[Phytotoxic activity of asymmetric N,N-dialkylnaphthamides]. Asymmetric N,N-dialkylnaphthamides, prepared and tested in pre- and post-emergence tests against some representative weeds, showed good or excellent phytotoxicity often with selectivity of action against Echinochloa and Setaria. These amides are characterized by the presence on the amide nitrogen of a sec.butyl or a 1-methylbutyl or a 1-ethylpropyl group together with another alkyl substituent of varying weight and nature. As reference compounds we prepared and tested N,N-dialkyl-alpha-naphthamides, isomers of the compounds under test, bearing on the N atom an alkyl group of avrying composition and a ter.butyl in place of sec. butil or a 1-ethylprophyl or other alpha-branched alkyl in place of the 1-methylbutyl. The results show the importance of alpha-substitution on at least one of the alkyl groups on the amide N as regards the degree of phytotoxicity. Some of the alpha-naphthamides giving interesting results with the weed species tested were further studied using plants of agricultural interest.


[Effect of 2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolyl)-1-methylethylamine on histamine receptors]. Compound 2-(5-methyl-4-imidazolyl)-1-methylethylamine was tested on different preparations for its histamine-like activity. It was found to markedly affect H2 receptors and at the same time to be practically devoid of any activity on H1 receptors. This high selectivity of action indicates that this compound may represent a useful tool for characterizing the distribution of H2 and H1 receptor sites.


[N,N-Di-(1-ethylpropyl)amides of benzoic and naphthoic acids having phytotoxic activity]. N,N-di-(1-ethylpropyl)amides of benzoic and naphthoic acids suitable substituted in the nucleus were prepared and tested for selective phytotoxic activity in both pre- and post-emergence tests against some weed species. All the amides tested showed good generic phytotoxicity, often with good selectivity, on absorbance through the roots of graminaceous weeds. The nature and degree of phytotoxic activity was influenced by the nature, position and number of substituents on the aromatic nucleus. Confirmation was again obtained of the importance of alpha-substitution in the two alkyl substituents on the amide nitrogen in producing selective phytotoxic activity.


[Heteropolycyclic systems. VI. 4-Propyl-2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo(2,1c)(1,2,4)benzothiadiazine-5,5-dioxide and its derivatives. Cardiovascular effects of 4-alkyltetrahydropyrrolobenzothiadiazine in the anesthetized rat]. A series of 4-propylderivatives of 2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c] [1,2,4]benzothiadizine-5,5-dioxide substituted or unsubstituted in the benzene ring was synthesized. Derivatives of these compounds together with those of the corresponding 4-methyl and 4-ethyl derivatives prepared previously were tested for cardiovascular effects in the anesthesized rat. All the compounds studied showed hypotensive activity which was particularly intense for compounds (X), (XIX), (XXII), (XXV), and produced an increase in differential pressure marked for (XXV) and (XXVIII) which was often accompanied by pronounced bradycardia (XVII), (XVIII) and (XIX). The results prove that derivatives of 2,3,3a,4-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo-[2,1-c][1,2,4]benzothiadiazine-5,5-dioxide have hypotensive and bradycardizing activity. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.


[Analysis of the mechanism of perception of temperature stimuli by the ampullae of Lorenzini of Black Sea skates]. The single nerve fibre responses of the Lorenzini ampulla to thermal stimulation were studied in the Black Sea skates, Trygon pastinaca, and Raja clavata. Cooling of sea water applied to the ampulla capsule or to the skin overlying the sensory organ increased firing rate wheras warming led to transient decrease in frequency. The thermal sensitivity or receptors was found to depend on threshold to electric current. Static discharge rate of the receptors has positive or negative temperature coefficient according to the temperature range. Cooling of sea water increased the latency of response to electric stimuli.  Biological significance of the thermal sensitivity of the Lorenzini ampulla is discussed.


[Reverse postoptokinetic nystagmus in response to nonspecific stimulation in rabbits]. The experiments in rabbits showed that reverse postoptokinetic nystagmi (RPN) could be induced by comparatively weak but continuous optokinetic stimulation. RPN is considered to be a result of the formation of dominant stimulation in optic centies, which can be strengthened and maintained by new--coming stimulation (auditory and tactile included). The data obtained seem to account for the peculiarities of the optic system affected by other modal influences in post--stimulus period.


[Mechanism of development of reverse postoptokinetic nystagmus]. Characteristics of optokinetic (OKN), postoptokinetic (POKN), reverse postoptokinetic (RPN), and central (CN) nystagmi in respect to duration of stimulation were studied in rabbits. On increase of duration of the OK-stimulation, the POKN duration and the period of transition from POKN to RPN reduce while the duration and frequency of RPN augment. On continuous 60-min OK-stimulation the frequency of OKN gradually decreases starting from the 15th minute. A hypothesis of occurrence of RPN as a result of development of antagonistic excitation in the c. n. s. during OK-stimulation, is discussed.


[Nature of the impulse activity in the anterior portions of the fish olfactory bulb]. The impulse activity of anterior portions of the fish olfactory bulb depends on coming of signals from the receptors as shown by the fact that action of novokain on the receptors entirely suppressed the activity. A direct application of CoCl2 solution (1--1.5 mM) had no effect on either spontaneous or evoked by adequate stimulation impulse activity in these areas which indicates its presynaptic, i.e. the receptor nature. The surface structures of the bulb anterior portions did not respond to electric stimulation of the olfactory tract while the electric stimulation of these structures evoked a response in the olfactory nerve which corresponds to the conclusion of the receptor nature of the impulse activity in fibers on the surface of the bulb anterior portions.


[On--off impulse activity of carp retina amacrine cells]. Properties of spontaneous and light-evoked spikes of the "on--off" amacrine cells of the carp retina were studied. It was assumed that the dendrites of amacrine cells generated spike potentials and conducted them to the cell body. The data obtained suggest that the dendrites of amacrine cells have many spike-generation zones and that the transient depolarization component of the amacrine response to light is the compound spike consisting of many separate spikes generated in different parts of the dendritic arborization of cells. Possible functional role of dendritic spikes is discussed in respect to morphological properties of the "on--off" amacrine cells of the teleost fish retina.


[Experimental study of the visual system using unidimensional Walsh gratings]. Threshold characteristics of the visual system for an orderly set of the Walsh aperiodic gratings were estimated prior to and after adaptation. Narrow--band channels of Walsh with the band width about 1 octave by the Walsh scale of function orders, were revealed. The model of summation by the power of spectral sinusoidal components of the Walsh aperiodic lattices well accounts for the data on gratings the Walsh aperiodic gratings.


[Nonspecific activation response upon exposure to unanticipated and voluntarily controlled acoustic stimuli]. Normal subjects revealed these components of startle-response to unexpected stimulation followed by no visible wincing: blink reflex, facilitation of spinal motoneurons (augmentation of the H-reflex), the EEG vertex potential, and skin galvanic response. With voluntary, control of the stimulation the components of the response are either absent or less obvious, excepting skin galvanic response. The weakening of the startle-response in this case seems to be associated with the mechanisms of the selective sensory attention and to be determined by cortico-fugal inhibition of reticular interneurons mediating in this response.


[After-discharges of cat auditory cortex neurons]. Afterdischarges in neurons of the auditory cortex (AI) were investigated in immobilized cats. The unit activity of 40% of neurons showed afterdischarges lasting 3--5 sec. after the cessation of the pure--tone or two--tone sound stimuli. Two--tone sound complexes consisted of the 1 st and higher harmonics with different phase relations between the components. The afterdischarges depended on some parameters of the sound stimuli. When tonal signal was used, 80% of neurons with obvious afterdischarges responded to the sound frequency. As regards the sensitivity to phase shifts in two--tone stimuli, changes of the activity occurred in 70% of cortical neurons with on-, off- and on--off reactions and were related to these components of the reaction. The pattern of afterdischarges in 19 of 32 neurons in the auditory cortex was also related to the phase shifts.


[Factors determining the subjective closeness of vowel-like stimuli]. Conditions for two formants combined into one spectral cue or giving rise to two spectral cues were studied by psychoacoustical methods. Critical distance between formant frequencies corresponding to perceptual separation of the formants was measured. Interdependence between the formant amplitudes and the equivalent frequency was revealed for stimuli with closely spaced formants. For stimuli with widely spaced formants formant amplitudes appeared to be unimportant for vowel quality.


[Detection of phonetically significant nonuniformity by the high frequency slope of the spectrum of a synthetic vowel]. Conditions for perception of phonetically relevant ununiformity at high frequency slope of the spectrum of synthetic noise--excited vowel were studied with the aid of psychoacoustic technique. The threshold for detection of high frequency spectral peak did not depend on the properties of the stimulus spectrum in low frequency region. The detection threshold could be influenced by spectrum properties near the peak location. The data obtained are inconsistent with the hypothesis of identification of spectral peaks with formants being the intermediate procedure in phonetic interpretation of the vowel.


[Functional model of peripheral spectral auditory analysis (linear variant)]. Peripheral auditory system model consists of several parts: the first one being representative of the middle ear and basal part of the cochlea whereas the last one involves the first neuron level of the auditory nerve. Experimental data from basilar membrane motion and auditive nerve fiber activity for sinusoidal and click stimuli were used to define the transfer function of each part. A digital stimulation of this model and an analog construction were investigated and are discussed here. The model reproduces, with a good approximation the harmonic and transient behavior of the peripheral auditory system and enables to study the transmission of acoustical information towards the higher--level centers.


[Effect of "selective adaptation" in the perception of elementary nonspeech stimuli]. The function of stimuli identification vith variable interval between the onset of stimulus and the moment of augmentation of intensity of one of the tones in a two--component complex, was studied. Repeated presentation of stimulus with clearly percepted unevenness seems to exert a fatiguing effect. The data obtained showed no effect of adaptation. The effect of "selective adaptation" consistently revealed itself in all the subjects in the experiments on perception of speech stimuli performed by means of the same technique.


