty four operations of all kinds have been performed with the view to test acupuncture analgesia. Progressive and late appearance of analgesia seems to favour the hypothesis of a humoral way in the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.


[Primary intestinal localisation of Hodgkin's disease. One case initially diagnosed as a benign eosinophilic granuloma of the small intestine (author's transl)]. Intestinal lesions in Hodgkin's disease remain relatively rare. Even rarer are forms in which intestinal lesions or mesenteric nodes remain the only manifestations of the disease for a number of years. In these cases, histological findings are usually less typical than in more usual sites and this explains the diagnostic hesitancy which sometimes occurs. In the case reported here, the diagnosis made and adhered to for four years and despite three successive operations was that of an eosinophilic granuloma of the small intestine.


[Ischaemic stenosis of the ureter during Henoch-Shoenlein purpura (author's transl)]. Involvement of the ureters (rigid and segmented) and bladder was seen in a 6-year-old child whose clinical lesions were typical of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. Infrapelvic left uretic stenosis developed secondarily whilst the other lesions disappeared. Histological study and in particular cutaneous and renal immunofluorescence made it possible to eliminate the possible diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa, and to confirm that of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. An ischaemic vasculitis was the cause of the ureteric and bladder lesions, and of the progression to stenosis. The existence of this possibility should lead to routine examination to detect such lesions. Sequential radiological studies are necessary whenever such lesions are recognised.


[Arthroplasty of the hip by cemented coupled cups. A new technique (author's transl)]. A presentation of a technique of arthroplasty using cemented coupled cups which has been used in 50 cas over a period of more than a year. The hip is approached via an anterolateral incision with the patient in a dorsal horizontal position. This cemented cup arthroplasty has all the advantages of a classical total prosthesis: solid fixation, minimal rubbing by the use of a metal head and an acetabulum in high density polyethylene. However, it has none of the disadvantages since little cement is used, the medullary cavity is not opened and, above all, the neck of the femur is preserved, thereby rendering possible any later operation which may be necessary. The technique is described in detail and the indications rapidly reviewed.


[Insulin secretion in alcoholic hepatopathy: analysis by measurement of C-peptide (author's transl)]. Basal and reactive peripheral hyperinsulinism recorded in alcoholic hepatic disease may result from decreased hepatic breakdown or pancreatic hypersecretion. C-peptide (CPR) and insulin (IRI) concentrations were measured in 3 groups of 8 alcoholic patients--steatosis, compensated and decompensated cirrhosis--and compared with 8 normal subjects in order to determine the importance of these two possibilities. At basal state, the molar ratio CPR/IRI was near the normal (8.7 +/- 0.9) but is diminished in the 8 hyperinsulinaemic patients (5.9 +/- 0.6). After i.v. glucose tolerance test and tolbutamide stimulations, an hyperreactivity of IRI and CPR may be noted in cirrhotics. A relative insensitivity of the B-cell to glucose appeared after comparison with the effect of tolbutamide. Thus basal hyperinsulinism resulted of decreased hepatic breakdown and stimulated hyperinsulinism resulted of hypersecretion. Glucose intolerance and anomalies of the insulin secretion were more apparent with severe hepatic disease.


[Surgically treated supratentorial gliomas in the adult. Favourable action of a podophyllin derivative (VM 26) administered alone (author's transl)]. The action of VM 26 on cerebral glioblastomas was suggested by studies of phase II or protocols in which the drug was used in association. The randomised protocol presented here, involving 10 treated subjects and 11 controls, showed that VM 26 was active in terms of the duration of survival of patients undergoing surgery for a glioblastoma. The mean survival was 16.4 months as against 9.6 months in the controls (statistically significant difference at p less than 0.05). This activity would tend to characterise the drug as one of the essential factors in the chemotherapy of all malignant gliomas, in particular since it is itself free of all haematological complications, even at high doses, and causes scarcely any allergic problems.


