Status of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: 1977. Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, performed either in combination or separately, still constitute the most common major operations performed in the United States. This report is an attempt to present briefly the current status of knowledge concerning the epidemiology and natural history of conditions for which these operations are performed, the incidence of the operations, and the type and qualifications of the physicians performing the procedures, a review of the problems of the previous studies designed to determine efficacy, an update of the current study being conducted in Pittsburgh, and, finally, what little is known of the morbidity, mortality, and costs of these procedures.


Use of computerized axial tomography of the head and neck region. The use of the computerized axial tomography has been well received in the field of otolaryngology. Five cases are presented illustrating the capability of the total body scanner (Delta scanner) to contribute to radiologic diagnosis below the level of the base of the skull. The advantages of non-invasibility and three dimensionality are compared to the disadvantages of added cost, added radiation exposure, comparatively long exposure time and relatively poor detail. Because of the overall usefulness of this diagnostic tool, evolution of rapid scanning devices with greater detail is awaited with interest.


Safe use of epinephrine with halothane anesthesia. A review of the anesthesia literature outlines safe limits for use of epinephrine with halothane anesthesia and adequate ventilation. Excluded from the safe category are patients with previous cardiac disease, hypertension, patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors and reserpine. Considered as safe is 10 milliliters of 1:100,000 epinephrine in 10 minutes and not more than 30 milliliters of 1:100,000 epinephrine per hour.


Results of conservative surgery for middle ear cholesteatoma. A retrospective study was carried out to analyze treatment results for cholesteatoma at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. All patients undergoing primary surgical treatment from January 1, 1969 to December 31, 1973 were followed through October 1976. Treatment failures were based on the occurrence of postoperative cholesteatoma. The probability of being disease free for periods up to five years after original surgery was then estimated for each type of operation. Postoperative cholesteatoma occurred after atticotomy in 17%, intact canal wall mastoidectomy in 35%, and modified radical mastoidectomy in 9%. The postoperative cholesteatoma rate in the group having intact canal wall mastoidectomy was more than twice as high for those patients under age nine. The likelihood of being disease free five years after intact canal wall surgery was estimated to be 36% using the life table method. Disease recurrence was significantly higher after intact canal wall surgery compared to other surgical methods. The effectiveness of this method should be evaluated in a randomized, prospective manner to minimize patient selection and treatment bias.


Stapedectomy--fistula repair.

Stapedectomy--fistula repair. Perilymphatic fistulae have been proposed to occur most frequently on the short side of the graft in stapedectomized patients. The usual recommendation in fistula cases has been replacement of the entire prosthesis by a piston and tissue graft complex. In this case the stapedectomy had been performed, using a polyethylene Shea strut, 15 years previously. The air-bone gap had been closed during this entire period. A fistula was suspected after sudden hearing loss developed after barotrauma. At the time of exploratory tympanotomy, a fistula was noted on the long side of the oval window graft. It was elected to leave the polyethylene tube prosthesis in place because of its solid fixation, both laterally and medially. The fistula was closed by subcutaneous tissue graft.


The risks of major head and neck surgery in the aged population. A review of 162 major head and neck operative cases for cancer in patients over age 70 from 1963-1973 are reviewed. The major and minor surgical complication rates and the rate of medical complications are compared to 552 similar procedures in patients under age 70, during the same time period. The operative mortality figures for each group, as well as the causes of death, are examined. A plea is made for aggressive therapy in the elderly, both in the surgical planning and in their pre- and postoperative care.


Air caloric test: irrigation technique.

Air caloric test: irrigation technique. The technique of using air to perform the caloric test is discussed. Greater temperature differences and larger volumes of air are needed to achieve stimulations equal to those caused by water irrigations. Special consideration must be given to the design and operation of air irrigation equipment. The effects of irrigating a wet canal and of misdirecting the air jet are discussed. A new air irrigation apparatus is described.


"Practical suggestions on facial plastic surgery--how i do it". Z-plasty repositioning of an anatomical unit. The Z-Plasty was originally described in the writings of Hippocrates and since that time has developed into one of the most useful techniques in facial plastic surgery. Familiarity with its myriad of uses is invaluable to the practicing otolaryngologist. The basic technique of Z-Plasty consists in the design and transposition of adjacent triangular soft tissue flaps. Most common applications capitalize on the changes which occur during transposition to the common limb between the flaps. The resultant lengthening is used to provide needed tissue in areas of contracted scars and the change in direction is useful in camouflage of scars which cross skin tension lines. Additionally, displaced anatomical units such as the auricle, angle of the mouth or eyelid can be included in the flaps of the Z-Plasty to transpose them into a new anatomical position. Many congenital and acquired deformities can be corrected by this technique without loss of valuable tissue. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the above principle utilizing two patients with congenitally displaced auricles.


Effect of dietary lipids on fatty acid composition of body lipid in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Three isocaloric diets were prepared. Diet 1 (Control) contained 22% herring oil. In diets 2 and 3, a third and a half of the herring oil was replaced, respectively, by an animal fat (lard) which contained a high percentage of saturated fatty acids. Each diet was fed to duplicate groups of rainbow trout for 14 wk. The results of the feeding trial indicated that the concentration of the saturated fatty acids in trout body lipid did not increase despite the high concentration of these fatty acids in Diets 2 and 3. Fish growth, feed efficiency, mortality and the level of fatty acids deposited in fish body lipid and phospholipids are discussed.


The effect of various dietary factors on the size distribution of lymph fat particles in rat. By means of cellulose acetate electrophoresis and measurement of radio-activity, lipoproteins (d less than or equal to 1,006) of lymph collected from rats fed a diet containing fats added to labeled fatty acids for 20-24 hr, have been separated into two kinds differing in their size. Fats with different saturated and unsaturated fatty acid content were tested: corn oil, lard, mutton tallow, tripalmitin, corn oil-lard mixture, and randomized palmitic-linoleic triglycerides. Factors studied were: (a) increased amounts of these fats given alone or included in a test meal; (b) added amounts of nutrients (other than fats) in the test meal; (c) adaptation to a diet containing 20% fat for 10 days. The major part of the labeled lymph lipid was always transported by the smaller particles. Size distribution of lymph fat particles was influenced by some of the factors studied. Generally, unsaturated fats produced higher amounts of larger particles.


[Relationship between the rates of blood and dialyzing solution flow and determination of the efficiency of the "artificial kidney" dialyzing apparatus]. A mathematical model of the process of dialysis and of dialyzer is described. In this model it is presumed that the blood and dialyzing solution are stationary and homogenous, the diffusion through the film proceeds separately for each of the components (urea, creatinine, etc), the rate of the substance migration is proportional to the difference in the concentration of the substance on both sides of the film, the processes of the substance migration through the film do not affect the flow of the dialyzing solution and of the blood, the concentration of the components partaking in the dialysis is constant across the thickness of the fluids layers and along the breadth of the dialyzer. Recommendation on the selection of correlation for the dialyzing solution and blood flow rates are given and the influence of the film permeability on the dialyzer's clearance is determined.


[Pulse rate counter with digital read-out]. An all-purpose pulse rate counter with digital read-out, devised at the All-Union Research Institute of Radioelectronic Medical Equipment, is described. The counter is intended both for a separate use and also as a part of a complex set of the patients monitoring apparatus, the ones for functional diagnosis, mass examinations of the population and for research work. In combination with a commutator the device permits creation of multichannel systems of control.


[Apparatus and electrodes for nerve stimulation]. To successfully accomplish stimulation of a nerve a portable stimulator with bipolar electrodes has been designed. The level of the nerve trunk resistance was found to comprise 6 kOm. The threshold pulsed current amplitude at which the effect becomes apparent lies within the range of 1-2 mA, with the threshold of the potential pulses amplitude amounting to 4-12 V. The construction of the electrodes is described and the block diagram along with technical characteristics of the stimulator are presented.


[Choice of working temperatures for cryo-instruments used for local destruction of biological tissue]. When utilizing low temperatures for irreversible destruction of affected biological tissues it is important that one should have a clear idea as to the boundary of necrotic alterations. The correlation between the depth of necrosis and that of freezing, the rate of the tissue congelation, the period of cryogenic action, the temperature of the cryoinstrument and its structural shape, all these factors are analytically interrelated and this enables it to establish optimal performance characteristics in congelation of different tissues. In most cases satisfactory performance characteristics in freezing biological tissues can be achieved by using liquid nitrogen.


[Optimization of production diagrams in automated control systems for medical technology industries]. An algorhythm for drawing up optimal production schedule graphs covering a shop floor (production area) over a planned period of output, based on the criterion of minimizing the total time for the workpiece treatment that may be applicable in the APCS of biomedical engineering industry, is set forth. In this connection the notions of a critical workpiece, critical equipment and of a conflicting situation are introduced, and the LRT rule, that plays a dominant role in combination with those of the SIO and MIN idle time, is applied. A relation intended to settle the conflicting situation in compiling the optimal schedule graphs is adduced and its solution for computerized programming is given.


[Energetics of the growth of methanol oxidizing yeasts]. The effect of aeration on the economic coefficient and the phosphorylating effectiveness of oxidation was studied during chemostat cultivation of the methanol oxidizing yeast Candida boidinii. Changes in the partial pressure of dissolved oxygen from 0.008 to 0.08 atm caused a decrease in the economic coefficient from 0.40 to 0.25 g of biomass per 1 g of assimilated methanol, and an increase in the uptake of oxygen. The value of P/O, calculated from the ATP balance for biosynthetic processes, decreased from 1.4 to 0.7. The maximum theoretical economic coefficient for the growth of C. boidinii on a medium containing methanol is 0.47 g of biomass formed per 1 g of assimilated methanol.