[Effect of several parameters of an acoustic signal on the shape of the iso-S contour]. Masking of amplitude irregularity in the two--component stimulus produced by step--like intensity increment (2, 3 and 6 dB) of the 800 Hz component, was studied. Variable frequency component of the stimulus served as a masker. The relationship between just masking level and the frequency of the masker (iso-S contour) was measured. The shape of iso-S contour appeared to be closely related to the value of the intensity increment of the 800 Hz component and only slightly dependent on the intensity level of this component.


[Natural classification of acoustic stimuli with different amplitude jump delay times]. Natural categorization of stimuli with different delay of amplitude jump was observed. No training was necessary for discrimination of stimuli with and without onset irregularity. The variance of identification functions between subjects was the same as the variance of identification functions for one subject measured in different days.


[Dialectics of time].

[Dialectics of time]. The modern chronobiology searches not only purely cyclic processes of life but also such ones in which a non-cyclic trend is superposed by a strongly periodic course. In strong periodicity, flight of time in itself shows a cyclic structure, but in contrary sense, aperiodical, strongly damped processes have a linear structure of tern part of the 20th century's sciences, but its philosophical model representation is able to be retraced until the zervanitic speculations of the Olden Iran. Since the time of the Zervanite, some antinomies in philosophic and physical chronology are found. The present paper mentions the antinomies of PLATON, ARISTOELES, NEWTON, MILNE and the modern palebiology.


[Logistic law of growth and its implications]. The "morphological" (i.e. structural and quantitative) properties of VERHULST's "Logistic Law of Growth" in its versions as differential equations and as analytical functions will be discussed. It follows the attempts of generalizations of the logistic law of growth by parameterization or by changing its structure due to adding parameters. Such an additional parameter is the constant term paying regard to the level (in y-direction) on which the (growth) process may start. The second manner of introducing additional parameters is the substitution of the independent variable in its linear form by a polynomial of degree k. These generalizations will be called "generalized logistic (growth-) function". Its "morphology" will be discussed. Special points there are the use of this function as empirical expression for smoothing and quantitative description of courses of measured values (of growth variables), and the genesis of the function type as solution of a first order differential equation. "Philosophy of the generalized law of growth" means a detailed discussion of properties which could be interpreted as "time structure", and of the modelling relevancy of the differential equations resp. of the analytical function expressions which represent the versions of the generalized logistic law.


Studies on orthocephalization of the rat head. I. A model system for the study of adjustive cranical growth processes. Mammalian cephalogenesis is characterized by several morphological processes, among which are alteration in spatial position and angular relationships (flexions) between the several bones of both the neural and facial skulls, as well as similar alterations between neurocranium and splanchnocranium. Prior classifications of cranial flexions were reviewed and a more expansive typology given, one which provided for the analysis of cranial flexions in terms of the concepts of the method of functional cranial analysis. On the basis of available data it was suggested that the study of the totality of cranial flexures (termed orthocephalization) occurring during the growth of the rat head could serve as a useful model system by means of which it would be possible to construct and test a hypothesis concerning the processes of adjustive cranial growth which must accompany any cranial flexions.


[Facial muscles of insectivora. ii. pachyura indica and sorex araneus]. The investigation includes the area of facialis in Erinaceus europaeus, Talpa europaea, Pachyura indica and Sorex araneus. It is indicated that the topography of muscles diverges considerably from the equal conditions in Rodentia, Carnivoar and Ungulata . The dorsal length musculature thus is almost an undivided mass of muscles by the 4 species investigated as also the laterally and ventrally situated musculature at certain points diverges from the conditions within other above mentioned animal groups.


A comparative histochemical study of lipids in the trachea and lungs of squirrel, Funambulus pennanti, exposed to three chief air-pollutants. In the present investigation, a histochemical study of lipids have been made in the trachea and lungs of common ground squirrels exposed to three chief air-pollutants. Significant changes thus observed in pulmonary lipids have been correlated with altered mechanical properties of the lung and morphology. Supplementary biochemical findings made on total lipids indicate that CO ranks at the top effecting lipid contents of both trachea and lungs than are the SO2 and NO2 respectively. Physiological mechanism of damage has also been analysed.


[Morphometric analysis of the inner skull base and the brain stem on median frozen sections of the fetal head, between 14 and 40 weeks of gestational age]. 1. In median sections through frozen heads of 75 human fetuses, between 14 and 40 weeks of age, a total of 12 finite lines was determined at the inner skull-base, at the brain-stem, and in relation of the brain-stem to the inner skull-base. The fetuses were classified into 5 age groups. The data were obtained by means of variance analysis. 2. So far there has not been any information on human fetuses and measured quantities in the available literature. Comparing the mean values of the finite lines of the above mentioned five age groups explains something about the increase of growth. 3. In evaluating the results obtained and comparing the qualitative data reported in the literature, the importance of the different development of medullary functional units on the one hand and the topographic changes in the sense of additive processes on the other hand is emphasized. 4. The comparatively larger increase in the standard deviations between the 29th and the 40th week of fetal age suggests the tendency towards a plateau that may be due to the full development of microstructural systems in the fields examined.


Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in the interrenal gland and the ovary of stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis (Linn.): a histochemical study. The distribution of delta5 3beta-hydroxüsteroid dehydrogenase (delta5 3beta-HSDH), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSDH), Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) and NADH-diaphorase enzymes has been histochemically studied in the interrenal gland and the ovary of the stork-billed kingfisher, Pelargopsis capensis (Linn.). In the interrenal gland, the activity for all the enzymes studied, occurred in the interrenal cells. All these enzyme activities occurred in the theca interna of normal growing follicles, atretic follicles and interstitial gland cells of the ovary. A weak activity for all the enzymes occurred in the hypertrophied granulosa cells of the atretic follicles. The significance of these findings is discussed.


Neurohistological observations on lung of female Perdicula asiatica (jungle bush quail) as revealed by cholinesterase technique. Myelinated and non-myelinated nerve fibres follow the bronchi which share in the formation of the pericartilaginous plexus, posteriorly. Meso- and parabronchi were richely innervated by a large number of non-myelinated nerve fibres. Rounded ganglia (large and small) were observed near the wall of the bronchi and parabronchi. Large ganglia with numerous nerve cells were observed in the parenchymal tissue. Occasionally ganglia were seen in between parabronchial space and in the connective tissue space. Muscle were also richly innervated by non-myelinated nerve fibres and were marked in close associationship with the pre- and postganglionic nerve fibres of the perimuscular ganglia. The neural networks, formed by fine branches of non-myelinated nerve fibres, were either connected with the vascular (arterial) plexuses, neural terminal network, fibres of the pericartilaginous plexus or meso- and parabronchial plexus.


Site specificity and variability in the mutator and antimutator effects of phage T4 gene 43 mutants. Spontaneous, 2-aminopurine- and 5-bromouracil-induced mutations at six rII nonsense codons were studied in phage T4 strains possessing wild-type and mutant gene 43 alleles. The mutation pathways studied included interconversions and reversions of nonsense codons. The tsCB87 allele, which specifies an antimutator DNA polymerase, reduced base-analogue-induced mutation frequencies along all pathways. However, GC base pairs were less affected than AT base pairs. The frequency of spontaneous UAA leads to UAG conversions was also reduced by tsCB87, but that of spontaneous UAA leads to UAG UGA conversions was often increased. Mutation in the presence of the mutator allele tsL56 was increased along all pathways, with no preference for either AT or GC base pairs. Mutation frequencies in the presence of the two mutant DNA polymerases were highly variable. A strong correlation was found between 2-aminopurine-induced mutation frequencies in ts+ tsCB87 phage along the reversion and UAA changed to UAG (but not UAA changed to UGA) pathways.


Genetic variation at a locus (TAM-1) for submaxillary gland protease in the mouse and its location on chromosome No. 7. Electrophoretic and activity variants for a testosterone-induced esteroprotease have been discovered in submaxillary glands from inbred strains of mice. The enzyme is tentatively designated tamase [TAM-1] and the variant genetic locus is Tam-1. The alleles Tam-1a and Tam-1b determine electrophoretically distinct zones of tamase activity, while Tam-lc produces no detectable enzyme activity. Data from recombinant inbred strains and B6AF1 X B6 and B6D2F1 X B6 backcrosses established linkage of Tam-1 to glucose phosphate isomerase (Gpi-1), pink-eyed dilution [p] and beta-hemoglobin (Hbb) on chromosome 7. The gene order is Gpi-1--Tam-1--p--HBB. Analysis of congenic resistant strains indicates that Tam-1 is closely linked to the minor histocompatibility locus, H-4. TAM-1 was not cross-reactive with antisera to mouse nerve growth factor, submaxillary renin, or tamases A and D.


Apparent trans control of murine beta-glucuronidase synthesis by a temporal genetic element. A difference in the heat-inactivation kinetics between the beta-glucuronidases of C3HeB/FeJ and C57B1/6J mice was utilized to assess the mode of action of a temporal genetic element in controlling the expression of the beta-glucuronidase structural gene Gus. The heat-inactivation kinetics of liver and kidney beta-glucuronidase from F1 C3HeB/FeJ X C57B1/6J animals were intermediate with respect to the parental enzyme patterns, suggesting that equal concentrations of the two allelic products were present in beta-glucuronidase tetramers of F1 progeny. beta-glucuronidase heteropolymers assembled in vivo under conditions where equal concentrations of the two structural alleles of the enzyme were known to be present also exhibited intermediate heat-inactivation kinetics. These observations are consistent with a trans mode of action of a genetic element that controls the rate of murine beta-glucuronidase synthesis.


Separation of linked markers in Chinese hamster cell hybrids: mitotic recombination is not involved. A search for mitotic recombination was carried out using mutant subclones of cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. Recombination events were sought between the linked loci specifying the enzymes hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl tranferase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. It was shown by fluctuation analysis that markers at these two loci co-segregate from doubly heterozygous pseudotetraploid hybrid cells more than 90% of the time. The minority class of segregants, which had lost one marker without losing the other, were genetically analyzed to distinguish between the possibilities of mitotic recombination and deletion of chromosomal material. Nine clones in which a linkage disruption had occurred were studied, using further cell hybridization and segregation. In three cases, a recessive lethal loss of genetic information was indicated, suggesting the deletion mechanism. In six cases, it was demonstrated that no new linkage relationships had been established concomitant with linkage disruption. Thus, in all nine clones, the evidence indicated that mitotic recombination was not involved in the events that disrupted linkage between these two loci. If mitotic recombination takes place at all in this system, the rate must be less than about 10(-6) per cell per generation.