[The intracerebral distribution of bismuth in bismuth encephalopathy. Pathological and toxicological study of 3 cases (author's transl)]. Neuropathological study of 3 patients dying from bismuth encephalopathy showed the absence of specific lesions and the probably secondary nature of the abnormalities found. Multiple samples taken from various areas of the brain were used for the purpose of the analysis of the topographical distribution of bismuth. Levels were invariably very high and to toxic agent diffusely distributed. The concentration was nevertheless higher in the grey matter than in the white matter. They hypothesis of a liposoluble compound which would explain the affinity of bismuth for cerebral tissue is probable.


[Degenerative diabetic complications. Is persistent hyperglycemia more dangerous than wide glycemic fluctuations? (author's transl)]. Consistant data drawn from animal experiments and from clinical statistics have shown the diabetic specific complications (neuropathy and microangiopathy) to be closely related to the hyperglycemic component of diabetes mellitus. Working directly or through more complicated biochemical disorders, high levels of blood glucose interfer with the metabolism of the lens, the retina and the peripheral axon (leading to cataracts, retinopahy, and neuropathy). High blood sugar also alters the metabolism of endothelial and blood cells as well as the composition of plasma proteins. Wall and content of the minute vessels are both affected resulting in disturbed local blood flows and hypoxic areas. Various intertricated mechanisms have been discovered. Some of them initiate vicious circles leading to self-supported functional and later on, morphological abnormalities of diabetic microangiopathy (retinopathy, glomerulosclerosis, etc., etc.). High blood sugar exerts its influence (directly or not) in terms of duration and intensity (hours per day, days per year). There are good reasons to believe that persistent hyperglycemia uninterrupted throughout the day is much more harmful than high peaks alternating with periods of normo- and even hypoglycemia. There is no experimental nor clinical data pointing to glycemic instability as a risk factor for the minute vessels and the nerves, and opinion still often hold in some quarters. Although undesirable, frequent bouts of hypoglycemia associated with insulin treatment are indices that a rather good glycemic control has been achieved. And this can greatly delay the development of specific complications.


[Tuberculosis of the oesophagus (author's transl)]. Two cases of tuberculosis of the oesophagus serve as an opportunity to review the clinical and radiological features of this rare condition. Generally situated at the junction of the upper and middle third of the oesophagus, the lesion is found opposite the invaded inter-tracheobronchial mediastinal nodes which may give rise to a fistula. Confirmed by oesophagoscopy, direct bacteriological examination, oesophageal tuberculosis is usually cured without sequelae by antituberculous therapy.


[Ascending bipolar nailing using elastic nails in the treatment of fractures of the upper end of the humerus (author's transl)]. In the treatment of non-impacted fractures of the upper end of the humerus, the tendency of many surgeons is to use nailing with the fracture site closed, from the supra-olecranon fossa. This would seem to merit certain criticisms. Following reduction of the fracture, we use Ender elastic nails and two modified nails of a smaller calibre, one inserted via the epicondyle and the other via the epitrochlea. The technique of this ascending bipolar nailing using elastic nails is carried out in a horizontal supine position, which facilitates manoeuvres of reduction and facilitates anaesthesia. Apart from non-impacted fractures of the upper end of the humerus, other indications exist.


Minimal transit times.

Minimal transit times. Minimal cardiac transit times are an expression of the maximal velocity of cardiac blood flow. They are related to the mean velocity, and therefore to the ejection fraction. The transit times are easily measured with the help of short-lived radionuclides and with a fast gamma camera. Sensitivity, reproducibility and clinical usefulness of minimal cardiac transit times were proven in more than 4,000 measurements in patients with ischemic heart disease, with myocardial insufficiency with and without digitalis therapy, in patients with valvular disease after surgical insertions of multiple valvula protheses, and in patients with hypothyroidism. Because of the high sensitivity of the method, minor alterations of cardiac function may be detected which are otherwise clinically not easily obtainable.