[Carbohydrate metabolism enzymes of purple sulfur-bacteria during growth in the dark]. Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii, Chromatium minutissimum and Thiocapsa roseopersicina were grown in the dark under anaerobic conditions on media containing glucose or fructose and organic acids. Their cell contained the following enzymes of the fructose diphosphate pathway: phosphofructokinase, fructose diphosphate aldolase, and 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase. The activity of fructose diphosphate aldolase was higher in the cells grown in the dark than in the cells grown in the light. The same enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle were found in the cells cultivated in the dark on media containing organic acids as in the cells grown in the light, though the activity of some enzymes was lower. Only the activity of isocitrate lyase increased in the cells cultivated in the dark on a medium containing acetate.


[Cyanide insensitive respiration of Candida lipolytica yeasts]. The effect of rotenone, antimycin A, oligomycin, 2,4,-DNP, and various subtrates on the appearance of cyanide-resistant respiration of Candida lipolytica yeast was studied. Rotenone inhibited the development of cyanide-resistant respiration, but did not prevent its origination. Antimycin A and oligomycin increased the rate of the appearance of cyanide-resistant respiration. If the resting yeast culture was incubated with 2,4-DNP, glucose, or glycerol, the development of the alternative pathway of electron transport was inhibited. Such substrates as alpha-glycerophosphate, citrate, and D,L-lactate had no effect on the time of appearance of cyanide-resistant respiration. Therefore, in the stationary growth phase, an alternative, cyanide-resistant pathway of electron transport results from the inhibition of the rate of electron transport in the respiration chain.


[Search for actinomycetes that produce inhibitors of proteolytic enzymes]. The inhibiting activity of filtrates of the cultural broth against trypsin and chymotrypsin was studied among 66 actinomycetes. The highest activity against trypsin was found, after selection, in the following cultures: Act. janthinus 118, Act. violatus 125, Act. violaceus confinus 2476, Act. violaceus vicinus 1074. The antitrypsin activity was detected in the cultural broth of Act. janthinus 118 during the first day of its growth, and reached maximum by the third day. The inhibiting substance in the cultural broth is thermo- and pH-stable, is not extracted with organic solvents, and remains in the bag during dialysis. Apparently, the inhibitor (s) of trypsin produced by Act. janthinus 118 differes from trypsin inhibitors of microbial origin and low molecular weight which have been described so far.


[Influence of carbon source on lipid biosynthesis by Candida gluilliermondii]. The biosynthesis of lipids by Candida guilliermondii was studied during the growth of the yeast on carbon substrates which resulted in different pathways of lipid biosynthesis. The highest content of lipids was found during the growth on octadecane. The quantitative ratio between fractions of neutral lipids and phospholipids depended on the carbon substrate whereas the quanlitative composition of the fractions remained the same. The fatty acid composition of lipid fractions was studied, and possible pathways of their biosynthesis are discussed. Apparently, the assimilated hydrocarbon is oxidized to acetyl residues in certain structures of the yeast cells while, in other structures, the hydrocarbon substrate undergoes only monoterminal oxidation yielding an aliphatic alcohol and an acid which are directly used in large amounts for the synthesis of wax and triglycerides.


[Optimal conditions for determing ATP of microbial origin]. Endogenous luminescence of the luciferin-luciferase extract from firely tails was studied in determing low concentrations of ATP. The optimum concentration of the the extract, corresponding to the minumum effect of endogenous luminescence, was found in the reaction medium. The solution of luciferin-luciferase was unstable at room temperature and upon dilution. The activity of luciferin-luciferse solutions did not change after freezing in liquid nitrogen with following thawing. The content of ATP was assayed in the cells of Sarcina flava disintegrated with ultrasound.


[Causes of degeneration of cultures of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris]. Passage of cultures of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris on a peptone-maize medium causes their degeneration which is manifested in an impaired formation of the sporulating aerial mycelium, and in an increase of the amount of non-germinating spores in populations. The process of degeneration depends on the following conditions: the location of the inoculated material (spores) on the surface of a solid growth medium, which is determined by the technique of inoculation; the state of the spores (degeneration is accelerated if the spores were not activated with low temperatures); the quality of the growth medium.


[Influence of the nutrient medium on the total lipid fatty acid composition of Actinomyces canosus]. GLC was used to study the composition of endocellular fatty acids of Actinomyces canosus 89 grown on a chemically defined medium and on a complex medium to which various components were added. Total lipids of the culture contain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, from C13 to C18, with one or two double bonds. Addition of components to the medium stimulated the biosynthesis of myristic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic fatty acids. Changes in the composition of the growth medium modify the ratio between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids of total lipids, increasing the content of unsaturated fatty acids due to a higher rate of synthesis of linoleic and oleic fatty acids. An increase in the content of unsaturated fatty acids is a positive factor because these acids are involved in important physiological functions of both this organism and other living organisms.


[Cytology of the microflora of yogurt].

[Cytology of the microflora of yogurt]. Changes in the cell wall and various stages of lysis become manifested on the 1-2 day of development of the yogort bacteria. Heteromorphous individuals appear both in the culture of streptococci and rods. The nuclear apparatus of the yogort bacteria is exteremely polymorphous whereas in the streptococci it undergoes changes from compact nucleoids which are either round or crescent shaped or take the form of massive super-nuclei in heteromorphous individuals. A certain dynamics of fat and metachromatin (volutin) was noted in the process of the development of the culture. The presence of correlation was shown among the maximal fermentative activity of the culture, the beginning of lysis, the appearance of heteromorphous forms and volutin accumulation.


[Prognosing the viability of lyophilized Actinomyces parvullus spores based on the "accelerated storage" method]. A technique of "accelerated storage" was used to evaluate promptly the effectiveness of protective (suspension) media for lyophilization and further storage of spores of Actinomyces parvullus 99. The number of survived spores can be predicted using the Arrhenius diagram and the van't Hoff rule. Equine serum without a conserving agent was found to be the most effective protective medium for lyophilizing spores of Act. parvullus, as compared to such media as milk containing no fat or a mixture of 3 per cent solutions of gelatin and glucose.


[Variable forms of Clostridium felsineum]. Variants of five types, differing in morphology of their colonies, resulted from spontaneous variability of Clostridium felsineum, the main agent involved in flax retting, when it was grown in a liquid medium and then on a solid medium. Morphological, cultural, and biochemical properties of the variants are described. The variants of the second and third types were less stable than those of the first type in the course of passages on growth media. The rate of spore formation was higher in the variants of the first type whereas the activity of pectolytic enzymes was greater in the variants of the second type.


[Nitrogen fixation in combined cultures of Lipomyces and bacteria]. Nitrogen fixation by pure cultures of soil yeasts belonging to the genus Lipomyces Lodder et Kreger van Rij was not found by the acetylene method on a medium containing microelements and yeast autolysate. In a binary culture of L. lipofer 133 and Pseudomonas sp. 5, a nitrogen fixing bacterium, the content of bound nitrogen was 3.6 times higher in aerobic conditions and 15 times higher in anaerobic conditions than its accumulation by individual bacterial culture.


[Intensity of the process of sulfate reduction in the Sea of Azov]. The distribution of sulphate reducing bacteria, sulphides and the rate of sulphate reduction were studied in the water and ground of the Azov Sea during different seasons. The rate of sulphate reduction was found to be 0.10--68.62 mg S per litre per day. The highest rate of sulphate reduction in the surface layer of bottom deposits was observed in summer; it depended on the content of easily destructed organic matter in the ground. The rate of sulphate reduction decreased by 2--5 times at a depth of 5--10 cm from the surface ground. A direct correlation was established between the number of sulphate reducing bacteria and the rate of sulphate reduction.


[Toxoplasmosis studies in cattle by serological methods]. 2037 cattle sera from seven breeding farms were analysed by SF and KBR methods. 27.29 % positive results were obtained by SF method and 8.94 % by KBR methods. The distribution of titres is shown in table VI. Race and age have no effect on toxoplasmosis infection. Positive findings varying from 1828-43-48 % were obtained in different regions which meant the effect of geografical factor. It is concluted that these differences were due to the cats, found in the government farms which spread the disease. It was observed that toxoplasmosis caused abortions, complicated still birth deliveries, post natal mortality. The SF and KBR methods were applied separately on cattle with or without clinical syndroms. It was found that the more acute cases showed higher titres.


[A case of subacute bacterial endocarditis related to Alcaligenes faecalis]. Alcaligenes faecalis was isolated from the blood culture of an 18 years old patient with subacute bacterial endocarditis and rheumatic valvular disease. Isolated strain agglutinated with patient's serum at a ratio of 1/160.


[Content of nitrogen bases in the DNA of carboxide bacteria]. The composition of nitrogen bases was determined in total DNA of live strains of carboxide bacteria belonging to the genera Pseudomonas, Comamonas, Seliberia (Agrobacterium), Achromobacter. Considerate differences in the nucleotide composition of DNA of the studied bacteria confirm that they indeed belong to different genera. At the same time, the content of GC pairs in DNA of these bacteria is within the range found for the corresponding genera by other authors.


[Development of germ tubes in various strains of Candida]. 57 different Candida strains are studied and it is observed that most of them developed germ tubes.