[Characteristics of the conjugation transfer of the R plasmids in bacteria of the intestinal group to Erwinia cells]. The conjugal transfer of seven R factors with different genes of drug resistance from Escherichia coli bacteria to twenty Erwinia strains was studied. Seven Erwinia strains were able to accept R plasmids, however the frequency of R factors transfer from E. coli to Erwinia was about 10(-6)-10(-4), and as a rule was higher when the cross was made at optimum temperature for the donor. The most of R- exconjugants showed higher degree of resistance to streptomycin and lower degrees of resistance to tetracycline and chloramphenicol than donor E. coli strains. R plasmids which were transferred to Erwinia from enteric bacteria were characterized by low genetical stability and in some cases were eliminated at first generations of recipient bacteria. Some R- strains of Erwinia exconjugants were able to transfer the accepted plasmids by conjugation into E. coli cells, but were not able to do it in homologous systems.


[Inversion polymorphism in the malarial mosquito, Anopheles messeae. III. The temporal dynamics of the inversion frequencies in the population of the center of a geographic range]. The karyotypic structure of the studied population shows the clear temporal differentiation. The frequencies of the homozygotes IIR/IIR, IIIR1/IIIR1 and IIIL/IIIL increase to the middle of the reproductive period. This homozygotes are initial gene arrangements in the phylogenetic sense and their adaptive value is evidently higher than the alternative homozygotes during the population flowering. Inter-year correlations of the dynamic frequencies of several gene arrangements appears to be due to density-dependent selection. The population karyotypic structure is characterised by a high dynamics during the season. However, no directional displacement of the inversion frequencies was observed. This stability is explained by homeostasis of the population genetic structure.


[Chromosome anomalies among newborn infants in Lithuania]. Cytogenetic investigation has been carried out in 4032 newborn infants, 31 of which are found to have karyotype anomalies, which makes 7.7 per 1000 births. The frequency of anomalies in the system of sex chromosomes is 3.2 per 1000. This index is 4.9 per 1000 males, and 1.5 per 1000 females. The frequency of the main types of anomalies turned out to be: XXY--3.0 per 1000 males, XYY--1.0 per 1000 males, XXX--1.0 per 1000 females. The frequency of trisomies of autosomes is 2.0 per 1000 births, trisomy 21 being the main type among them (1.7 per 1000 births). The frequency of structural rearrangements of autosomes is 2.5 per 1000 births, Robertsonian translocations being 1.2 per 1000, reciprocal translocations--1.0 per 1000, and others--0.2 per 1000. The ratio of familial and sporadic mutants was found to be 50%: 50%. Sixty per cent of structural rearrangements are balanced ones, and their carriers does not show any noticeable phenotypic distortions.


[Formation of B12 auxotrophs among spontaneous streptomycin-resistant mutants of Corynebacterium glutamicum]. The spontaneous mutation to streptomycin-resistance (strr) was selective for isolating the definite type of auxotrophs (B12) of grampositive bacteria, Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032. A correlation between the resistance to the antibiotic and the requirement of vitamin B12 of this culture is suggested.


[Absence of a mutagenic effect of cadmium and zinc salts in mouse somatic and sex cells]. Mutagenic effect of cadmium chloride and zinc chloride on the yield of chromosome aberrations induced in bone marrow cells and the frequency of dominant lethal mutations induced by zinc chloride in male germ mouse cells are studied. Water solutions of CdCl2 and ZnCl2 were injected intraperitoneally to male mice at doses of 4 and 15 mg/kg respectively. The results obtained did not reveal any mutagenic effect of these salts in somatic cells and of ZnCl2 in germ cells of mice.


[Phenomenon of "chromosome coating"].

[Phenomenon of "chromosome coating"]. The results are presented on the chromosome analysis of the human blood culture irradiated in the Co phase at doses of 100-500 r. 5733 cells were examined. The phenomenon of vesting, i.e. ring chromosomes encircling rod-shaped ones was observed in two metaphases at a dose of 500 r.


Physical map of DNA from a new cauliflower mosaic virus strain. The restriction enzymes AluI, BamHI, BglII, EcoRI, HindIII, and SalI have been used to characterize and map a new cauliflower mosaic virus strain (Cabb-S). These fragments have been ordered by examining their overlapping regions after double enzymatic digestion. The single SalI cleavage site was chosen as the point of origin. We compare this strain with those already described.


The isolation of DNA from agarose gels by electrophoretic elution onto malachite green-polyacrylamide columns. Electrophoretic elution of DNA coupled with direct adsorption onto malachite green-polyacrylamide columns was used to isolate double- and single-stranded DNA from agarose gels. Subsequently, DNA was eluted with a high salt buffer and filtered through Sephadex which permitted recovery of the DNA in a low salt buffer at concentrations suitable for heteroduplex analysis by electron microscopy. This method was tested by examining heteroduplexes formed from the isolated complementary single strands of T7 wild type DNA and a T7 deletion mutant. More than 80% of the reannealed molecules were intact heteroduplexes showing the deletion loop. Irradiation of single-stranded DNA with 254 nm light resulted in distorted, convoluted heteroduplexes while 366 nm light did not show this effect.


Mapping the DNA fragments produced by cleavage of EcoRI F fragment of adenovirus 2 with HaeIII, HpaII and AluI. Hydrolysis of the EcoRI F fragment of the adenovirus 2 genome with HaeIII, HpaII and AluI restriction enzymes gives respectively 9, 11, and 11 fragments, the size of which ranges from 20 bp for the smallest HpaII k fragment to 585 for the largest AluI A fragment. The order of fragments was mainly deduced from partial hydrolysis analyses. The relative order of all restriction sites and the distance in nucleotides between them were obtained through secondary analyses of each restriction fragment by the two other enzymes. Position of the KpnI, HindIII, MboI and SmaI sites within the EcoRI F fragment were also reevaluated.


The nucleotide sequence of the transforming HpaI-E fragment of adenovirus type 5 DNA. The primary structure of the HpaI-E fragment of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) DNA has been determined, mainly by the method of Maxam and Gilbert (1977). This fragment comprises the leftmost 4.5% of the Ad5 genome, and has been shown to be the shortest DNA fragment capable of transforming cells. The identification of potential initiation and termination codons in the determined sequence indicates that two small polypeptides consisting of 186, and 81 amino acids, respectively, could be synthesized. Taking into account recent data on RNA splicing, a possibility is considered that this DNA may code also for larger polypeptides.


[Pancreatitis and pregnancy].

[Pancreatitis and pregnancy]. Five cases of pregnancy complicated by pancreatitis are discussed. In three of the five cases there was, at the time of the pregnancy, some pathology which might have been responsable for the acute pancreatitis. Three patients were operated on. The phisiopathology and the ethiopathology of this condition are commented, as well as the principal clinical and laboratorial findings. The complications are discussed. The medical treatment represents the best management in these cases. Surgery, ideally, should only be undertaken when the pregnancy is over.


[Value of cystoscopy in the study of the urogynecological patient]. The results of 350 cystoscopic studies, are presented. In 85.7%, urinary incontinence was present, and in 72% one or more of the following symptoms were present: urgency, dysuria, urinary frequency, vesical tenesmus and nycturia. The following were analyzed: age, parity, uroculture and its relation to cystoscopic findings. Most of the patients (64.5%) were 40 to 60 years old, 54% had seven or more deliveries. Most frequent diagnoses were: urethritis alone or with trigonitis (66.8%) and urethral stenosis (meatus) in 31.4%. Uroculture was done in 96% and it was positive in 20% and negative 76%. In 88% of the patients with a negative uroculture, there were other lesions shown by urethrocytoscopy. From 300 patients with urinary incontinence, only in 155 it was confirmed objectively.


[Bacteriology of the tubes in postpartum salpingoclasia]. One hundred patients, randomly chosen, with post-partum salpingochlasia, were studied. The surgical procedures used were Pomeroy's Kroener's or a combination of both. Once the tubal segment was removed, a tube with BHI bacteriologic culture medium received the segment; it was placed latter in a specific medium. The parameters under study were: age of patients, number of gestations, number of deliveries, gestational age, vaginal infection antecedents during gestation, premature membrane rupture, post-partum uterine cavity revision and the time elapsed from the delivery to the time of tubal ligation. Seven positive cultures were seen, four of them due to enterobacteria, correlated with latency periods longer than 24 hours and cavity revision.


[Clinical observation in the premature rupture of membranes. Early detection of maternofetal infections]. One hundred patients with term pregnancy, were studied. There were placed in two groups of 50 each; one was the problem group with antecedents and confirmation of premature rupture of membranes; and the other group with intact amnios at the time of delivery, which served as controls. Clinical history, leukocyte count, temperature determination on admission and during trans-partum, leukocyte count in mixed blood from the umbilical cord and clinical surveillance were carried out, until 96 hours after delivery, of mother and child looking for sepsis signs. In the problem group there were 10 cases of maternal infection and 12 of newborns. There were no infections in the control group. There was no perinatal mortality. The most useful examination as to maternal and neonatal infection, was leukocytic count on admission, followed by trans-partum count and maternal temperature. Fetal leukocytic count above 12,500 per mm3 was useful in 70% of the newborns with complications.


[New concepts related to implantation. III. Biochemical characteristics]. The fixed position of trophoblast in the uterus is preceded by zygote orientation and its contact, adhession and fusion with endometrial cell membrane. These interactions take place in a precise site called "implantation site". The identification of this area by the administration of pontamine blue has allowed biochemical studies which showed an increase (in the site) of glycolytic enzymes activity of the pentose cycle, of beta-glucuramidase and of acid and alkaline phosphatase; with a decrease in catepsine D activity. In non implanted tissue, isocitric dehydrogenase activity is decreased. From the biochemical standpoint the implanted endometrium may be different from the rest, which allows a better knowledge of possible molecular mechanisms related with implantation, as well as the possible inhibition with medication.