[Radiocardiographic procedures during the first passage of an intravascular tracer in diagnostic context with echo- and angiocardiography (author's transl)]. In 107 patients having coronary artery disease in their majority, left ventricular ejection fraction and minimal cardiac transit times (MTT) were determined by precordial registration during the first passage of the radioactive tracer. 87 patients underwent echocardiographic examination. Data were compared with ventriculography and coronarography: left ventricular ejection fraction, if radiographically evaluated, shows a low sensitivity in indicating myocardial disorder. MTTs are reduced in more than 80% of patients with CAD at rest. With a few exceptions, all patients with disorders in the ventriculogram show reduced MTT values. MTTs, however, do not react specifically for myocardial performance. They also indicate disorders of central hemodynamics caused by vitia cordis. In these cases myocardial function can not be evaluated. Echocardiography can only be applied in about 85% of patients. It possesses a high sensitivity in discrimination of lower degree failures. Results are misleading in old infarctions with dyskinesia. It is concluded that best diagnostic information concerning global myocardial function results if direct hemodynamic parameters as MTT are combined with echocardiography.


[Nuclear medical estimation of ejection fraction, cardiac output and time volume-differentials (author's transl)]. Gated blood pool investigation yield the ejection fraction as ratio of two volumes. To obtain absolut volumina (e.g. output volume in ml) the authors utilize the first transit of the tracer through the heart cava. Radionuclide output of the heart equals input during the first tracer passage, homogeneous infusion of the tracer provided. The resulting calibration factor makes possible the calculation of the stroke volume in the gated bloodpool procedure. Good correlation could be proven in 35 patients (r = 0.86 and 0.9, respectively).


Estimation of cardiac function by means of radiocardiographic function analysis. The radiocardiographic function analysis represents a relatively simple procedure for the clinician to collect information concerning the changes of cardiac dynamics. The advantage of this method is to register non-invasively changes in cardiac dynamics at rest and during exercise such as those of enddiastolic volume, stroke volume, endsystolic volume, ejection time and filling time, and to permit the calculation of mean ejection velocity, etc. After insertion of a cardiac catheter, it is possible to record the corresponding pressure pulse in the right ventricle or in the pulmonary vessels simultaneously.


[Radionuclide ventriculography. I. Fundamentals and methods (author's transl)]. Using local time activity curves parameters are calculated which depend on the local wall motion of the heart cavities. These functional parameters allow the determination of the contours of the heart cavities and the assessment of segmental wall motion disorders. The left ventricular ejection fraction has been calculated by enddiastolic and endsystolic counts using a method which takes into account background inhomogeneity.


[Radionuclide ventriculography. II. Clinical results--parameters of global ventricular function (author's transl)]. The ejection fraction as determined by gated blood pool studies was compared with the ejection fraction as evaluated by the following conventional methods: 1) biplane cineangiography employing the Simpson rule. Correlation was r = 0.805 (n = 25); 2) the same patients using the area-length method (r = 0.88, n = 25); 3) monoplane cineangiography using the method of Greene et al. (5) (r = 0.86, n = 35). In 20 patients the maximal contraction velocity as evaluated by radionuclide ventriculography was compared with the mean systolic ejection rate. The observed correlation was weak (r = 0.62, n = 20); however, it should be noted that the radionuclide method determines the maximum contraction velocity whereas cinceangiography measures an average value over the whole systole.


[Radionuclide ventriculography. III. Clinical results--parameters of regional wall motility (author's transl)]. Radionuclide ventriculography and cineangiography were performed in 62 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Regional wall motility irregularities could be demonstrated in 97% of those patients who revealed an irregularity in the cineangiogram. Two small scars of the posterior myocardial wall escaped detection. The sensitivity of the radionuclide ventriculography was 97%, the specificity was 80%, 4 patients with normal cineangiography showed small irregularities in the radionuclide ventriculogram. 70 patients with infarction revealed wall motility irregularities in 90%, whereas perfusion defects could be detected by thallium scintigraphy in 66% (young and old infarctions).