[Similarities between Metchnikowia and Salmonella 0 6,7 antigens]. The antigenic similarity between Metschnikowia and Salmonella cholerae suis 0 6,7 antigen is reviewed and discussed briefly.


The structure of medical education.

The structure of medical education. The recurrent failure to adequately conceptualize the medical meaning of 'diease' is explained as a function of the way this is taught in the curriculum. It is not transmitted within the formal curriculum but within the internal structural relationships of the medical course. The limits of this particular definition engendered during medical education are described, and it is concluded that curriculum reform which stresses change in content and neglects educational structure will fail to modify this notion of disease.


What should we teach? A consensus method to determine curriculum content. The content of an undergraduate curriculum is usually decided upon by the appropriate University Department. Such a Department is staffed exclusively by specialists in the field. The technique described in this paper is one which uses the perception of a wide variety of doctors, including specialists in the field, other specialists and general practitioners, to determine what should be taught to undergraduate students. The outcome of this study reveals that there is substantial agreement on what basic materials should be taught in an undergraduate curriculum in Ophthalmology. There is a substantial agreement throughout the profession on the basic required competencies in Ophthalmology, but it is clear that general practitioners are much more demanding in their requirements from the undergraduate curriculum than are specialists. Ophthalmologists are the least demanding of the undergraduate. The consensus technique described in this paper is a practical and formative method of obtaining valuable data for use in curriculum construction.


The pre-clinical curriculum: an information processing problem. In this study revision procedures for examinations were investigated by questionnaire in a group of students undertaking a new pre-clinical course. The results revealed that students' own notes were by far the most preferred source of revision material and that lectures were the main source of these notes. Evidence of the actual revision strategies used together with their time scheduling was also obtained. Since lectures were shown to be the most significant form of input for later revision, a further study investigated the amount written and recalled from a single lecture, immediately afterwards and following a 5 month gap. The amount recalled was surprisingly high on both occasions but was not related to the amount of notes taken in the lecture. No significant sex differences in recall were observed but there was evidence that female students took significantly more notes. A much greater variation in the amount recalled was also observed over the longer time period.


A new integrated couse in preventive and coummunity medicine. An integrated course in Preventive and Community Medicine was introduced at the Christchurch Clinical School, New Zealand in 1974. Details of the fourth and fifth clinical years as well as the elective studies in the trainee intern (sixth) year are presented. The implications of the topic studies, rotating attachments, preventive medical examinations, preventive medical ward rounds, problem-orientated record studies, simulated disabilities and Clinico-Pathological Conferences are discussed. Some preliminary conclusions are drawn from the evaluation of this course.


Video-tape in teaching and examining clinical skills: a short case format. The need for a compact psychiatric skills test usable in medical examinations is outlined. The parallel need to develop training procedures in clinical skills is noted and relevant research data is briefly reviewed. The authors then describe the trial run of a teaching and testing procedure, together with preliminary results of a new rating instrument. The relevance of this procedure both to examinations and skills training is critically discussed.


The feasibility of using an American National Board examination for the evaluation of Swiss candidates for licensure. A test in Internal Medicine of the American National Board of Medical Examiners was given to Swiss medical students as a graduating examination. This study dealing with the feasibility of such an enterprise describes the technical procedures and investigates the problems of translation and the validity of foreign made items. Comparison of item analyses for the 369 Swiss candidates and for a sample of 370 American candidates reveals that most items are of close comparability in difficulty, discrimination and pattern of response to the distractors. In a cross-national comparison of student's responses to the items no systematic content characteristics can be found for items favouring one group or the other. Swiss experts, in judging the validity of the items for testing Swiss students, could indeed identify in advance some of the items that proved to be less valid and more difficult for their--but also the American--students. It is concluded that National Borad examination can be as valid and suited to examine Swiss candidates for licensure as it is to examine American candidates.


[Pre-seasonal treatment of hayfever with a pollen depot extract (author's transl)]. 90 patients with "hayfever" - that means pollenallergic diseases of the respiration tract and the eyes - were treated in spring 1974 and 1975 with a tyrosinabsorbed grass and rye depot extract with three injections before the pollen-season. Only 16 patients had an isolated grass-rye-pollen-allergy in skin test, all the other patients had additional extrinsic allergies. These results were proved by RAST. One third of the patients had bad side-effects (27 out of 90) during the treatment. 17 patients showed general reactions and ten patients very strong local reactions. We think that these side-effects were caused by contact with antigens (hairs of animals, foods, flowers of trees) during therapy and acute or chronic infections. The results of therapy were asked by a questionnaire one year after the series of injections, there were 37 improved, 32 unchanged and/or worsened in pollen-season after treatment. Nevertheless the results encouraged to continue this treatment with the grass-rye-pollen-extract. It could be used as an "initial treatment" in pollinosis patients with a wide spread allergy just before the beginning of the pollen-season. It is necessary to fullfill all procedures of precaution which are in use in hyposensitizationtherapy to prevent stronger side-effects.


[Bodyplethysmography in children (author's transl)]. The applicability of bodyplethysmography in children often fails by the anxiety of sitting alone in the closed plethysmograph cabin. By comparing measurements however it is proved that the results of airway-resistance and thoracic gas volume are not changed in any way, if an adult person accompanies the child inside the cabin. The assumption being essential for a correct measurement are discussed.


[Intracerebral calcifications. Etiology and symptomatic (author's transl)]. The importance of x-ray-investigations of skull is demonstrated in ten remarkable examples. Mostly intracerebral calcification follows inflammatory, traumatic, neoplastic or metabolic disease. In spite of the simplification of contrast-investigations which have assumed great importance x-ray-films of skull often permit specific diagnostic assessment and therefore should be done first.


[Blood sugar in patients with vegetativ dysfunction and neurotic tendencies (author's transl)]. There are multiple relations between neurotic abnormal behavior and the incidence of functional vegetativ disorders and there are also correlations between such dysfunctions and blood sugar homoiostasis. In patients with functional vegetative dysorders and neurotic behavior we performed a glucose tolerance test and compared the results to a control group. In the group of patients with vegetative dysfunction and neurotic tendencies the oral glucose tolerance test was abnormal in 68.4 p.c. as compared to 21.3 p.c. in the control group. Several insulin antagonists which play a role in stress responses are discussed in the interpretation of these surprising results.


Radiations emitted in the decay of 165Er: a promising medical radionuclide. The 10.3-h 165Er, decaying by electron capture to stable 165Ho, offers an excellent promise for use in diagnostic nuclear medicine, especially in conjunction with multiwire proportional-counter cameras. Using an ultra-high-resolution Si(Li) photon spectrometer, L and K x-ray photon yields in 165Er decay have been measured. The ratio PL/PK of electron-capture probalities in L and K shells is determined to be 0.196+/-0.030, in good agreement with theory. Estimates of Auger electron yields and yields of very-low-energy electrons from Coster-Kronig transitions are presented. Levels of 169Er and 171Er radioactive impurities in the reactor-produced 165Er sample are experimentally determined. Whole-body dose estimates for 165Er are given. These compare favorably with 99mTc dose.


Photon energy distribution of some typical diagnostic x-ray beams. A high-purity germanium spectrometer system was used to determine primary x-ray spectra over the 45--90-kVp region. Methods were devised for producing and examining spectra stimulating diagnostic conditions without operating the x-ray generator at high current levels. The techniques used to correct the experimental data and produce a photon fluence spectrum are discussed. The results, presented graphically and in tables, have been normalized to yield the relative number of photons per 2-keV interval. Methods for converting a normalized spectrum into a photon fluence spectrum that will produce an exposure of 1 R are presented. The analytical model and procedures used to calculate the K-escape fraction are discussed.


Amplification and entailed resolution degradation in high-pressure gas ionography. This work deals with the introduction of a gas electronic gain factor in high-pressure ionography (or "electron radiography"). The purpose is to check the possibility of a further reduction of radiation dose per radiograph. It is shown tha xenon or krypton can be mixed with special molecular gases in order to achieve charge-carrier multiplication at comparatively weak electrostatic fields and in an easily controllable manner. Some radiographs are reproduced which have been obtained in the amplifying working modes of the system. Relevant image characteristics and their limits are discussed. The obtainable resolution is limited by electron diffusion and by quantum noise (lowering of the effective quantum-detection efficiency).


Iterative method for elimination of the Kbeta filter in dual-beam differential tissue absorptiometry. The application of a dual photon beam to the measurement of tissue and tissue-like substances has generally required the use of a filter to attain the required monochromaticity of the lower-energy x-ray photons. In many cases this has the undesirable effect of also severely attenuating the desired low-energy beam. A method for circumventing the use of the filter is described. The technique relies on a knowledge of the initial intensities of the components of the x-ray portion of the dual beam and involves an iterative mathematical procedure. Experimental verification of the method using both tissue and nontissue substances has been carried out. R values obtained with the iterative system show good correlation with filtered values.


Large-area contrast of a fiber-optic coupled x-ray image intensifier. Large-area contrast measurements have been made upon a fiber-optic x-ray image intensifier with an external input phosphor. Both photometric and photographic techniques were used. For a shadowed area of 10% of the input window area, a contrast ratio in excess of 150 was determined. This is a factor of 5 higher than previously reported for any x-ray image intensifier. The improved contrast in the device is attributed to (1) reduced effect of x-ray Compton scattering in the input window; (2) less cross-chord light at the photocathode; and (3) greatly reduced light scattering and reflecting in output phosphor and window.