Re-evaluation of the techique of organ culture for studying gluten toxicity in coeliac disease. In vitro cytotoxicity of four different gluten fractions was tested in organ culture for up to 48 hours using flat intestinal biopsies from children with coeliac disease. The fractions were (1) a peptic-tryptic digest of gliadin containing a moderate amount of alpha-gliadin, (2) a peptic-tryptic digest of gluten (Frazer fraction III) froma strain of wheat with a high content of alpha-gliadin, (3) alpha-gliadin, and (4) alpha-GT-18,000, a tryptic fragment of alpha-gliadin. The latter three fractions were toxic to coeliac patients in vivo. In vitro, however, none of these fractions proved to be cytotoxic. When added to the culture medium they were not capable of inhibiting the regeneration of the surface epithelium as visualised by histology and electron microscopy. The only difference between cultures with and without gluten fractions was that the former produced slightly more mucus when maintained in vitro as observed in the dissecting microscope. Furthermore, for Frazer fraction III the absence of apparent toxicity was confirmed by the behaviour of brush border enzyme activities during culture. Our results are not in accordance with those reported in the literature. We believe that the criteria used at the present time for the assessment of gluten toxicity in vitro should be extended to include the process of enterocyte desquamation.


Kinetics of 14C-glycocholic acid clearance in normal man and in patients with liver disease. The plasma clearance of a tracer dose of 14C-glycocholic acid, and fasting total serum bile acid concentrations were measured in 14 control subjects and in 38 patients with acute and chronic liver disease. In controls plasma clearance was 415 +/- 24 ml min-1 m-2 (mean +/- SEM), equivalent to a 'first-pass' extraction by the liver of 85%. Clearance was not significantly different from controls in patients with acute hepatitis or active chronic hepatitis, nor in anicteric patients with primary biliary or alcoholic cirrhosis. Thus bile acid clearance was impaired only in icteric chronic liver disease. In contrast, serum bile acid concentrations were abnormal in all but seven patients, six of whom had active chronic hepatitis in complete biochemical remission. The pattern of plasma disappearance of injected 14C-glycocholic acid was biexponential in controls and patients with liver disease, and computer analysis of the curves suggested that there was significant distribution of bile acid outside the vascular space. The preservation of bile acid clearance in anicteric chronic liver disease confirms that it is dependent more on liver blood flow than on liver cell function.


Lower oesophageal sphincter response to intravenous infusions of pentagastrin in normal subjects, antrectomised and achalasic patients. Lower oesophageal sphincter response to infusion of graded doses (0.003--0.050 microgram kg-1min-1) of pentagastrin was evaluated in four antrectomised patients as well as in six healthy subjects and seven achalasic patients in whom inhibition of antral gastrin release was maintained by continuous acidification (HC1 0.1 N) and aspiration of gastric antrum. In normal subjects and in antrectomised patients doses of pentagastrin required for half-maximal gastric acid secretion (0.012 microgram kg-1min-1) produced statistically significant increases of LES pressure. In achalasic patients, the infusion of pentagastrin did not affect LES pressure. These data seem to indicate that gastrin plays, at least in some degree, a physiological role in the regulation of LES tone. Insensitivity of LES to pentagastrin in achalasia suggests that the raised sphincter pressure in this disorder can not be attributed to gastrin.


Renal clearance of pancreatic and salivary amylase relative to creatinine in patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Pancreatic and salivary amylase/creatinine clearance ratios in patients with various degrees of renal impairment were compared with those obtained for control subjects. In chronic renal insufficiency (mean GFR 30 ml/min +/- 15 SD; n = 13) the clearance ratios for pancreatic (mean 3.5 +/- 1.85 SD) and salivary (mean 2.3 +/- 1.3 SD) amylase were significantly higher (P less than 0.05) than those in controls. Corresponding control values (n = 26) were 2.64 +/- 0.86 (pancreatic) and 1.64 +/- 0.95 (salivary). Three patients showed values above the normal limit. In the diabetic group (mean GFR 41 ml/min +/- 22 SD; n = 10) salivary amylase/creatinine clearance ratios (mean 2.36 +/- 1.55 SD) were significantly higher than in controls (P less than 0.05). Three patients showed raised values. Pancreatic amylase clearance was raised in only one of these patients. Three patients with terminal disease (mean GFR 10 ml/min) showed markedly raised (two- to threefold) clearance ratios for both salivary and pancreatic amylase. Of a total of 26 patients, eight had increased total amylase/creatinine clearance ratios. Pancreatic amylase/creatinine clearance was increased in seven patients, while nine patients showed raised salivary amylase/creatinine ratios. Patients with raised clearance ratios did not have clinical evidence of pancreatitis. We suggest that, in the presence of impaired renal function, a high amylase/creatinine clearance ratio need not be indicative of pancreatic disease.


Oral prednisone for chronic active liver disease: dose responses and bioavailability studies. Serum concentrations of prednisolone were measured by radioimmunoassay after the administration of prednisone (10, 20, or 30 mg) by mouth to five healthy volunteers, five patients with severe chronic active liver disease (CALD), and five patients with CALD in remission induced by prednisone. Only minor differences were found between the groups and bioavailability was linearly related to the dose of prednisone (r = 0.993). After prednisone (10 mg) was given by mouth and by vein to similar groups of volunteers and 11 additional patients with CALD, bioavailability of oral prednisone approximated 100% of the intravenous dose and no differences were found in the pharmacokinetics of prednisolone. We conclude that prednisone is effectively absorbed and converted to prednisolone in health and CALD and find no pharmacological evidence that either drug would be superior to the other for treating CALD.


Comparison of bran, ispaghula, and lactulose on colon function in diverticular disease. Bran, ispaghula (Fybogel), and lactulose were given to three groups of patients with diverticular disease for four weeks. Faecal weights, bile acids, fat and electrolytes, transit time, and colonic motility were estimated before and after treatment. Stool weight increased, notably with Fybogel. Cereal bran had the greatest effect on the transit time, reducing it significantly. There were no changes in faecal bile acids, fat or electrolytes. Coarse bran reduced colonic motility and the number of high pressure waves after food; Fybogel increased the basal pressure and was without effect on the food-stimulated pressures; whereas lactulose influenced neither. All agents paradoxically equally alleviated symptoms.


Histochemical and ultrastructural observation of endocrine cells in pathological gastric mucosa. Recent achievements of gastrointestinal endocrinology on the basis of new techniques enabled investigation of endocrine cells in pathological conditions. The present paper describes investigations of 56 surgical cases of the stomachs operated on for duodenal and gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. Argyrophilic cell hyperplasia was common in non-metaplastic antropyloric mucosa in duodenal ulcer cases, not so common, however, in gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. In metaplastic mucosa enterochromaffin (EC) cells predominated. Intestinal metaplasia appeared to be the most significant factor influencing endocrine cells spectrum within antropyloric mucosa. A new observation is described of argyrophilic cells seen in lamina propria apart from glandular epithelium. We consider a working hypothesis of neuroendocrine complex hyperplasia especially well marked in some cases of duodenal ulcer.


Limitations of Culling PATS/KOH/PAS method of differential diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer. Investigations of Culling et al. showed the possibility of using KOH/PAS effect (visualisation of C7 and C8O-acylated sialic acids characteristic to colon mucin) for differential diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer. Our investigations revealed, however, KOH/PAS positive mucin prevailing in some cases of gallbladder, pancreatic and gastric cancer. This makes serious limitation of Culling method in the routine diagnostic work.


Investigations of ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica). Part II: "Dark cells" in the pars anterior. The investigations were done on 34 hypophyses of the pig embryos aged c. 46-79 days of pregnancy. The name "dark cells" was given to one of the type of differentiated cells of the pars anterior which were characterized by intense electron density of the basic cytoplasm. The cells correspond to the "follicular cells" and the "stellate cells" described in many species of adult vertebrates. Probably the dark cells have supporting function, as they originate a system of nets and tubular structures which are the construction of the gland. It seems that the dark cells regulate osmotic pressure of the intercellular fluid, mediate the exchange of substances between the cells and blood vessels, and they take part in the degeneration process of the pars anterior cells of the hypophysis.


Investigation of ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica). Part III. Capillary vessels of the pars anterior. The investigations were carried out on 34 hypophyses of pig embryo aged c. 46--79 days of fetal life. Capillary vessels of the glandular part have the three-layer structure, and this structure is in general similar to the one of the capillaries of adult vertebrates. In the investigated stages of the fetal life the structure undergoes certain modifications; pores with septa (so called fenestra) occur in the cytoplasms of the endothelial cells, microvilli protruding to the lumen of the vessels disappear, continuous basement membrane is developed and the number of reticular fibres in the outer layer increases. Because of the continuity of the endothelial cells and the occurrence of the fenestrae--we may classify these vessels in the group of capillaries of the visceral type. It seems that the observed endothelial cells can mediate in the transport of fluids and some substances between the gland cells and blood, and also can take part in the transport of fragments of the degenerated cells of the pars anterior of the hypophysis to the lumen of blood vessels.


Effect of experimental hypoxia on the ubiquinone level of skeletal muscle in rabbits. Rabbits were kept for 2 and 4 hours in a chamber containing a gas mixture of 92% N2 and 8% O2. The ubiquinone level in the musculus quadriceps femoris of the animals was determined. Rabbits after 4 hours hypoxia were retaken into normal conditions for 2 hours before killing. Biochemical findings revealed a significant decrease in the ubiquinone activity during hypoxia independently from duration of hypoxia. 2 hours after hypoxia the ubiquinone activity became normal. The slight alterations biochemically determined can not be followed unambiguously by histochemical methods, but the microscopic studies have revealed that the red fibres of mixed musculus quadriceps femoris are responsible for the quantitative changes.