Assessment of regional wall motion in coronary artery disease using radionuclide methods. 72 patients with CAD, 10 patients with congestive cardiomyopathies and 10 normal subjects were evaluated by radionuclide angiography. Comparison with contrast angiography showed good results for LVEF (r = 0.83). Regional asynergies observed in the radionuclide angiography correlated well with defects in thallium scintigrams. Extent of abnormal wall motion was measured and compared with normals, appreciating the deviation from the normal mean radial shortening. Good correlation could be demonstrated with radionuclide ventriculography. In 80% of congestive cardiomyopathies the right ventricle wall became visible in the thallium scintigram.


[Evaluation by means of ECG-gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy of global and regional left ventricular function at rest and during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease (author's transl)]. ECG-gated cardiac blood pool scintigraphy permits a non-invasive determination of the end-diastolic and end-systolic ventricular volumes and of the ejection fraction as well as a qualitative description of regional ventricular wall motion at rest and during excercise. In 6 healthy persons a significant increase of the ejection fraction from 66 +/- 7% at rest to 78 +/- 3% during exercise (p less than 0.01) was observed. In contrast, the ejection fraction decreased in 15 out of 18 patients with coronary artery disease, with a significant (p less than 0.01) difference between patients with and without angina pectoris. Thus, the ejection fraction fell in 12 patients without angina during excercise from 60 +/- 11% to 52 +/- 11% (p less than 0.05) whereas in 6 patients with angina a decrease from 61 +/- 7% to 30 +/- 8% (p less than 0.01) was observed. This non-invasive technique makes it possible to demonstrate in a simple and safe manner changes of cardiac function during excercise in patients with coronary artery disease.


Radionuclide cineangiography during stress. A "real-time" ECG-gated scintigraphic image system was developed at NIH, Bethesda. This system presents in real-time manner 1) an image sequence, that spans a complete heart cycle, 2) a regional time activity curve, in which later distolic phenomena are correctly portrayed, and 3) a beat length distribution function. This system is suitable especially for stress investigations. Normal subjects showed an increase of ejection fraction, whereas patients with CAD revealed a decrease of EF.


Stereological study of the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex in stress situations (hypothermia, catabolism). The ultrastructure of the rat fasciculata cells in stress situations, such as catabolism and hypothermia was compared descriptively and quantitatively by stereological methods with that of the nonstimulated rat fasciculata cell. The volume and surface densities are expressed per cm3 of cytoplasm, mitochondria and smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Furthermore, absolute values are given. In both stress situations the volume density of the mitochondria compared to the controls is enlarged significantly (H: 37% CA: 50%). The significant increase of the average single mitochondrium of the fasciculata cell (H: 58% CA: 58%) shows a real growth of the mitochondria in these stress situations. Also the surface density of the mitochondrial inner membranes--the mitochondrial enzymes for steroid genesis are partly located in these membranes--shows a significant increase (H: 31%, CA: 84%). Whereas the volume density of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum remains unchanged, the surface density is significantly raised (H: 44%, CA: 60%). An attempt was made to draw up a relationship between stereological and known biochemical data of steroid genesis within the fasciculata cell. An activation in both stress situations could be observed. The stereological data reflect a subcellular reaction pattern, which is similar to exogenous ACTH administration, thus indicating an endogenous ACTH liberation due to these stress conditions.


A solitary cardiac metastasis involving the tricuspid valve ring. An unique case of solitary metastasis to the region of the tricuspid valve is described. The mechanisms of formation and symptomatology of cardiac neoplasms are discussed. Tumour spread in this case was probably embolic.