Computer-compatible patient contour plotter. The use of a compact, mobile, relatively inexpensive electromechanical patient-contouring mechanism is described. The system utilizes a Numonics Model 224 graphics digitizer suspended over the patient. The digital X and Y coordinates of the patient contour in either of multiple, parallel transverse, or sagittal planes are inherently accurate to within +/-0.25 mm over a total reading are of 60X90 cm. Display features include the interface to an analog 11-in.X17-in. X-Y plotter with a variable scale-down factor for those contours which would otherwise be larger than the plotting surface. The system is easy to use and may also be readily interfaced for on-line entry of patient contours to calculator- or minicomputer-based treatment-planning systems.


Reconstruction of objects from diverging x rays. Rotation of a system consisting of a single x-ray source and a linear detector array allows rapid collection of x-ray projection data from which transaxial cross sections can be reconstructed. In this paper, we present an algorithm which makes possible rapid computerized reconstruction from such data. We describe some experiments aimed at investigating the optimal choice of some of the parameters associated with the algorithm. We report on reconstructions using our algorithm of the intact thorax of a dog and also of cross sections of the human female breast from x-ray data obtained by a computerized mammography machine.


Effective size of the transverse dimension of x-ray-tube focal spots. Corrections for nonuniform x-ray intensity distributions have been computed for the dimension perpendicular to the anode-cathode axis of x-ray-tube focal spots. These correction factors were developed from comparison of OTFs for focal spots with uniform intensity distributions to those for focal spots with symmetric double-peaked intensity distributions.


Energy absorbed in calcium tungstate x-ray screens. The energy which must be absorbed in a CaWO4 x-ray intensifying screen to produce unit net opetical density on a film has been evaluated by measurement and calculation for a screen-film system over a range of beam qualities (1.4--7.4 mm A1 HVL) spanning the diagnostic x-ray region. It was found to be constant within experimental error. The absorbed-energy constant for three additional CaWO4 screens is presented for a single beam quality. To correct the estimation of absorbed energy, the fractional escape of tungsten K x rays has been evaluated and the results are presented as a function of phosphor loading. The absorbed-energy constant is useful for predicting optical density for variable beam conditions; a family of characteristic curves based on exposure is reduced to one curve for a particular film-screen system, expressed as optical density as a function of absorbed energy.


Neutron energy spectra and dose-distribution spectra of cyclotron-produced neutron beams. Neutron energy spectra and spectra of dose deposition in tissue-equivalent material have been measured for neutron sources produced by 16-, 22-, 35-, and 45.5-MeV deuterons and 22.5-, 35-, 45-, and 65.5-MeV protons incident upon a thick beryllium target. Neutron spectra were measured using time-of-flight techniques and the dose distribution was measured using a 1/2 in. spherical "tissue-equivalent" proportional counter filled with "tissue-equivalent" gas.


Ultrasonic pulse-echo determination of thermal injury in deep dermal burns. Burns of all kinds represent a serious class of traumatic injury, affecting over two million people annually in the United States alone. Of this number, over 70000 are serious enough to require extended hospitalization. Currently, there is no sensitive, quantitative technique for measuring the depth of thermal damage in such injuries. An ultrasonic pulse-echo technique is described here whereby such information can be obtained within a few minutes postburn. Results from model porcine experiments are given to illustrate the usefullness of the method, and implication for the clinical care of human burn victims are discussed.


Proton-beryllium neutron production at 25-55 MeV. The production of neutrons by stopping 25-, 35-, 45-, and 55-MeV protons in beryllium has been studied. The yield of neutrons in the forward direction can be approximated by the relation: yield = -0.032X10(16).E+0.0027X10(16).E2 neutrons/C sr. The neutron spectra are characterized by a low-energy evaporation component which has small angular dependence and a high-energy component which is peaked in the forward direction. Neutrons produced in the forward direction have an average energy approximately 40% of the incident proton energy.


Toward a unified view of radiological imaging systems. Part II: Noisy images. "The imaging process is fundamentally a sampling process." This philosophy of Otto Schade, utilizing the concepts of sample number and sampling aperture, is applied to a systems analysis of radiographic imaging including some aspects of vision. It leads to a simple modification of the Rose statistical model; this results in excellent fits to the Blackwell data on the detectability of disks as a function of contrast and size. It gives a straightforward prescription for calculating a signal-to-noise ratio, which is applicable to the detection of low-contrast detail in screen-film imaging, including the effects of magnification. The model lies between the optimistic extreme of the Rose model and the pessimistic extreme of the Morgan model. For high-contrast detail, the rules for the evaluation of noiseless images are recovered.


Imaging soft tissue through bone with ultrasound transmission tomography by reconstruction. A phantom consisting of a 2.5-cm-diameter aluminum rod, a balloon filled with castor oil, and a ballon filled with a phenylated silicone fluid was imaged in water with ultrasound transmission tomography by reconstruction (UTTR). This phantom was chosen for investigation of the feasibility of detecting small changes in the ultrasound velocity and ultrasound attenuation coefficient of soft tissues in planes containing bones. Attenuation images of a transverse section of a leg of lamb were obtained as well. Opposed transmitting and receiving transducers were scanned on either side of the imaged object, just as an x-ray tube and detector are scanned in the pencil beam geometry employed with the first x-ray computerized axial tomographic system. More than adequate signal was transmitted through the aluminum rod and the bone to obtain reconstructions; but, in these crude images, there were numerous artifacts which maintain the uncertainty regarding the future utility of this promising technique. Although velocity imaging should not be as sensitive to reflection and refraction as attenuation imaging, a very narrow ultrasound beam must be employed to obtain reasonable resolution in velocity imaging.


Dosimeter placement in the Rando phantom. Each section of the Alderson Rando phantom contains a tissue-equivalent plastic coating layer approximately 2 mm thick, applied to both faces. This compensates for material removed in the sawing process. Conventional use of thermoluminescent dosimeters positions them totally or partially within the coating layer. Analysis shows that, in the lung region, dosimeters placed in this layer received a dose averaging 39% lower than those placed at midsection. Where bony structures interfere, some dosimeters in the coating layer received an 18% higher dose than those at midsection. Therefore, positioning dosimeters at the center of a section is recommended.


Dosimetric measurements in the neutron field produced by a deuterium gas target with a compact medical cyclotron. Several dosimetric measurements have been carried out in the neutron field produced by accelerated deuterons incident upon a pressurized deuterium gas target. A significant improvement has been achieved in central-axis depth dose when compared to the 9Be(3He,n)11C interaction previously studied . Designs for a target with a high-power dissipation capability are currently underway.


Neutron spectra at 0 degrees from 83.7-MeV deuterons and 100.2-MeV protons on beryllium. Neutron energy spectra were measured at 0 degrees from 83.7-MeV deuteron bombardment of a 2.0-cm-thick beryllium target and 100.2-MeV proton bombardment of a 60-MeV-thick beryllium target backed with aluminum.


[Clinical and radiological findings in 78 children during the 1974/75 mycoplasma-pneumonia-epidemic (author's transl)]. Between August 1974 and October 1975 78 patients with mycoplasma-pneumonia-infection were admitted to the 3 pediatric clinics of Hannover. Their clinical and radiological findings were studied. 20 patients with serological diagnosis of additional viral infection were not included in this study. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by complement fixation test. The commonest symptoms were fever, coughing and abnormal auscultatory findings over the lungs. Chest roentgenograms showed three different patterns of infiltration: 1. Disseminated, non homogenous bronchial lines and mottled shadows often with swollen hilar lymphnodes in 46% of all patients.--2. Homogenous, extensive, opaque infiltrates in 29% of all patients.--3. Perivascular and peribronchial infiltrates at the hilus with or without swollen lymphnodes in 21% of all patients.--This means that in half of the patients abnormal signs in chestroentgenogram (type 2 and 3) were present, which formerly were described as "atypical pneumonia."--4. There were no radiological symptoms in 4% of the patients.--Those who were treated with tetracyclin or erythromycin became afebrile within 1--3 days, in those who didn't get antibiotics at all or were treated with other antibiotics fever lasted longer.


[Subdural hygroma in infants with congenital toxoplasmosis (author's transl)]. Cytological examination of the fluid from subdural hygromas revealed congenital Toxoplasmosis in 14 of 43 infants (32,5%). Conversely, subdural hygroma was a significant clinical symptom in 42 cases of congenital Toxoplasmosis. In 9 cases trophozoites or cystes of Toxoplasma Gondii were found in the subdural fluid, and in 4 of these in the cerebrospinal fluid as well. Since serological investigations in young infants and particularly severe infections often remain inconclusive the cytological examination of cerebrospinal fluid is emphasized importance of.


[Laryngeal complications in newborns following intratracheal intubation (author's transl)]. Histological and bacteriological findings in comparison to clinical data concerning intubation for 38 dead premature infants and newborns were studied to elucidate conditions complicating intratrachial intubation at the laryngeal level. The larynx was intact in 3 cases. Slight lesions of mucosa (epithelabrasion, hemorrhage) were found in 13, moderately severe lesions (necrosis of epithelium, ulcers, pseudomembranes) in 11, and severe lesions (deep necrosis, perichondritis with sceletisation) in 10 cases. 1 case showed a stage of regeneration. The narrow passage between the two processus vocales is a site of predilection for tubus-induced lesions, the epithelium bein immediately adjacent to the cartilage. Successful bacteriological demonstration of the infectious agent correlated with the rising degree of mucosal lesions, and increasing duration of intubation. 3 cases, however, already had severe lesions after short-time-intubation. Formal and causal pathogenesis are described. Essential causes are: trauma of intubation, irritation by the tubus in situ, duration of intubation, and infection. Regenerative power of the infantile laryngeal mucosa is strong. Permanent lesions may occur as scarred stenosis. Careful indication, accurate and careful technology of intubation, choice of the smallest possible diameter of tubus, good care for the tubus, and generous prophylaxis against infections are to be demanded.