Effect of dichlorvos, administered to the pregnant rabbits, on the colinesterases activity in the progeny. The influence of dichlorvos on the cholinesterases activity during ontogenic development was investigated in rabbits. Pregnant females were treated per os with DDVP (6 mg/kg/24 hrs) for the last 10 days of pregnancy. In progeny in the blood plasma and in the homogenates of the brain tissue activity of cholinesterases was measured spectrofotometrically according to Ellman method. Method of Karnowsky and Roots [6] in histoenzymatic investigations was followed. The decrease of acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain tissue and the increase of cholinesterase activity in the blood plasma were observed. The changes sustained through whole period of investigation (1-16 day of life). Histochemically the lowered activity of enzymes was localized mainly in the neuropil of: striatum, the Broc's nuclei and rhinencephalon: in the nervous cells of: Ammon's horn, nuclei of thalamus and in neocortex. The results suggest that the brain centers connected with the high CNS function could be influenced by DDVP intoxication during ontogenic development.


Activity of alkaline phosphatase in the healing rat liver after hepatectomy. Changes of alkaline phosphatase activity in the process of healing liver injuries of rats on which partial hepatectomy was performed were the subject of our researches. Reaction on alkaline phosphatase was performed on cryostat sections according to the method of Gomori-Takamatsu. It has been found that granulated precipitate of cobalt sulphide was localized in the cytoplasm of granulocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. A diffusive reaction comprized clusters of newly created collagen fibres. In early stages in the centres of necrosis, the activity of alkaline phosphatase increased, in later periods a lack of the activity was observed. Steatosis of liver tissue does not correlate with the intensity of the reaction. Lack of alkaline phosphatase activity is characteristic for old cicatrices. The authors discuss the effects of the histogenetical process during healing of liver injury on the results of the histoenzymatic reactions. The authors suggest that alkaline phosphatase is involved in the mechanism of re-building collagen fibres. It is stressed in the conclusion that the localization and intensity of alkaline phosphatase in the area of healing liver lesions are variable depending on the period of healing wound of the liver and the influence of other complications.


Study of acetylcholinesterase distribution in the various tissues of birds and mammals. The distribution of AChE activity in the various tissues was studied, in female Funambulus pennanti (five banded squirrel), female Francolinus pondicerianus (grey partridge of safed teeter), female Perdicula asiatica (jungle bush quail or lowwa), female Gallus domesticus (white leghorn), and female Suncus murinus (Indian musk shrew) by the use of cholinesterase technique, under different temperatures, incubation periods and pH values. The distribution of AChE activity in the nerve cells, their fibres and nerve bundles as well as in muscle spindles was variable. Periphery of the nerve cells showed strong positive reaction as compared with the central portion of the cell (Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4). Some of the ganglia and nerve bundles showed strong positive AChE reaction (Fig. 1, 5, 6).


Acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the morphotic elements of the amniotic fluid. Acid and alkaline phosphatases were determined histochemically in the cells of the amniotic fluid obtained from the term pregnancies. Relatively high activity of the acid phosphatase was found within macrophages, few neutrophils and some polygonal cells from the intermediate layer of stratified epithelium. Moderate activity of this enzyme was demonstrated in sheets of superficial epitheliocytes and partly cornified cells of hair. Weak activity of the alkaline phosphatase was found in superficial epithelia, in neutrophils and clumps of meconium. It is suggested that demonstration of the acid phosphatase in the morphotic elements of the amniotic fluid might possess certain diagnostic significance.


Ultrastructure of the adenohypophysis in the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica). Part I: Cells of the pars anterior. In the hypophyses of 46-79 days old pig embryos three groups of cells were separated; one group constitute non-differentiated cells, second, cells becoming differentiated, and third, seven types of differentiated cells. Probably three of these types are equivalent to the secretory cells STH, TSH, and FSH, and one type of them--to the cells described in the hypophysis of adult vertebrates as stellate cells or follicular cells. Possibly only one type of the differentiated cells has the ability to liberate a secretion into the intercellular space; however, the type of a hormone produced by these cells has not been described yet. It seems that in the studied stages of development of the hypophysis production and accumulation of hormones takes place in secretory cells, while the secretion of these hormones begins later than in periods of development investigated by us.


Hematological, splenic and adrenal changes associated with natural and experimental infections of Trypanosoma lemmi in the Norwegian lemming, Lemmus lemmus (L.). Both natural and experimental Trypanosoma lemmi infections in Norwegian lemmings caused slight anemias and hypoglycemia. Leucocyte counts remained the same. Adrenal and splenic hypertrophy were associated with natural infections whereas only splenic hypertrophy was present in the experimental infection. Grahamella sp. infections were also associated with adrenal and splenic hypertrophy in wild lemmings. It is suggested that blood parasites which are associated with anemia, hypoglycemia and adrenal hypertrophy might also interfere with both male and female reproduction, and should be considered in the interpretation of the population regulation of small rodents.


Some controversial problems in classification of Monogeneans. The paper contains the main objections of foreign specialists (Llewellyn and others) to Bykhovsky's system of monogeneans. Llwellyn's interpretation of anchors and marginal hooks which is the basis of his phylogenetic scheme is proved to be erroneous by a number of data on morphology of chitinoid formations and on their mutual position. Thus the phylogenetic scheme loses its integrity and cannot be accepted. The system of Bykhovsky remains now the most natural. Some additions or changes do not break its principles.


Fine structure of cells and tissues of Cysticercus tenuicollis aged 13 and 16 days. A study has been made on the fine structure of three postembryonic phases of C. tenuicollis. We observed the differentiation of the villus-like microtriches without a distinct point. A lysis of host cells was caused by a secretion released from vesicles and droplets in the microthrix border. We distinguished 5 types of little-specialized cells during the initial phase of bladder development. The smallest of these cells were persisting oncospheral germ cells. The differentiation of cells terminated with the differentiation of the excretory system in a 16 day-old larva.


Tissue reaction of the skeletal muscles of cattle both to a spontaneous and experimental infection with Cysticercus bovis. The reaction of the tissues to an infection with Cysticercus bovis was studied on material from cattle with a spontaneous and an experimental infection. The authors examined a total of 232 cysts from the skeletal muscles. A tissue reaction to C. bovis was inflammatory in nature and originated always at the site at which the invaginated scolex opened into the surface. Typical of these changes were the origin of a pseudoepithelial rim and a zone of granulation tissue maturing on the periphery. At a later phase marking the start of necrotic changes in the cysticercus, the inflammation accompanied by exudation started to develop anew. Calcified structures stirred up a giant cell, cleaning up reaction, and cicatrization followed the resorption of the parasite and the exudate. We identified two types of necroses in a tissue reaction to C. bovis: a focal necrosis of the exudate and the inflammatory rim with a subsequent dystrophic calcification, and a focal necrosis and calcification of collagenous fibres and their groups. Necrotic-like foci typical of a reaction to C. bovis were seen in the inflammatory rim. Using specific staining procedures, we succeeded in distinguishing these foci which did not succumb completely to a dystrophic calcification, from concomitantly present necrotic foci.


Histochemistry of tissue reaction in skeletal muscles of cattle experimentally infected with Cysticercus bovis. A close correlation between the intensity of tissue reaction in skeletal muscles and the localization of some enzymes in the bladder of C. bovis was demonstrated by histochemical methods. The most intensive tissue reaction was observed around the portion of bladder surrounding the opening of spiral canal, the tegument and subtegumental cells of which exhibit a high activity of alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase. Around this portion of bladder the tissue reaction is very strong, whereas around the remaining portion of the bladder, without any activity of these enzymes, the reaction is weak. The basic type of the reaction around the portion with alkaline and acid phosphatase activity is the formation of a pseudoepithelial rim, in which occur secondary changes leading to histochemical changes inside and around this rim. The cells of the unchanged pseudoepithelial rim contain proteins with tyrosine, tryptophan and cysteine. Among the cells is a large number of reticular fibres. Flat foci localized directly in this rim contain mostly fibrilar structures rich in acid mucosubstances with carboxyl and sulphate groups which are labile to testicular hyaluronidase and neuraminidase. They contain also a small amount of neutral mucosubstances and give negative reactions for tyrosine, tryptophan and cysteine. Fibrilar structure in these foci undergo dystrophic calcification. A conspicuous accumulation of mast cells is visible in the layers under the pseudoepithelial rim and clusters of cells containing lipopigment are present at the periphery of the connective tissue layer.


[Metabolism of arsenic (Report 22). Effect of arsenic on the spontaneous motor activity, avoidance conditioning, extinction and swimming record in rats (author's transl)]. The experiments were conducted to determine the effect of arsenic on the pharmacological actions as seen in the behavior of Wistar albino rats. Nutrition during the suckling period has some apparently influence on the pharmacology behavior, we found no significant difference between the heavy (26 approximately 35g) and light (under 25g) groups. Also rats in group B1, were fed a diet which included As2O3 2 mg/kg, and rats in group B2 were fed a diet which included As2O3 15 mg/kg during the suckling period. There were no significant differences in spontaneous motor activity, avoidance conditioning and swimming record between the controls and group B1. However in group B2, the spontaneous motor activity increased as did the response on avoidance conditioning.


[Effects of hexobendine on adenosine metabolism and myocardial energy metabolism (author's transl)]. To elucidate the mode of action of hexobendine, its effects on some enzyme activities, the uptake of adenosine by rat erythrocytes and changes in the concentration of various myocardial substrates following induced hypoxia in rat were studied. Hexobendine had no effect on the in vitro activities of the adenosine degrading enzyme, adenosine deaminase and of the A-PRTase, HG-PRTase which are associated with the salvage pathways of purine biosyntheses. The uptake of adenosine by rat erythrocytes in vitro was inhibited considerably by hexobendine. Hypoxic states results in a significant decrease in creatine phosphate, ATP, glycogen and glucose contents, and increase in ADP, AMP, adenosine and lactate contents in rat myocardials. These alterations in cardiac metabolism induced by hypoxia were significantly improved by hexobendine given orally in doses of 10 approximately 100 mg/kg. Thus, hexobendine was shown to maintain the normal aerobic energy metabolism of the heart under states of hypoxia. In such states adenosine may be released from tissues and this increase in the available concentration of adenosine in plasma through inhibition of uptake by erythrocytes may be involved in the coronary vasodilating action of hexobendine.