Clustering of mitoses in human cervical carcinoma. Mitotic nests have been noted both in tissue culture (Cone, 1968) and in human skin (Rowe and Dixon, 1975). The present paper is concerned with the disposition of mitoses in human tumor tissue. Mitotic indices, cell counts, and mitotic clusters were recorded in 20 carcinomas of the cervix uteri. The significance of the results was verified statistically. In 18 of 20 biopsies, the clustering of mitoses was in excess of chance at the 95% confidence level. Assuming a chance distribution, one would expect only one case (5% of 20 cases) to show significant clustering of mitoses. The incidence of cases which show mitotic clustering is higher in cervical carcinoma than in normal skin and uninvolved skin of psoriatic patients. The clustering phenomenon might be due to an initiating factor derived from a mitotic cell which propagates to other cells and activates them, or to a local deficiency in inhibitor factors which reversibly inhibit mitoses under normal conditions.


Electron microscopic examination of the mucosa of the small intestine in infection due to giardia lamblia. A rare form of Giardia lamblia infection presenting the clinical picture of nutritive allergy is described. Diagnosis was made by electron microscopic examination of biopsy material from the small intestine. The ultrastructural characteristics of Giardia lamblia as well as the relation of the parasite to the epithelial cells are discussed. It is concluded that the clinical signs are related to the mechanical destruction of the microvilli of the epithelial cells and the superficial mucoid layer (fuzzy coat).


Reversible morphological changes of rectal mucosa in vitamin B12 deficiency. The histomorphology of the rectal mucosa in a case with pernicious anemia was studied before and after treatment with vitamin B12. In the vitamin-deficient state the mucosa exhibits a decrease in the number of mitoses and an increase in the nuclear diameter and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio. These changes return to normal after vitamin administration. The reversible morphological alterations may serve as an example for the importance of vitamin B12 in maintaining the structure and possible the function of the rectal mucosa.


[Familial hemophagocytic reticulosis (Farquhar) (author's transl)]. An account is given of six cases of familial hemophagocytic reticulosis (familial lymphohistiocytosis). After a period of illness varying from 2 weeks to 7.5 months the infants studied died with pancytopenia, fever and hepatosplenomegaly. Histologic examination revealed three characteristic features: Lymphocyte infiltration of the organs, reduction of the lymphatic and hematopoetic system, histiocytosis with erythrophagocytosis. The etiology of this disease remains obscure. Congenital allogeneity may be a possibility, but further immunologic investigations would be necessary to support this hypothesis.


Malignant melanoma of the gallbladder.

Malignant melanoma of the gallbladder. A rare case of primary malignant melanoma of the gallbladder was studied with the electron microscope. Two interesting patterns were observed: numerous melanophages were present in the tumor tissue and wrapped compound melanosomes were found in nonneoplastic mucosal epithelium. The infiltration of melanophages was considered to be a reaction to degenerated tumor cells. Concerning the mechanism of melanosome transport into the epithelial cells, a cooperative action between epithelial and melanoma cells seemed to be the most important factor.


Herbal medicines and veno-occlusive disease in India. Six cases are described of veno-occlusive disease (VOD) after medicinal herb ingestion. The herb Heliotropium eichwaldii, taken by three patients, was found to contain the toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloid, heliotrine. Two patients presented with fulminant hepatic failure while the other four patients had a clinical picture suggestive of decompensated cirrhosis. The medical use of this herb may possibly be responsible for a significant proportion of acute and chronic liver disease in India, making it of public health importance.


Sarcoidosis with renal involvement.

Sarcoidosis with renal involvement. Nine of ninety patients with sarcoidosis were found to have significant renal impairment. Epithelioid granulomata were present in five of eight patients who had renal biopsies and glomerular lesions were present in six. There was close correlation between hypercalcaemia, hyperuricaemia, nephrocalcinosis and creatinine clearance. In one patient, renal sarcoidosis complicated membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis and one patient died in end-stage renal disease.