[Congenital tracheal stenosis due to pulmonary artery sling (author's transl)]. Congenital stridor was observed in a newborn due to left pulmonary artery sling. Clinical signs and the course of the disease were determined by an extreme tracheal stenosis. In newborns and infants with apneic episodes, inspiratory and expiratory wheezing and cyanosis a pulmonary sling should be considered. Unilateral hyperexpansion of the lung and an anterior indentation of the esophagus are helpful diagnostic signs. Surgical treatment for pulmonary sling is possible but remains unsatisfactory. Patients with associated tracheobronchial stenosis show a high over-all mortality rate.


[On an unusual case of hypoplastic anaemia (author's transl)]. The authors describe an unusual case of hypoplastic anaemia. The condition developed shortly after birth as a typical case of Josephs-Blackfan Diamond and was favourably influenced only by a combined treatment with Prednison and Dianabol. The improvement, however, did not last long and after shorter or longer periods of time anaemia recurred again. Applying the same therapy the authors succeeded, despite the sometimes grave condition of the child, not only to save his life but also to normalize the erythrocyte count. It must be noted that the child showed viability for a long period of time no matter how pronounced the anaemia was. Thus, therapy was not necessary to be repeated often. Of special interest for this case were bone marrow examinations. During the first year of the child's life only 1 to 4 erythroblasts were seen the examination was performed several times. After the sixth year the bone marrow contained many erythroblasts although the type of anaemia remained unchanged. According to the authors this peculiarity could be explained only as a transition from a hypoplastic into a pseudohypoplastic anaemia.


Coffee, alcohol and risk of coronary heart disease among Japanese men living in Hawaii. We examined the relation of coffee and alcohol consumption to the risk of coronary heart disease during a six-year period in a cohort of 7705 Japanese men living in Hawaii. The analysis was based on 294 new cases of coronary heart disease. There was a positive association between coffee intake and risk, but it became statistically insignificant when cigarette smoking was taken into account. There was a strong negative association between moderate alcohol consumption (up to 60 ml per day), mainly from beer, and the risk of nonfatal myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease. This association remained significant in multivariate analysis, taking into account smoking and other risk factors. The correlation of alcohol consumption with the level of alpha cholesterol (positive) and beta cholesterol (negative) may partly account for the observed negative association between alcohol and coronary heart disease.


A pharmacologic evaluation of penicillin in children with purulent meningitis. We undertook a prospective study of the pharmacokinetics of penicillin G (administered intravenously every four hours for a total of b50,000 U per kilogram per day) in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with purulent meningitis. Both the absolute mean cerebrospinal-fluid penicillin concentration (0.8, 0.7 and 0.3 microgram per milliliter) and the percentage of the simultaneous serum penicillin concentration measurable in the cerebrospinal fluid (18.4, 9.9, 4.9 per cent) declined on the first, fifth and 10th days of therapy, respectively. A mean peak cerebrospinal-fluid penicillin concentration of 0.96 micrograms per milliliter was measured at least transiently on all three study days. This pharmacokinetic pattern correlated with the return of cerebrospinal-fluid protein concentration toward normal (P less than 0.01). Penicillin G in the dosage studied is adequate therapy for most streptococcal and meningococcal meningitis in children; an increased dosage may be necessary when the minimal inhibitory concentration of penicillin to the etiologic agent is unusually high.


Continuous subcutaenous administration of deferoxamine in patients with iron overload. Since deferoxamine B, when administered as a single daily intramuscular injection of 0.75 g, is unable to promote sufficient urinary iron excretion to achieve net negative iron balance in siderosis, we evaluated its administration as a constant infusion over 24 hours. We compared intravenous and subcutaneous routes in 24 siderotic patients who had excreted 420 to 630 mg (mean, 480 mg) of iron per month on intramuscular therapy. With the intravenous route urinary iron excretions increased to 570 to 3690 mg (mean, 1595 mg) per month. Constant subcutaneous delivery was 90 per cent as effective as intravenous administration on a dose-for-dose basis. Noteworthy net cumulative urinary iron excretions (urinary iron excretions minus transfused iron), often in excess of 1 g per month, have been maintained in all patients. Constant subcutaneous deferoxamine administration may prove to be an effective and practical means of eliminating large quantities of iron in siderosis.


Health-services research and innovations in health-care delivery. Does research make a difference? Members of the Institute of Medicine were asked to list the most important innovations in the health-care system for the past quarter century, and to identify health-services researchers who might be recognized by some prize or award. There was considerable difficulty in identifying such innovations. A large number of investigators were named as health-services researchers deserving commendation, but only a few received more than two or three votes. There was little evidence of linkage between the innovations described and the work for which investigators were nominated for recognition. There is little reason to expect such research to produce major alterations in the system, since these alterations are linked to changes in the values and expectations of society. However, the research may of some value in documenting the effects (or lack thereof) of proposed changes and also promote if not create change.


Mazindol and amphetamine as inhibitors of the uptake and releasers of 3H-dopamine by rat striatal synaptosomes. The effects of mazindol, amphetamine and fenfluramine on uptake and release of 3H-DA by synaptosomes were studied in different systems. In in vitro incubations of 3H-DA with synaptosomes isolated from the caudate nucleus of the rat, mazindol inhibited the uptake of the radioactivity more potently than did amphetamine. When the synaptosomes were isolated from the caudate nuclei of rats treated in vivo with either mazindol or amphetamine, the uptake of 3H-DA during in vitro incuation was lower with synaptosomes of amphetamine-treated rats than with those of mazindol-treated rats. When synaptosomes of untreated rats were prelabelled with 3H-DA and incubated in the presence of amphetamine or of mazindol, amphetamine caused a greater release of radioactivity than did mazindol. Fenfluramine was without activity in all these systems. In spite of the quantitative differences, both amphetamine and mazindol appear to have similar effects on uptake and release of dopamine, and this may account for their analogous pharmacological profile.


The labelling of motor end-plates in skeletal muscle of mice with 125I tetanus toxin. Twelve hours after injection of 125I labelled tetanus toxin into the shank of one hindlimb of mice radioactivity was found in the end-plate region of soleus muscles. The ratio between the radioactivity of the end-plate and the end-plate-free region was 2.5 +/- 0.4 S.D. Autoradiographs showed intense labelling of end-plates and a slight but clear labelling of axons. When 125I tetanus toxin was injected 3 days after denervation of the soleus muscle the former end-plate region still accumulated a higher radioactivity (ratio 2.0 +/- 0.5 S.D.), however, autoradiographs showed a diffuse distribution of labelled tetanus toxin. It can be concluded that tetanus toxin binds to the presynaptic nerve terminal. This binding is not dependent on activity of the nerve terminal or transmitter release.


The pharmacokinetics and organ distribution of ajmaline and quindine in the mouse. After i.v. infusion into mice (lasting 10 s) the time courses of ajmaline and quinidine concentrations in blood, heart, lung, liver, and brain were studied. The drugs were assayed by a spectrofluorophotometric procedure. Blood concentration data obtained were fitted graphically and calculations were performed in accordance with an open two compartment model. Blood kinetic data were very similar for both alkaloids. A rapid distribution phase with a t0.5alpha of 3.0 min for ajmaline and 2.5 min for quindine was followed by a disposition phase with a t0.5beta of 16 min for ajmaline and 20 min for quinidine. High tissue accumulation of both alkaloids was found in lung, liver, and heart and this is also reflected by the volume of distribution Vdbeta, which was 136 ml for ajmaline and 116 ml for quinidine (body weight of the mice = 31 g). With equilibrium dialysis a 62% binding of ajmaline and a 77% binding of quinidine to mouse blood constituents was found. Both drugs were highly metabolized since only 5% of a given dose was excreted unchanged in the urine.


Bilary and urinary excretion of five cardiac glycosides and its correlation with their physical and chemical properties. Biliary and urinary excretion of five tritium-labelled cardiac glycosides, i.e. Ouabain, K-strophanthoside, Digoxin, Digitoxin and Deslanatoside C, were investigated in anaesthetized guinea-pigs 5 h after i.v. or enteral administration. Urinary excretion is the main route of elimination in the case of Ouabain and Deslanatoside C. Conversely, biliary excretion is predominant in the case of Digoxin and Digitoxin. K-strophanthoside is excreted both via bile and urine. In conscious guinea-pigs treated i.v. with the same cardiac glycosides the highest levels were observed in urine, bile, kidneys and liver. The relative values of those levels were in agreement with the excretion pattern observed in anaesthetized animals. An inverse linear relation (P less than 0.05) was encountered between biliary excretion rate and polarity of glycoside molecula. This correlation has been previously observed by other authors in other species, but not in the rabbit. This suggests that the correlation may not be considered generally applicable at present.