[Pharmacological studies of 4-ethoxy-2-methyl-5-morpholino-3(2H)-pyridazinone (M73101). (1). Analgesic activity (author's transl)]. The analgesic activity and the mode of action of M73101, a new analgesic anti-inflammatory agent, were investigated in mice and rats and compared to those of reference drugs. M73101 showed a marked analgesic activity against noxious stimuli induced by pressure (Haffner method and Randall-Selitto method), thermal (hot plate method), electric and chemical (acetic acid-stretching method and bradykinin-induced responses) stimulation, in a manner similar to those of basic anti-inflammatory drugs (BAD) such as aminopyrine, mepirizole, tiaramide HCl, and benzydamine HCl. The activities of M73101 were equal to and/or more potent than those of BAD, and more potent than those of acidic anti-inflammatory drugs. In addition, the analgesic activity of M73101 was not decreased by the pretreatment with levallorphan and showed no cross-tolerance to morphine in mice, indicating that the analgesic properties of M73101 differ from those of morphine. On the other hand, the analgesic activity of M73101 as well as BAD was decreased by repeated oral administration in mice, and the potency was weaker than mepirizole. Furthermore, the muscle relaxant effect of M73101 obtained by inclined screen test in mice was the weakest among the BAD, suggesting that analgesic activity of M73101 is not related to the muscle relaxant property. These results indicate that M73101 may be useful for clinical application as an anti-inflammatory drug possessing remarkable analgesic activity.


Instability of the tetrathionate respiratory chain of Citrobacter freundii. The formate--tetrathionate reductase redox pathway of Citrobacter freundii is associated with the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. A high concentration of phosphate in the buffer used for cell disintegration assists in the preparing of membrane particles capable of efficient tetrathionate respiration. A part of this effect at least may be attributed to the high ionic strength of the buffer.


Neuraminidase activity of NAG vibrios and of some representatives of the intestinal group of bacteria. It was studied 203 strains of NAG vibrios and 71 strains of different enterobacteria for the ability to produce neuraminidase. The most frequent neuraminidase producers were found among the strains isolated from humans (99 strain of 131). There was no correlation between neuraminidase production and other properties of the vibrios. The examined strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae did not produce the enzyme.


Fatty acids in green algae cultivated on a pilot-plant scale. Fatty acids from Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus obliquus var. acutus and from a mixed culture of the two strains, Melnik, were converted to methyl esters, separated by gas chromatography, and identified by means of standards. The spectrum of fatty acids included both saturated and unsaturated acids (with odd and even numbers of carbon atoms) from C12 to C22. Fatty acids C16:0, C18:0 and C20:3 were the major components in all cultures. Pure strains differed from the mixed culture in the production of C18:1, C12:0 and C19:2 acids; the first of these was present in higher amounts in pure cultures only, the latter two being found in the mixed culture. The level of lipids was lower as compared to the literature data and their extractability was affected by the manner of preparation of algae and extraction conditions.


Soluble sugars in the mycelium of the basidiomycete Oudemansiella mucida. Quantitative gas chromatography was used to determine soluble neutral sugars in an extract of the fungus Oudemansiella mucida grown on a synthetic glucose medium. Apart from the usual fungal sugar components, viz. trehalose, D-glucose, D-mannitol, D-arabinitol, glycerol and inositol, the 6-day-old mycelium contained D-arabino-2-hexosulose (D-glucosone). In the period of maximum growth, this aldoketose was the predominant monosaccharide (3.4% mycelial dry weight).


Effect of lipopolysaccharides on the morphology of erythrocyte membranes. The effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Gram-negative bacteria Salmonella typhi on erythrocyte membranes was investigated by electron microscopy. The LPS was found to be irregularly distributed on the surface of erythrocytes and their envelopes. It caused the formation of short bilayer rods associated at one end with the erythrocyte membrane of vesicular formations localized horizontally on or in the membrane, and of lamellar structures.


Influence of seed and root exudations on the rhizosphere effect in Sorghum vulgare and Crotalaria juncea. The influence of seed and root exudations on the rhizosphere effect of Sorghum vulgare and Crotalaria juncea was examined. While the quantitative occurrence of certain morphological and physiological groups of bacteria on the seeds and rhizospheres of the two plant species differed, there were similarities in the occurrence of certain physiological and nutritional groups of bacteria on the seed as well as on the rhizosphere. The occurrence of some genera of fungi on the seeds and in the rhizosphere indicated the influence of both seeds and root exudations on the rhizosphere effect. Increase in root exudations of amino acids and sugars correlated with a concomitant increase in microbial activity in the rhizosphere on the 15th day of growth in both plant species but there was a delayed effect of the exuded chemicals on the rhizosphere microflora after 30 d of plant growth.


Secondary metabolism: regulation by phosphate and trace elements. Secondary metabolism and cellular differentiation occur within a range of concentrations of phosphate and, in specific taxonomic groups, of zinc, manganese, and/or iron that is much narrower than that permittee for primary metabolism. Possible molecular sites of action of the four elements are reviewed.


[Studies on the estimation of the postmortem interval 7. Cadavers in the water and privy (author's transl)]. The authors have investigated 17 kinds of findings of 34 cadavers in the water and 17 newborn-infant cadavers in liquid feces-urine mixture in privies which had remained at known postmortem interval and had been subjected to medico-legal autopsies in our laboratory. The conclusions are as follows: The progress of the cadaveric phenomena in the water and liquid feces-urine mixture is slower than in the air. The time ratio of the progress of the phenomena in the media to those in the air is not the same for all kinds of the findings, and hence it is not possible to apply the criterion of the estimation of the postmortem interval for the cadavers in the air to those in the water and liquid feces-urine mixture by any correction.


[Studies on development of viral hepatitis with HBs antigenemia (author's transl)]. 47 cases of viral hepatitis with HBs antigenemia, who were diagnosed by peritoneoscopy and biopsy, were studied. 41 cases were males, and 6 cases were females. The onset ages were mostly in 25--29 years old. The histories of blood transfusion were found in only 4.3%. On the other hand, the families clustered with HBs antigen were found in 68%. Recidivums were often seen (76%), and yet the intervals between recidivum were short (the neighborhood of 8 months). The transaminases at the recidivums were not so high (200 units or thereabout). 20 cases whom biopsies were performed more than twice, were studied histologically. 14 cases were prognessive. 5 were stationary. 1 was improved. In all of progressive cases, sublobular hepatic necrosis was seen. But in other cases, sublobular necrosis was not seen. After this sublobular necrosis, various distortion of the lobule architecture was appeared, and some of them progressed to liver cirrhosis. As to GOT and GPT, GPT was dominant before sublobular neerosis, but GOT was liable to be dominant after sublobular necrosis. Peritoneoscopically, peculiar red spots were found on liver surfaces at the time of sublobular necrosis.


[Effect of furosemide on ouabain toxicity in guinea pigs (author's transl)]. An attempt was made to study the effect of furosemide on the toxic and lethal dose (LD) of ouabain. Ouabain was infused continuously in guinea pigs anesthetized with urethane. The toxic dose of ouabain was determined by the minimal dose which produced ventricular arrhythmias. The LD of ouabain was 300.8 +/- 13.8 microgram/kg (mean +/- SE) in control guinea pigs. When furosemide was administered in a dose of 2 mg/kg i.v. prior to ouabain, this was significantly decreased to 225.2 +/- 14.1 microgram/kg (P less than 0.01). Furosemide-treated guinea pigs also showed a marked decrease in toxic dose of ouabain. In another series of experiment, the ouabain uptake by the heart and its subcellular fraction were determined by the infusion of 3H-ouabain at a constant rate under the same experimental conditions aforementioned. Approximately 30% decrease in the LD of 3H-ouabain was also observed in the furosemide pretreated guinea pigs. 3H-ouabain concentration in blood, cardiac muscles and microsomal fraction were lower than control group. These findings suggest that potentiation of ouabain toxicity produced by furosemide is not associated with increased cardiac ouabain uptake, but with increased sensitivity at the site of action.


Glucagon, insulin, cortisol, and growth hormone levels following major surgery: their relationship to glucose and free fatty acid elevations. Circulating hormone and substrate levels were measured in 7 patients at regular intervals before, during and after pulmonary surgery. During surgery, cortisol and growth hormone were significantly elevated, pancreatic glucagon was unchanged and insulin was depressed. One and two days after surgery, growth hormone had almost returned to preoperative fasting values, but cortisol, insulin and glucagon levels were significantly increased. The mean insulin:glucagon molar ratio declined from a preoperative fasting value of 3.2 +/- 0.5 (+/- SEM) to 1.7 +/- 0.4 during operation but was within normal limits 1 and 2 days after surgery due to a parallel rise and fall in plasma insulin and glucagon. Plasma glucose was elevated both during operation and for several days thereafter, whereas free fatty acid levels were increased only during operation. Thus, there was no consistent relation between insulin:glucagon ratio or any of the hormone levels and the observed elevations in plasma glucose and free fatty acids. It is concluded that neither any of the hormones assayed nor the insulin:glucagon ratio was the primary determinant of plasma glucose and free fatty acid responses to surgery. Rather, fuel homeostasis appeared to result from the combined effects of glucagon, insulin, growth hormone, cortisol and adrenergic activity.


Antithrombin III deficiency in diabetes mellitus: influence on vascular degenerative complications. Plasma Antithrombin III (At III), a natural inhibitor of coagulation, was determined using a single radial immunodiffusion technique. In 116 diabetics, plasma At III levels were significantly decreased (26.6 +/- 0.4 mg/100 ml) compared with those in 64 controls (31.0 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml, P less than 0.001). An elevation of plasma fibrinogen degradation products in 42 per cent of our patients, and a positive linear relationship between platelet counts and At III levels ( r = 0.29, P less than 0.01), provided additional evidence for chronic disseminated intravascular clotting in diabetes mellitus. Diabetic retinal complications were more frequent in patient with low plasma At III levels (50.6 per cent of cases) than in those exhibiting At III concentrations within a normal range: 32.4 per cent of cases (X2 = 6.09, P less than 0.02). It is postulated that the low levels of At III encountered in diabetes result from excessive consumption, and that the deficiency may be responsible for the onset and/or aggravation of intravascular clotting. At III deficiency may therefore contribute to vascular degenerative complications, particularly those leading to diabetic retinopathy.