Dermatomyositis: observations on the use of immunosuppressive therapy and review of literature. Cairo--Glasgow study group. Seven young adults, six of whom were male, all suffering from dermatomyositis unassociated with malignancy are described. These patients were not adequately controlled with high doses of corticosteroids but all responded when immunosuppressive therapy was also given.


Total exchangeable potassium in response to amiloride. The use of amiloride is described in twenty-four hypertensive patients who became hypokalaemic as a result of thiazide diuretic therapy in spite of oral potassium supplments. Amiloride caused a significant rise in exchangeable potassium, exchangeable potassium/kg body weight, and plasma potassium, together with a significant fall in plasma total carbon dioxide, body weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. These results suggest that amiloride has a useful role in this type of patient.


Achalasia of the cardia in elderly patients. Achalasia of the cardia frequently presents as dysphagia in middle age. In the elderly, dysphagia is usually due to a neoplasm of the oesophagus or cardia. The authors have been interested to see five patients over the age of 70 presenting with oesophageal symptoms due to achalasia which is uncommon in this age group and may be mistaken for neoplastic disease.


The management of childhood osteomyelitis. The management of seventy-six children admitted to Aler Hey Children's Hospital with osteomyelitis is discussed and the indications for surgical intervention are defined. The clinical and pathological course of the disease is examined and the term post-acute osteomyelitis is introduced. The importance of recognition of this stage of the disease and its relevance to the management is highlighted. The use of single antibiotic therapy (clindamycin) is shown to be at least as effective as combinational therapy. Complete resolution was achieved in 94.7% of children, surgical intervention was performed on 74.6%.


Avascular necrosis of the femoral head in patients receiving intermittent cytotoxic and corticosteroid therapy for Hodgkin's disease. Two patients with stage IIIB Hodgkin's disease are reported, in whom treatment with cytotoxic and corticosteroid therapy was followed by avascular necrosis of the femoral head.


Presentation of primary hyperparathyroidism to a general medical unit. Four patients with hyperparathyroidism who presented in atypical or uncommon ways to a general medical unit are described. The unusual features are discussed and the value of modern procedures for localization of a parathyroid tumour is confirmed.


Amoebic hepatic abscess--potential causes of delay in diagnosis. Delay in diagnosis can be serious in amoebic hepatic abscess, which is readily treatable. Two cases are presented to illustrate potential causes of delay. The first case had never been to an endemic area, apparently contracting the infection from his wife. The second case had negative serological tests.


Spontaneous mid-oesophageal rupture.

Spontaneous mid-oesophageal rupture. The clinical presentation and management of spontaneous rupture of the middle third of the oesophagus is described in two patients. Early presentation and treatment in one case led to uncomplicated recovery. In the other patient late presentation and diagnosis resulted in delayed surgical intervention with an unsuccessful outcome. The nature of this rare lesion is discussed and nine previously described cases are reviewed.


Avoidance reaction of painful stimulation of another rat: effect of methylglucamine orotate. An avoidance reaction to painful stimulation of another animal was developed in rats. Two hundred twenty-five mg/kg methylglucamine orotate was injected intraperitoneally each day, 1 hr before the training session. The orotate treated rats showed an accelerated development of the avoidance reaction during 5 days of training. Depending on the experimental conditions, extinction of the reaction was delayed in orotate treated rats, compared to saline controls. The results from these experiments, using neither footshock punishment nor food reward as reinforcement, give further evidence for the improvement of long term memory by orotic acid.


Chronic methadone administration to male rats: tolerance to adverse effects on sires and their progeny. Previous studies have shown that acute administration of methadone to male rats prior to mating results in adverse effects on their progeny, particularly decreased birth weights and increased neonatal mortality. Rather than chronic administration accentuating these effects, results of the present study indicate that tolerance developed so that no adverse effects were found in offspring sired after 21--32 days of methadone administration. In the sire, maintenance of normal weights of accessory sex glands after 4 months of daily methadone suggests that tolerance developed to the CNS effect(s) responsible for the depressed serum LH and testosterone levels found after acute administration of narcotics. In contrast, tolerance did not develop to the inhibition of weight gain produced by methadone administration. No evidence for a dominant lethal effect could be found after chronic methadone administration, in contrast to suggestive evidence for this effect found in previous experiments after acute methadone administration.