The reversibility of the inhibition of intestinal amino-acid transport by harmaline. The inhibitory aciton of harmaline on L-phenylalanine uptake by guinea-pig intestinal rings is fully reversible provided only low concentrations of the inhibitor are used; if the concentration is raised to a sufficient extent to enable the drug to interfere with sodium pumping or cellular metabolic reactions, as witnessed by its effect on tissue oxygen consumption, then the inhibition of L-phenylalanine uptake is only reversible if short contact times are employed.


Solubilization of brain mitochondrial hexokinase by thiopental. The control of hexokinase activity probably is accomplished by regulating the partitioning of the enzyme between soluble and particulate forms, the latter being more active. In the present investigation we have examined the thiopental effect on the cerebral hexokinase distribution. In anesthesia, after administration of thiopental to male Sprague Dawley rats, the increase of the soluble fraction of hexokinase was dose dependent. The change in the intracellular hexokinase distribution was reversible and lasted as long as general anesthesia existed. Also in experiments in vitro a solubilization of the mitochondrial hexokinase by thiopental (0.1--1 mM) occurred; it was depending on drug concentration. An inhibition of hexokinase was found neither in the total brain extract, nor in the soluble or the particulate fraction. The results suggest that phosphorylation of glucose in brain may be suppressed in anesthesia by shifting hexokinase activity from a more active mitochondrial form to its less active soluble form. This effect seems to be caused by a direct action of thiopental and is obviously correlated with anesthesia.


Effect of phenylhydrazine on the plasma lipids of albino rat. The effect of phenylhydrazine hydrochloride on the lipid composition of plasma of albino rats have been investigated. The data revealed significant increase in the percentages of lysophosphatidyl choline and decrease in that of phosphatidyl choline. There was increase in the cholesterol ester content in the plasma. The assay of plasma lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity showed a significant increase in its activity parallel to the above changes.


The influence of age and drugs on the thermoregulatory behaviour of rats. A method is described which allows to measure thermoregulatory effective conditioned behaviour in rats. This method makes it possible to vary the preset ambient temperature (Ta) in a wide range. The results only deal with subnormal Ta (normal housing temperature 23 degrees C). Rats are able to acquire a conditioned behaviour additional to inborn behaviour which is adequate to contribute to thermal homoeostasis. Exposed to -4 degrees C adult animals adjusted their mean Ta to +4 degrees C, old animals to +8 degrees C. A dose of 40 micromol/kg Phentolamine caused adult rats to adjust mean temperature to +9 degrees C, old rats to +13.5 degrees C. But even this increased behavioural activity did not prevent the hypothermic effect of the drug totally. Core temperature in adult animals dropped by 0.8 degrees C, in old animals by 1.4 degrees C.


Action of some natural peptides on the stomach of the anaesthetized rat. Different peptides of natural origin were studied for their stimulant activity on the stomach of the anaesthetized rat. The group of the tachykinins (substance P and its analogues) showed a noticeable spasmogenic activity on the whole stomach from the fundus to the pylorus. Threshold doses ranged between 0.1 and 5 microgram/kg by i.v. route and the order of potency was: eledoisin greater than phyllomedusin greater than physalaemin greater than uperolein greater than substance P. A good correlation between the dose and the duration of the spasmogenic effect was always observed and tachyphylaxis never occurred. Experiments carried out with different kinds of inhibitors suggested that tachykinins act directly on the smooth muscle of the stomach. Taking into account also results obtained in other experimental conditions it was possible to state that the N-terminal part of the molecule of these peptides has a certain importance in determining the degree of their potency in the different tests. The peptide motilin, which does not belong to the family from a chemical point of view, was scarcely active, if at all, in modifying the motility of the rat stomach.


Taurolithocholate inhibits taurocholate uptake by isolated hepatocytes at low concentrations. The cholestatic bile acid taurolithocholate inhibits taurocholate uptake by isolated liver cells non-competitively. Inhibition is instantaneous and inversely related to the cell number in the incubate. The Ki amounts to 7 micron in the presence of 2 mg cellular protein per ml. Secretion of taurocholate by isolated liver cells is not affected by taurolithocholate up to a concentration of 50 micron. This indicates a difference between the carrier for taurocholate uptake and the carrier for taurocholate secretion. Inhibition of bile acid uptake of liver cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of lithocholate-induced cholestasis.


Canrenoate disposition in dogs. Tissue distribution and elimination. The metabolism and tissue distribution of intravenously administered C14-canrenoate-potassium (CR-K) was studied at various time intervals in 10 dogs. After a rapid decline of total radioactivity immediately after injection, the elimination in plasma occurred in two distinct phases with half-lives of 6.8 and 23.6 h. Canrenoate was rapidly converted to lipid- and water-soluble metabolites which were separated by thin-layer chromatography. Most tissues showed similar concentrations of total radioactivity as plasma. An accumulation of radioactivity per g wet weight was detected in the adrenal glands and fat tissue as well as in the metabolic and excretory organs but not in the heart. Taking into consideration that skeletal muscle, fat tissue and liver constitute about 64% of the body weight, it is obvious that the main part of total radioactivity was present in these tissues. In contrast to plasma, urine and feces, where various metabolites could be analysed, the bulk of radioactivity in tissues is represented by canrenone. Thus, the estimation of the parent compound and its metabolites in plasma, urine and feces does not allow final conclusions about the active substance in various tissues. Within 72 h 47% of the dose was recovered in urine and 49% in feces.


Early local tetanus: does tetanus toxin change the stimulus evoked discharge in afferents from the injected muscle? 1. Tetanus toxin was injected into gastrocnemius muscles of cats and for 24 h its action on nerve condution of muscle afferents was investigated. 2. During this period stimulus threshold and latency remained constant. No signs of fatigue were observed.


[Inhibition in the senso-motor cortex of cats]. The responses of 340 neurons of the sensory-motor cortex to electrocutaneous stimulation of the extremities were studied in 3-30 days old kittens. Extracellular recording of 9.4% cells in 3-10 day old animals and 17.1% cells in 21-30 days old animals showed a silent period following the excitatory component of the response. Intracellular and quasi-intracellular recording revealed the presence of postsynaptic inhibition during this period. As a rule the IPSPs which followed the initial excitatory component were 250-380 ms long, being considerably longer than similar IPSPs in the sensory-motor cortex of adult cats. IPSP amplitude usually did not exceed 5 mV.


[Responses of neurons in the secondary somatosensory zone of the cat cortex during elaboration of a defensive conditioned reflex]. The neuronal responses of the somatosensory secondary cortex during the process of formation and extinction of a conditioned defence reflex to sound stimulus were studied in chronic experimentss on cats. In 21 out of 28 examined neurons a change in activity took place during the formation of a conditioned reflex as a response to the conditional signal. Two types of conditioned reflex responses were observed: excitatory and inhibitory ones. Most of the neurons excited by the conditioned stimulus responded during the first 50 ms, preceding the conditioned movement by 80-100 ms. Significant variability of neuronal responses was observed during formation of the conditioned reflex. After stabilization the neuronal responses to the conditioned stimulus acquired a stable from. During extinction of the neuronal conditioned activity a decrease of the discharge frequency in the excitatory neuronal response and disinhibition of the activity in the inhibitory responses were found.


[Role of the caudate nucleus in the development of evoked synchronized activity]. Evoked spindles, recruitment and augmention to thalamic stimulation were studied in chronic cats after lesions of the caudate nuclei. The duration of spindles in the frontal cortex, thalamic and striatal sites were reduced to 3-4 oscillations. Their amplitude significantly decreased up to 50-10% in the thalamic and striatal sites. In the frontal cortex this decrease was not constant and sometimes was insignificant. Unilateral lesion of the caudate nucleus suppressed the synchronous activity evoked only by the ipsilateral thalamic stimulation. Lesion of the striatum (n. caudatus, globus pallidum, n. entopeduncularis, putamen) did not abolish the synchronous activity. It is suggested that the caudate nucleus produces ipsilateral facilitatory effect on the nonspecific thalamic system during the evoked synchronous activity.


[Postsynaptic excitation and inhibition in neurons of the general cortex of turtles during presentation of moving stimuli]. Reactions to moving stimuli were studied in the turtle general cortex. The evoked potentials, synaptic nature of their components and mechanism of their generation were analysed. The evoked potentials was negative-positive. The negative part consisted of fast negative complexes and a slow negative wave. These negative components reflected EPSP generated in the dendrites of the main cortex neurons. A rhythmical oscillation in the evoked potential started after the initial fast negative complex. The negative waves of this oscillation reflected EPSP and the positive waves, IPSP being generated also in the dendrites of the main cortex neurons. They had probably a recurrent generation mechanism. The positive wave of the evoked potential reflected dendritic IPSP in the main neurons.


[Formation of spontaneous and evoked neuronal activity in an organotypic culture of hippocampal tissue]. Spontaneous and evoked neuronal activity was studied with extracellular microelectrodes in the organotypic explants from newborn mouse hippocampus during two first weeks in vitro. Electrical stimuli applied to the entorhinal cortex and fascia dentata evoked short- and long-latency responses in hippocampal neurons beginning from the 5-6th day in vitro. The short latency responses were presumably monosynaptic, the long-lasting ones, polysynaptic. The latter were usually changed by repetitive stimulation. These data suggest that appearence of evoked activity during cultivation reflects the formation in vitro of the perforant path and mossy fibres and the maturation of the synaptic contacts.