Effect of alrestatin sodium on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in the fasted anaesthetized rat. In the anaesthetized fasted non-diabetic male intact rat, alrestatin sodium injected as a bolus (0.75 mmol/kg, i.v.) did not affect basal plasma insulin or glucose levels. However, in response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test, plasma insulin levels were significantly increased above the values observed in the animal during a control test. The decreases in plasma glucose levels after alrestatin were significantly greater than in the control study. In rat pancreatic preparations in vitro, alrestatin lowered the basal release of 3H-norepinephrine and also the release obtained with the catecholamine-releasing agent tyramine. A modulation of catecholamine release appears to be of importance in the mode of action of alrestatin with respect to the insulin secretion and plasma glucose levels. It is suggested that alrestatin may play a useful role in the therapy of diabetes mellitus since it can augment insulin secretion when glucose is administered to a fasted animal in which the acute insulin response has been shown to be like that of the human diabetic, and in addition, can lower arginine-stimulated glucagon secretion in the animal, the latter being a model of an action that is observed in the human diabetic. The net effect of these hormonal changes has been predicted previously to be a lowering of the blood glucose levels in the human diabetic patient.


The relationship of the bovine pituitary "diabetogenic peptide" to prolactin. The bovine diabetogenic peptide (Louis) has been further purified by gel filtration. Material from the major protein peak was submitted to quantitative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. By the criteria of the joint 95 percent confidence envelope of KR and YO, related to molecular size and net charge, the diabetogenic peptide more closely resembles prolactin than growth hormone. By sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, bovine diabetogenic peptide has a molecular weight of 24.000 daltons, slightly greater than that for prolactin. Amino acid analysis has revealed remarkable similarity between the diabetogenic peptide and prolactin; particularly in the numbers of residues of 1/2 cystine, proline, histidine and phenylalanine. The amino terminal amino acid sequence is methionyl-phenylalanyl-phenylalanine. By the criteria of molecular size, quantitative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, amino acid composition and amino terminal sequence analysis, we consider the relationship between the diabetogenic peptide and prolactin.


Pituitary-thyroid axis during short term, mild and severe, iodine depletion in the rat. To investigate the most early events occurring during the adaptation of the pituitary-thyroid axis to iodine depletion, two rat populations were submitted to 4 week low iodine regimens of different severity. The variations of the following parameters were studied: pituitary thyrotropin (TSH) concentration, serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and TSH, thyroid weight and thyroid iodine concentration. In the first population, mildly iodine depleted, serum and pituitary TSH remained unchanged. The weight of the thyroid increased by the 12th day. Serum T4 dropped by the 26th day. Serum T3 tended to increase during the whole observation period. In the second population, more severely iodine depleted, the increase in thyroid weight appeared by the 4th day. Serum T3 increased from day 13 to day 20, then returned to normal. Serum TSH increased and serum T4 decreased by the 20th day. These results suggest that, in the adaptation to iodine deficiency in the rat, autonomous thyroid regulatory mechanisms play a major role at the onset of goiter growth. On the other hand, most likely a combined effect of serum T3 and T4 triggers variations in pituitary TSH secretion.


The excretion of free cortisol, cortisone, cortisol sulfate and cortisone sulfate in peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism. In four groups of persons, 1/healthy individuals, 2/ patients with diabetes mellitus, 3/ patients with peripheral vascular disease, and 4/ patients with hyperthyroidism, the urinary excretion of free cortisol, cortisone, cortisol sulfate and cortisone sulfate was estimated. In groups 2 and 3 the excretion of all four substances was elevated. In hyperthyroidism a preponderance of free cortisone over cortisol was registered. The ratios of the followed substances suggest in patients with peripheral vascular disease a detoriation in the normal excretion of the followed corticoids, based on a preponderance of 11-OH-corticosteroids over their 11-oxo-derivatives. This observation could be implicated in the mild hyperglycemia or decreased glucose tolerance, that is often found in atherosclerotic disease.


Blockade of the Ferguson reflex by lumbar epidural anaesthesia in the parturient sheep: effects on oxytocin secretion and uterine venous prostaglandin F levels. The role of oxytocin in the increase in utero-ovarian venous prostaglandin F (PGF) level caused by vaginal distension was investigated by using lumbar epidural anaesthesia to block the oxytocin secretion reflex. Whereas vaginal distension raised jugular venous oxytocin and utero-ovarian venous PGF levels in untreated sheep, neither response occurred after lumbar anaesthesia. Lumbar anaesthesia had no effect on the rise in utero-ovarian venous PGF level caused by administered oxytocin. These findings support the suggestion that a reflex release of oxytocin is involved in the elevation of utero-ovarian venous PGF observed after vaginal distension in parturient sheep.


Estradiol and progesterone binding in rabbit placenta during gestation. In rabbit fetal placenta, 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone are not bound by specific (high affinity, low capacity) components in the cytosol, in spite of the fact that this part of the organ is very reactive to modifications in hormonal conditions. Cytosol receptors for estradiol and progesterone are found only in the maternal part of the placenta; apparent association constants are about 3 X 10(8) M-1 for 17 beta-estradiol and about 2 X 10(8) M-1 for progesterone (in the absence of glycerol) at 4 degrees C. Estradiol is also bound to nuclei in cells of the maternal placenta in vivo and in vitro. Concentrations of estradiol and progesterone binding sites show marked variations during normal gestation in the rabbit. For estradiol the number of binding sites increases from day 10 to day 14, then decreases until parturition. This number increases for progesterone from day 10 to day 16, then decreases until day 27.


Vitamin D and ischaemic heart disease.

Vitamin D and ischaemic heart disease. Vitamin D has been proposed as a risk factor of ischaemic heart disease. In 12 patients with acute myocardial infarction the major circulating vitamin D metabolite, 25-hydroxy-cholecalciferol (25-HCC), did not show any fluctuations during the first 4 days after onset of symptoms. The serum 25-HCC level was then measured in 128 patients consecutively admitted because of chest pain, 53 of whom had myocardial infarction and 75 had angina pectoris. The values found did not differ from those measured in 409 normal persons. The seasonal variations of serum 25-HCC were less pronounced in heart patients than in normals, probably due to less sun exposure in the summer months. The levels of serum 25-HCC did not correlate with the concentrations of serum cholesterol, glycerides, calcium or magnesium. Low serum calcium and magnesium were observed in all patients. Serum calcium was further reduced in the course of acute myocardial infarctions while serum parathyroid hormone rose significantly. We conclude that patients with ischaemic heart disease are not ingesting or producing in their skin elevated amount of vitamin D.


Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells in the chicken. I. Characterization of the Fc(IgG) receptor. The receptor for FC(IgG) on chicken lymphoid cells was investigated by EA rosette techniques using sheep erythrocytes sensitized with a sub-agglutinating dose of anti-sheep erythrocyte (SRBC) chicken serum. Chicken lymphocytes did not form rosettes with SRBC coated with rabbit antibody, and human and mouse lymphocytes did not bind SRBC sensitized with chicken antibody. Only avian sera were effective in blocking the Fc receptor. Similarities between chicken and mammalian Fc receptors were demonstrated as both are pronase sensitive, trypsin resistant, and are distinct from surface immunoglobulin. Fc receptors were also distinguished from avian bursa- and thymus-specific antigens. Additional Fc receptor-bearing cells were revealed in bursa, spleen and bone marrow lymphocytes after neuraminidase treatment.


Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells in the chicken. II. Relative increase of Fc(IgG) receptor bearing cells in obese strain-chickens. An EA rosette technique is used to study ontological development and organ distribution of Fc(IgG) receptor-bearing lymphoid cells in normal CS White Leghorn chickens, and in OS chickens with spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis. During the embryonic period, no difference was seen between CS and OS in the tissue distribution of cells with Fc receptors. At the time of hatching and subsequently, the OS chickens possessed relatively more Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells than did CS chickens. The increase of Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells was most prominent among spleen cells. No difference in the affinity of Fc receptors between lymphocytes of the OS and CS chickens was demonstrated. The possible role of Fc receptor-carrying cells in the development of autoimmune thyroiditis is discussed.


Pigeon IgA: a major antigen in pigeon breeder's disease. Pigeon IgA has been isolated from crop-milk and an antiserum was produced. Extracts of the dust in pigeon coops contained detectable amounts of pigeon IgA, but not IgG. The sera of patients with pigeon breeder's disease contained precipitating antibody against pigeon IgA.


Drug use and employment patterns before and during treatment. This paper was initiated to study the effect of outcome measures as they relate to indication of treatment success. Results have shown that after the third month in treatment, drug use decreases very little. Time in treatment in significantly related to urin-analysis results during the first 3 months; that is, those clients who were to remain in treatment for longer periods were those whose average opiate use during the first 3 months were lowest. We also found that no relationship exists between pretreatment opiate use and opiate use during any evaluation time period. Analysis of employment change rate for a 1-year's period indicate that those employed at intake remain employed and those unemployed remain so. Change in opiate use during any evaluation period had no influence whatsoever on employment.


Onset of addiction: a first attempt at prediction. This study attempts to identify predictors of early heroin addiction. Natives of low social class origins are, as predicted by "social structure and anomie theory," more likely to be addicted when young. However, social class has little impact on age of addiction among migrants. Blue-collar migrants are strikingly less likely than blue-collar natives to be addicted when young; a nonsignificant trend in the same direction is found for white-collar respondents. Findings are interpreted in terms of commitment to traditional values. Contrary to expectations based on Moynihan, family intactness is unrelated to age of addiction.


Reactions to other people's cigarette smoking. Cigarette smoking in social interaction is examined through a study of reactions and perceptions people have to others' smoking in their social presence. A questionnaire was administered to 130 subjects, among whom 57 were smokers, 30 were ex-smokers, and 43 were nonsmokers. Ex-smokers and nonsmokers in particular tended to report a disrupting effect upon their interactions with others when others smoked. Smokers tended to report no effect. Almost nobody reported a positive effect on interactions by others' smoking. This finding is discussed in the context of previous research findings that smokers report an increased social comfort with their own smoking.