Adrenergic control of motor activity: effects of PNMT inhibition upon open field behavior in the rat. Two inhibitors of brain PNMT were given to rats in doses which caused equivalent reductions in enzyme activity. Each drug produced similar and dose-related decreases in ambulation, rearing and defecation during open field behavioral testing. Central adrenergic (epinephrine containing) system may be necessary for normal open field behavior. This may reflect an interaction with other monoamines, particularly dopamine.


Scopolamine interacts with reactions to cat and genotypic emotional reactivity in rat. In the presence or absence of a cat the effects of scopolamine hydrobromide were investigated on approach, freezing and defecation behaviors of the bidirectionally selectively bred rat strains for emotional reactivity. Compared to the baseline behavior (absence of cat and scopolamine), both the genetic lines showed decrease in approach and increase in freezing in the presence of cat. Scopolamine in the absence of cat did not affect any of the behaviors of the nonreactive strain but increased approach and decreased freezing in the reactive strain. The presence of both cat and scopolamine affected both the strains but differently, i.e., showing no significantly change in the nonreactive, but increase in freezing and decrease in approach in the reactive strain, as compared to the respective baselines.


Selective attention dysfunctions in adult rats neonatally treated with 6-hydoxydopamine. Adult rats treated intracisternally with 6-hydroxydopamine during the perinatal period were trained on a black-white discrimination. Alterations in cue shape and cue location failed to selectively distinguish differences in response patterns for the treated animals. However, when irrelevant stimuli were added to the discriminative array, the 6-hydroxydopamine group evidenced marked impairment of performance throughout the period of distraction.


Effect of vasopressin-like peptides on consumption of ethanol by the rat. Rats were trained to accept ethanol in their drinking water, by successive small increments or decrements in alcohol concentration in response to the individual consumption of each rat. Those injected with desglycinamide9-lysine8-vasopressin (DGLVP), 1--4 microgram SC every second day, attained almost twice as high a final acceptance concentration (FAC) and mean daily ethanol intake (g/kg) as vehicle-treated controls. Hypophysectomized animals initially accepted the same alcohol concentrations as intact rats, but drank much larger volumes and correspondingly higher daily g/kg intakes. However, this was rapidly succeeded by rejection of all but very low concentrations, which was unaffected by DGLVP. During a subsequent free-choice period (water vs. ethanol at individual FACs), the groups maintained their relative positions with respect to ethanol intake. This was not altered by injection of vasopressin in the hypophysectomized rats, but was overcome by raising the alcohol concentration. The results suggest that vasopressin-like peptides facilitate acquisition of alcohol drinking behavior.


Effects of opiates on the discriminative stimulus properties of dopamine agonists. Two groups of rats were trained to discriminate the dopamine agonists amphetamine (0.75 mg/kg) or apomorphine (0.38 mg/kg) from saline in a two-lever operant task. Various doses of morphine and pentazocine were tested for generalization to and interference with the discriminative stimulus complexes produced by the dopamine agonists. Low doses of morphine appeared to produce a stimulus complex which is similar to that produced by apomorphine, but which differs from the produced by amphetamine. Pentazocine showed no evidence of generalization to either the apomorphine or the amphetamine cue. Neither opiate interfered with discriminative stimuli produced by the dopamine agonists, although decreases in the number of animals responding occurred.