[Relationship between the responses of neurons in the cat lateral geniculate body and the contrast in the photic stimulus]. The responses of receptive fields of the cat lateral geniculate body to stimuli of different contrast were investigated. The neuronal responses increased linearly with the stimulus contrast when the contrast change with variation in the test stimulus intensity. This relation was nonlinear when background intensity was changed. The calculation of the number of impulses in different time intervals of the response (deltat) indicated that the dependence of this number on the contrast is the steeper, the larger deltat during the first 70-90 ms of the response. The Weber-Fechner law holds for the lateral geniculate body receptive fields.


[Study of the relationships between the "locomotor regions" of the subthalamus and midbrain in rats]. Responses of single neurons in the midbrain tegmentum to stimuli applied to the subthalamic "locomotor region" were recorded extracellularly. In various units the latencies of responses were from 1 to 13 ms. Thresholds of the unit responses usually were not higher than the thresholds for eliciting locomotion. Obtained data evidence for a direct and oligosynaptic connections between subthalamic and midbrain "locomotor region".


[Organization of the afferent input to the superior colliculus of the rabbit brain]. The organization of afferent input to superior colliculus was studied in unanesthetized paralyzed rabbits. Two groups of afferent fibres with the average conduction velocities 3 and 6 m per s were determined. It was found that C1 and C2 components of the evoked potential reflect postsynaptic activity of collicular neurons activated by these groups of optic nerve fibres. The existence in rabbit of direct retino-tectal input to the superior colliculus is supposed.


[Influence of destruction of the lateral reticular nucleus and nuclei of the inferior olive in cats on electrical responses of the cerebellar cortex evoked by stimulation of the vagus nerve]. The role of the lateral reticular nucleus and inferior olive in production of the cerebellar cortex evoked potentials to stimulation of n. vagus was studied on 28 cats under chloralose-nembutal narcosis. After electrolytical destruction of the lateral reticular nucleus prolongation of the latency and a decrease in the evoked potential amplitude were observed, especially ipsilaterally. After bilateral destruction the potentials could be depressed completely. A conclusion is made that the lateral reticular nucleus provides a relay to to the cerebellar cortex of interoceptive vagal impulses. Appearance of predominantly simple discharges of the Purkinje cells responses to vagal stimulation is considered as an additional evidence for such a role of the lateral reticular nucleus. After damaging the inferior olive the evoked potentials arose with unchanged latency but reduced in the amplitude. Significance of the inferior olive as an intensity regulatory for the interoceptive impulse flow to the cerebellum is discussed.


[Synaptic effects induced in motor neurons by stimulation of individual propriospinal neurons]. In experiments carried out on cats unitary PSPs evoked in lumbar motoneurons by stimulation of single identified ventral horn propriospinal neurons receiving mono- and polysynaptic inputs from reticular nuclei were recorded by means of the averaging computer. The amplitudes of the unitary proprio-motoneuronal EPSPs and IPSPs were 49.6 +/- +/- 6.0 muV and 28.9 +/- 2.9 muV, respectively. A synaptic delay was 0.34 +/- 0.05 ms. An individual propriospinal cell of the upper lumbar segments can establish monosynaptic articulations with several motoneurons of the lower lumbar segments.


[Effect of preliminary mechanical and antidromal influences on orthodromal activity in in group C fibers of cat skin mechanoreceptors]. The afferent activity in unmyelinated fibres of the cat's cutaneous nerve was analyzed using the colliding impulses method. The effect of antidromic activity induced by electrical stimulation of the nerve and of mechanical stimulation of the receptors on the subsequent orthodromic activity under stretching of the skin was investigated. Antidromic activity in the nerve as well as mechanical stimulation of the receptors decreased the subsequent orthodromic activity in response to testing stimulation. The maximum decrease of the activity was observed 10-15 s after stimulation. The duration of the inhibitory effect was considerably greater after mechanical stimulation. A simultaneous action of mechanical stimulation and antidromic activation produced a greater decrease of the afferent activity and prolonged the period for its recovery. An increase in the frequency of antidromic excitation to 8 imp/s increased its inhibitory influence on the orthodromic activity of C-fibres.


[Effect of batrachotoxin on the selectivity of sodium channels in the membrane of a myelinated nerve fiber]. Ionic currents under voltage clamp conditions were studied in the Ranvier node treated with batrachotoxin (5-10(-6)--10(-5) M). Ionic permeability ratios were measured from zero-current potential. The permeability sequence for modified (noninactivating) Na channels was: Tl greater than NH4 greater than Na approximately Li greater than K greater than guanidinum greater than Rb greater than Ca greater than Cs greater than methylamine. Deviation from the "independence relation" in modified channels for It1 was decreased.


[Postsynaptic potentials of trigeminal nerve nucleus motor neurons evoked by stimulation of the dental pulp in cats]. PSPS of the digastric and masseter motoneurons evoked by stimulation of the upper canine pulp of the ipsi- and contralateral side were studied in the nembutal-chloralose anesthetized cats. Stimulation by single volleys of tooth pulp evoked EPSP and action potentials in digastric motoneurons (latency for ipsilateral pulp was 4.0-5.5 ms, for contralateral--7.0-8.0 ms) and IPSP in masseter motoneurons (latency for ipsilateral pulp was 3.5-4.2 ms, for contralateral--3.8-5.5 ms). All PSPS were polysynaptic.


[Effect of aconitine on asymmetric displacement currents in the membrane of a node of Ranvier]. The effect of aconitine on the asymmetrical displacement currents in Ranvier node membrane was studied. Aconitine evokes a shift of the charge displacement and time constant (tauon) membrane potential plots for the displacement currents in the direction of hyperpolarization by 50 mV. Maximum value of tauon in aconitine is twice as high as in norm and the reversal potentials for the displacement currents was estimated to be about--90 mV. The obtained results permit suggesting that the asymmetrical displacement current in its greater part is due to the operation of the gating mechanism of the sodium channel.


[Differential diagnosis of sanguineous cerebrospinal fluid]. The author studied the problem of differential diagnosis in cases with blood presence in the cerebrospinal fluid. Among 151 fluid samples obtained from 96 patients he found pathological admixture of blood in 117 samples and blood admixture as artifact in 34 samples. Besides the generally accepted differentiating criteria the author draws attention to differences in the process of phagocytosis, attraction of erythrocytes by mononuclear cells and in the transformation and morphology of macrophages. The author puts forward the hypothesis of immunological mechanisms causing attraction of erythrocytes.


[Acute cerebral ischemic disease in patients under the age of 50]. The authors analysed clinically 108 patients (61 males and 47 females), aged below 50 years treated at the department of neurology, because of acute cerebral ischaemia. Attention is called to risk factors such as arterial hypertension, heart disease, atherosclerosis, obesity and diabetes which may be the cause of earlier development of ischaemic changes in the central nervous system. In the analysed group in 18 cases cerebral thrombosis, in 23 cases embolism, in 31 cerebral circulatory failure were diagnosed. In 36 cases the cause could not have been established.


[Seizures in phenylketonuria].

[Seizures in phenylketonuria]. In a group of 90 children with phenylketonuria diagnosed and treated late the authors studied the problem of seizures. They occurred in over 50% of children, in most of them they had the character of salaam seizures (72%). They were statistically significantly more frequent in children with more severe mental retardation. In the discussion on these observations the authors stated that the data obtained by them concerning the frequency of seizures (twice as frequent as in materials reported in the literature) were based on long-term observation of these children and not on one examination and they conform better to the actual incidence of these seizures. It is supposed that the presence of seizures is a prognostically unfavourable element. It is suggested also that these children should be given anticonvulsant treatment besides dietary treatment of phenylketonuria.


[Sleep pattern in parkinsonism. Preliminary communication]. The sleep pattern was studied in 10 patients with Parkinson's disease with polygraphic recording of EEG tracings, eyeball movements, EMG from the chin area and EEG during two overnight investigations. The results were compared with the sleep pattern obtained in a similar way in 5 healthy subjects in the same age group. Prolongation of the time of falling asleep and reduction of the percent proportion of the deepest sleep phases (III and IV slow-wave phases and paradoxical phase) were observed. The possible biochemical substrate of these changes (low levels of dopamine and serotonin) is suggested. The author compared also the sleep pattern obtained in two consecutive sleep records in the same subjects discussing the so-called first-night effect.


[EEG study of cervical migraine].

[EEG study of cervical migraine]. The authors carried out serial EEG investigations in 60 cases of cervical migraine. They demonstrated in 30% of cases normal EEG tracings; in the remaining 70% of cases the tracings were abnormal. The analysis of the latter cases suggests that there are two pathogenetically different groups of cervical migraine, i.e. "idiopathic" cervical migraine with normal or changed background activity in EEG and "symptomatic" cervical migraine with permanent bitemporal or disseminated changes of cerebral bioelectric activity.


[Studies of EEG activity by means of AR-3 analyzer]. The authors describe the principles of operation of AR-3 frequency EEG analyser designed at the Medical Technique Centre in Białystok. The results of analysis of EEG curves by means of this analyser are presented and discussed. The results of frequency analysis obtained by means of this analyser may be presented in the form of the so-called index of activity as suggested by the authors.