Alcoholism and ethnicity: a comparative study of alcohol use patterns across ethnic groups. Sociological and alcohol use patterns were studied in American Indian, Black, Hispano, and White Anglo groups of alcoholism patients. Sociological variables indicated all groups appeared to be experiencing significant disruption in social and vocational areas, with the American Indian group showing the greatest disruption across the four groups in the socioeconomic areas. The four groups did not differ as to use of alcohol to enhance self, manage anxiety and depression, or as to sustained or periodic use. American Indians and Hispanos have a greater tendency to drink gregariously, to drink more, and to have more disruption in social role functioning. The general trend was that the American Indian group revealed greater social and alcohol symptom disruption than the other three groups, thus supporting a more specialized treatment approach for American Indian alcoholism patients.


A critique of project evaluations.

A critique of project evaluations. In recent years an increased stress has been placed on the evaluation of mental health, education, and welfare service programs. The majority of studies readily available to most evaluators represent local project evaluations which usually contain diverse references to different aspects of the evaluative process. For evaluative results to be even minimally useful to other projects, however, certain requirements must be met. These are: (1) internal validity, (2) external validity, (3) specification of the population and treatment being implemented, and (4) standardization of indicators of treatment impact. To determine the extent to which published project impact evaluations meet these criteria, a study was undertaken to "evaluate the evaluations" themselves within heroin addiction treatment programs. Six high-yield journals and 100 random sources were systematically searched for reports of evaluations which provided measures of success in terms of the consumer. Articles were analyzed in regard to our four prerequisites for cross-project comparisons regarding process variables, impact variables, and methodologies. It became clear, however, that our original objectives in evaluating either the usefulness of published project evaluations or testing any specific impact hypotheses were not achievable due to the state of evaluative measurement and reporting practices at this time. The major problems we eoncountered in our inability to complete a necessary and potentially fruitful comparative assessment of project evaluations are discussed in detail with recommendations for future work.


Statistics on alcoholic marriages: an overview. This paper is a brief American literature review reporting on (1) the percentage of alcoholics who marry, (2) the percentage who separate or divorce, and (3) the temporal relationship between date of marriage and onset of alcoholism. All studies discussed control for age and compare results to a general population. The authors show that early studies suggested that alcoholics were an unsocialized and homeless group of people who were not likely to marry whereas later research showed that alcoholics are just as likely as persons in the general population to marry but are at least four times more likely to separate or divorce. Multiple variables account for the high rate of marital disruption. The literature is conflicting regarding whether people tend to marry before or after the onset of alcoholism. Future research must delineate relevant psychological and sociocultural variables in addition to the alcoholism itself.


Discrepancy, dissonance, and the "dissonant" smoker. This paper reexamines, in the light of social psychological research, the theoretical assumptions made by McKennell and Thomas in their study of smoking habits and attitudes in Britain. One assumption made by them is that antismoking messages which are very discrepant from the opinions held by smokers should be avoided since they may produce attitude change in the opposite direction to that intended. It is argued that there is little empirical basis for this assumption, and that the discrepancy of a communication from the initial attitudes of a target audience is not necessarily the most important determinant of its effectiveness. McKennell and Thomas also distinguish "consonant" from "dissonant" smokers--the latter being those who say that they would like to give up smoking if they could do so easily. It is argued that the term "dissonant" is a misnomer when applied to smokers who see themselves as unable to choose not to smoke. Practical and theoretical implications are discuseed.


The Drug Attitudes Scale (DAS): its development and evaluation. Five studies were conducted, employing three independent samples of high school students, leading to the development and assessment of the reliability and validity of a Drug Attitudes Scales. The results of these studies support the conclusions that this scale shows substantial reliability and validity, and promises considerable utility in drug treatment and education research. The Drug Attitudes Scale consists of 60 attitude items dealing with drugs and drug use, and is comprised of 10 six-item subscales referring to tranquilizers, barbiturates, heroin, opiates other than heroin, "speed," alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens, tobacco, and general drug use.


A survey of drug use among probationers in the Los Angeles area in 1976. The results are presented from the analysis of 10,000 urine specimens from Los Angeles County probationers in early 1976 for the following drugs: amphetamine, methamphetamine, allylbarbital, amobarbital, butabarbital, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, secobarbital, morphine, codeine, methadone, primary metabolite of methadone, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, propoxyphene, norpropoxyphene, methaqualone, and phencyclidine. Over 27% of the urine samples analyzed were positive for at least one drug. Opiates were found to be the most widely used drugs, but multiple drug use was also quite common.


Defects of the central nervous system in Finland: V. Multivariate analysis of risk indicators. Based on the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations a search was undertaken for associations between defects of the central nervous system [CNS] and various selected risk indicators. The study material consisted of 710 cases of CNS defects and their time-area matched pair controls. 259 cases of polydactyly and their controls were also compared with a view of demonstrating the possible biases introduced by the case-control method. The present report is a multivariate analysis of previously observed associations, and the linear logistic regression model was used for the elimination of confounding factors. Risk indicators remaining after the analysis were high maternal age, multipara with previous stillbirths and defective children, especially defects of the CNS. Maternal influenza, especially in combination with the intake of salicylates, was also associated with an increased risk.


Role of oral contraception in congenital malformations of offspring. In a case control study we examined the relationship between congenital malformations in offspring and maternal exposure to oral contraceptives around the time of conception. There were 1 370 with congenital malformations and 2 968 healthy control infants. Maternal oral contraceptive use was unrelated to malformations considered as a whole whether exposure last occurred in the year before conception [odds ratio = 0.9, p=0.25] or during pregnancy [odds ratio = 1.3, p=0.30]. Exposure during pregnancy doubled the risk for some specific diagnoses, including certain cardiovascular defects, but these increases were not statistically significant. Exposure to specific oestrogens or progestogens was also unrelated to the occurrence of malformations. There was a suggestion that women who both smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day and used oral contraceptives during pregnancy were more likely to deliver a malformed infant than were women who neither used oral contraceptives nor smoked during pregnancy.


A comparison of neural tube defects identified by two independent routine recording systems for congenital malformations in Northern Ireland. The efficiency of two systems for recording congenital malformations has been compared; one system, the Registrar General's Congenital Malformation Notification, is based on registering all malformed infants, and the other, the Child Health System, records all births. In Northern Ireland for three years [1974--1976], using multiple sources of ascertainment, a total of 686 infants with neural tube defects was identified among 79 783 live and stillbirths. The incidence for all neural tube defects in 8 60 per 1 000 births. The Registrar General's Congenital Malformation Notification System identified 83.6% whereas the Child Health System identified only 63.3% of all neural tube defects. Both systems together identified 86.2% of all neural tube defects. The two systems are suitable for monitoring of malformations and the addition of information from the Genetic Counselling Clinics would enhance the data for epidemiological studies.


Should we screen all newborns for cystic fibrosis? To assess the value of detecting albumin in meconium as a screening procedure for cystic fibrosis [CF] 68,000 meconium samples were examined by BM Meconium Test, single radial immunodiffusion and benzidine reaction. The specificity and sensitivity of this combination of tests were 99.67% and 78.57% respectively. The prevalence of CF at birth was confirmed as 1:3600 in this country. This low prevalence resulted in a relatively high number of false positives. Therefore, a positive test result has a low predictive value [3.39%] and this is a serious drawback of the method. The experiences and opinions of 37 local paediatricians about the screening programme were evaluated by a simple questionnaire. Gold's decision rule was applied. The least relative cost of misclassification justifying a mass-screening programme was 3 times higher than the actual relative cost as suggested by the aggregate opinion of paediatricians in the region. These results support the view that with the methods used screening may have more disadvantages than not screening.


Sudden infant death syndrome in Cardiff, association with epidemic influenza and with temperature - 1955-1974. The effects of social class, season, low temperature and sudden falls in temperature are investigated in 286 cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Cardiff in the years 1955--1974. The association with low temperature was striking: unsuspected hypothermia may be an important feature of these deaths. Sudden infant death incidence was associated with influenza A but not influenza B epidemics.


Viral hepatitis: lack of transmission in an Athenian School. In the 1975-76 school year, 3 cases of icteric hepatitis occurred almost simultaneously in 2 grades of an Athenian school. An initial survey of the 2 classes approximately one week later found that 88 of 94 children were susceptible to type A hepatitis. No further clinical cases occurred. A second survey at the end of the school year revealed only 2 subclinical hepatitis A virus infections: one coincident with the overt cases in November, and a second from extramural exposure in February. Two carriers of hepatitis B virus in class A were not associated with serologic evidence for communicability of that agent in this setting. Testing of faecal specimens for agents possibly responsible for epidemiological interference with the spread of hepatitis A virus was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the hypothesis of Band that other agents may interfere with transmission of hepatitis A virus deserves further study.


A scale of valuations of states of illness: is there a social consensus? A difficult task in designing indices of health and measures of health output is deriving a scale of valuations of a set of defined states of health or illness. A scale derived by structured interview of 70 subjects and tested on a further 50 subjects is described. The method aims for a ratio scale and the extent to which this has actually been achieved is discussed. Scale values appear to be independent of the sex, age, socio-economic group, religious belief and past medical history of the subject, but have some association with current experience of illness. There is agreement between scale values obtained from medical nurses and patients and agreement between the different values obtained from psychiatric nurses and patients.


Classification of disability and distress by ward nurses: a reliability study. In a series of trials, ward nurses independently classified the disability and distress states of medical and surgical patients. Criteria for inter-rater reliability, in terms of correlation and absence of bias, were met after each rater had taken part in a training session which gave immediate feedback about performance.


Acute myocardial infarction in Stockholm - an area comparison. Stockholm county is divided into 13 catchment areas, which differ in the respect of social and economical structure. There are also differences in the organisation of medical care. These areas were compared with respect to incidence and lethality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The proportions of deaths from AMI taking place outside hospital were also compared. The study was based on the impatient-care register in Stockholm and on the cause-of-death register. It was concluded that differences in incidence between the catchment areas exist, most of which might be explained by socio-economic characteristics of the populations. No differences were found in lethality. Particularly, there was no difference in lethality between catchment areas with and without coronary-care units. For older people some small differences were found in the proportion of deaths outside hospital.