Effect of taurine on some pharmacological properties of ethanol. Taurine was effective in reducing the hypnotic effect of ethanol but did not antagonize the effect of ethanol on seizure susceptibility, body temperature, or brain 5-HIAA concentration.


d-Amphetamine and fixed-interval performance: effects of establishing the drug as a discriminative stimulus. The effects of d-amphetamine were examined as a function of conditioning history. The compound (0.5 mg/kg) (1) increased the response rate of rats under a fixed-interval 60-sec schedule, (2) produced greater increases in responding under the fixed-interval schedule when drug administration had been explicitly paired with a fixed-ratio 20 schedule, and (3) decreased responding under the fixed-interval schedule when the drug had been paired with electric shock punishment. Randomly giving amphetamine before fixed-ratio or punishment sessions did not produce such modifications of drug effects under the fixed-interval schedule. These results, like earlier findings, indicate that drug effects can be modified by conditioning history.


Somatic, behavioral, and reproductive disturbances in mice following neonatal administration of sodium L-aspartate. Sodium L-aspartate (ASP) was administered to neonatal mice according to an increasing dose schedule from Days 2--11 after birth. Adult ASP-treated animals showed large increases in body weight over controls along with stunted body length. The ASP group also showed decreases in locomotor and exploratory behavior. Reproductive dysfunction occurred in both female and male ASP-treated animals. Among treated animals, females had fewer pregnancies and smaller litters while males showed reduced fertility. Evidence of multiple endocrine dysfunction in ASP-treated animals was reflected by decreased pituitary, thyroid, ovaries and tested weights, along with delayed onset of puberty in females. These results demonstrate that sodium L-aspartate produces a syndrome similar to that seen following the administration of monosodium L-glutamate.


Effects of p-chloroamphetamine and 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine on the sexual behavior of gonadectomized male and female rats. Treatment with the 5-HT neurotoxins p-chloroamphetamine (PCA, 2 X 10 mg/kg) or 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT, 2 X 6 microgram intracerebrally) stimulated the display of all aspects of sexual behavior, including ejaculations, by castrated male rats in the absence of testosterone (T) treatment and increased the behavioral sensitivity to a low level of T stimulation. The reduction of the (3H) 5-HT uptake after PCA treatment was more pronounced in the cortex than in the hypothalamus. 5,7-DHT treatment reduced the (3H) 5-HT uptake in the septum, hippocampus, amygdala, hypothalamus and cortex but the behavioral effects produced by the 5,7-DHT treatment could not be correlated to the biochemical effects in any of these brain areas. Since the behavioral effect of PCA appears to be stronger than that of 5,7-DHT, the 5-HT neurotoxins may exert their effect on sexual behavior in forebrain structures rather than in the hypothalamus. PCA treatment had a very small effect on mounting behavior but 5,7-DHT treatment stimulated the display of mounts and intromission patterns by ovariectomized female rats given no hormone treatment. Neither PCA nor 5,7-DHT had any effect on lordosis behavior tested before and after treatment with estradiol benzoate alone or in combination with progesterone. The observations support the conclusion that 5-HT is involved in the control by T of sexual behavior in male rats, but argue against a role of 5-HT in the neural control of lordosis behavior.


Attenuation of angiotensin-induced water intake in estrogen-treated rats. Chronic treatment with either estradiol benzoate (31 and 57 microgram/kg/day) or ethynyl estradiol (30 and 72 microgram/kg/day) attenuated the drinking responses of female rats to acute administration of either isoproterenol (25 microgram/kg, SC) or synthetic angiotensin II (100 and 200 microgram/kg, IP). While these studies do not rule out the possibility that attenuation of isoproterenol-induced drink in estrogen-treated rats may be associated with a defect in renin release, attention is also apparently associated with a reduced responsiveness to angiotensin II. This may be related to reduced permeability of angiotensin II at the level of the circumventricular organs of the brain; to hyporesponsiveness of receptors for angiotensin II mediating thirst in the central nervous system, or to mechanism beyond the receptor that are responsible for the conscious behavioral changes which normally accompany angiotensin II-induced thirst.