[Evaluation of electromyographic recordings in the detection of Duchenne's dystrophy carriers]. The purpose of this work was to compare the possibility of detecting subtle changes in muscular bioelectric activity which are observed in some carriers of Duchenne dystrophy gene using two methods: routine quantitative electromyography and automatic EMG recording (with ANOPS computer). Twenty-one confirmed dystrophy-gene carriers were examined Two muscles were studied in each case: m. biceps brachii and m. quadriceps femoris. There was no difference between the detectability of reduced potential durathion with both methods, but automatic recording made possible a much more accurate determination of the percent of polyphasic potentials. For example, using automatic recording 16.5% of polyphasic potentials were found in the quadriceps femoris muscle of carriers and 15.3% in the biceps brachii muscle, while in routine electromyography these values were respectively 9.9% and 8.9%. This parameter is particularly useful for recognition of very early and slight pathological processes--because of that automatic EMC recording seems to be superior to routine quantitative EMG in the detection of Duchenne dystrophy carriers in whom only very small changes may be expected. In the investigations carried out as yet the authors observed that the introduction of automatic EMG recording raised the detectability rate of gene carriers by 18.9% in relation to the rate of detection by means of CPK determination (previously the EMG raised this rate only by 5 to 9%).


[Peculiarities of electrophysiological pattern of the extensor digitorum brevis muscle. Its importance in neurologic diagnosis]. Fifty-five EMG records from the extensor digitorum brevis muscle were analysed in cases of lower motor neuron lesions, primary muscular diseases and in controls. In all patients with lower motor neuron disease denervation pattern was obtained from the muscle. In the control group the so-called neurogenic pattern was recorded in 45% of cases, in the remaining subjects the findings were normal. In patients with primary muscular diseases denervation pattern was obtained in 45% of cases while in the remaining patients the changes were typically myogenic. In the control group and in patients with primary muscular diseases no correlation was observed between the age of the patients and the presence of neurogenic changes in the muscle. Presence of the so-called neurogenic pattern in the muscle may be due to the anatomical structure and position of the muscle which is particularly exposed to microtraumas in cases of primarily muscular diseases.


[Treatment of Bell's palsy with cortisone preparations administered into the stylomastoid foramen]. The authors discuss some problems connected with the aetiology and pathogenesis of Bell's palsy. Attention is called to conservative treatment of the palsy with particular reference to administration of cortisone preparations injected into the stylomastoid foramen. Good results were obtained in 90% of 205 cases treated in this way. The method provides good results with small doses of the drug and can be used in outpatient practice.


[Effect of sudden decompression on tissue pressure in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid pressure]. Extracranial hypertension was produced in cats by means of epidural compression with a baloon. After 2 hours of compression sudden decompression was performed and tissue pressure was compared at symmetrical sites of cerebral hemispheres with cerebrospinal fluid pressure measured in the cisterna magna. It was found that symmetrical tissue pystem, which was due probably to early oedema developing in the compressed area.


[Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome]. The authors report the results of surgical treatment of 11 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. The group comprised 10 women and 1 man. In 4 cases bilateral symptoms were present. The duration of the disease was from 6 months to 10 years (mean 4.2 years). In all patients operation was followed by complete disappearance of symptoms. Control determination of conduction velocity in the median nerve after several months showed significant improvement. The authors reach the conclusion that surgical treatment permits very good results to be achieved not only in early but also in late stages of the disease.


[Hypoxia of the central nervous system in rats during acceleration brain injury]. The authors present the results of investigations of the effects of acceleration craniocerebral injury in rats on PaO2 and resulting central nervous system hypoxia. PaO2 fall by 30% of the control value occurred in 25% of rats and in the group of most severe injury this fall amounted to 36% already 1 minute after injury. After 4 minutes this fall rose to 70%. In all animals with injury-induced hypoxia autopsy examination demonstrated on gross inspection acute pulmonary oedema: the weight of the lungs and the lung-body weight index were nearly twice as high as in the animals without oedema. The authors discuss the possible pathological mechanisms of acute neurogenic lung oedema and reach the conclusion that it may be due to excessive, pathological discharge of the sympathetic nervous system. Since the intracranial part of the vascular bed in rats reacts to acceleration trauma with acute spasm, it may be that this factor, together with central nervous system hypoxia caused by neurogenic lung oedema may play a significant role in traumatic secondary central nervous system injury. This risk occurs also in humans with severe brain stem trauma.


[Radioisotope scintigraphy in the diagnosis of brain abscesses]. The authors report two cases of brain abscess presenting considerable diagnostic difficulties despite neuroradiological investigations (angiography, pneumoencephalography, ventriculography). Brain scintigraphy was found to be most reliable in the detection and localization of focal intracerebral changes and made possible successful surgical intervention. In both cases the proper diagnosis of abscess was made only during the operation since the clinical syndrome did not suggest this type of lesion. Brain scintigraphy made possible localization of the lesions in the parietal and occipital areas; results of angiography and pneumoencephalography are not quite often reliable if lesions are situated in these areas.


[Case of acute thyreotoxic Waldenstrom's encephalopathy]. In a 48-year-old female patient with hyperthyroid nodular goitre the syndrome of acute thyreotoxic encephalopathy of Waldenström was observed. The syndrome comprised quantitative disturbances of consciousness, psychosis, pyramidal and bulbar sings as well as presence of generalized myopathy. The EEG was pathological, corresponding to the state of consciousness disturbances. Treatment of hyperthyroidism led to complete remission of CNS disturbances and considerable decrease in the intensity of myopathy.


[Case of Frankl-Hochwart syndrome (polyneuritis cranials menieriformis)]. In a 19-year-old man sudden Bell's palsy developed and after 2 days vertigo and peripheral-type nystagmus supervened. ENG demonstrated presence of spontaneous nystagmus on right gaze and lack of excitability of the left horizontal canal. The cerebrospinal fluid was normal, virological examination failed to demonstrate presence of antibodies to zoster virus or a rise of antibodies to enteroviruses. Vertigo and nystagmus disappeared within several days. Bell's palsy regressed later. The results of virological investigations cast doubt on the views of these authors who regard Frankl-Hochwart syndrome as a variety of Ramsay Hung Syndrome. In the presently reported case the possibility of zoster virus being the cause of the disease has been ruled out.


[Hydrocephalus as a late complication of sarcoidosis]. A case of hydrocephalus is described which developed as a late complication of sarcoidosis. In a female patient aged 37 years manifestations of sarcoidosis in the form of Löfgren's syndrome developed 13 years earlier and the diagnosis was confirmed with histological examination of lymph node and bronchial mucosa. After corticoid treatment all manifestations disappeared. In 1975 symptoms of increasing hydrocephalus appeared with violent headaches, visual and hearing disturbances, transient disturbances of consciousness, nausea, vomiting and transient loss of vision with gradually decreasing visual acuity. On the fundus papilloedema was present and angiography and pneumoencephalography demonstrated significant hydrocephalus without shifting of cerebral structures, and without pathological circulation. Surgical treatment (ventriculoatrial shunt) and following corticoid therapy permitted to abolish all symptoms and obtain normalization of eye and improvement of visual acuity.


[Case of double aneurysm located at the bifurcation of the basilar artery]. The authors report a case of two aneurysms at the bifurcation of the basilar artery in a 47-year old housewife. The technique for the exclusion of the aneurysms from the cerebral circulation using the operating microscope is described. The course of the illness and the patient's condition several months after procedure are described.


[Rare case of attempted suicide by drilling a joiner's drill into the head]. The authors report a rare case of suicidal attempt with drilling of a joiner's drill into the head. The patient was mentally ill. In the light of literature survey the rarity of such self-inflicted injuries is stressed, the operative technique is discussed and the usefulness of angiography in certain cases is pointed out.


[Desynchronization of cell division during the early development of the axoloty, loach and salmon]. Patterns of a relative measure of asynchrony R of the cell population have been studied by means of a mathematical model of the kinetics of cell population which allows to follow the distribution of cells by the mitotic cycle phases in time. The application of the criterion R for the analysis of the patterns of desynchronization of cell divisions in the early embryogenesis of axolotl, loach and salmon has shown, that, unlike the smooth change of the asynchrony measure in the model populations with one constant factor desynchronization, the desynchronization in the species in question proceeds step-wise and runs to 3 steps. The problem of relationship between desynchronization and cytoplasmic segregation, decrease of electric coupling among cells and rearrangement of cell cycle is discussed. It was shown that the latter might occur in different species at a different degree of desynchronization.


[Pre-implantation development of mouse embryos following home- and heterogeneous crosses]. The preimplantation losses among the mouse embryos at the age of 3.5 days in different crosses consist of unfertilized eggs (2-6%) and abnormal embryos (2-25%). When crossing the BALB and CBA females with the BALB, CBA and C57BL males, a similar genotypic influence of both the mother and father on the frequency of abnormalities in the embryos was found which could be expressed by an inequality. C57BL greater than BALB greater than CBA. The embryos of the BALB AND CBA females differed by the mitotic index and the occurrence of embryos without mitoses. The hybrid BALB X C57BL embryos had reliably more cells than all other hybrids.


[Long-term reproduction of triploid and tetraploid parthenogenetic clones of silkworms during artificial thermal parthenogenesis]. The triploid and tetraploid clones of the silkworm (Bombux mori L.) are capable to be reproduced for a long time by means of thermal parthenogenesis. The activated eggs are pigmented in 80-99%. The hatching of larvae in triploid clones amounts to 20% and in tetraploid ones to 25-30%. The pigmentation of eggs and hatching of larvae greatly vary in different years: 47 to 100% and 0 to 73%, resp. In this respect, the polyploid clones are similar to those diploid ones which are characterized by the low percentage of complete parthenogenesis. The causes for the variability of parthenogenesis indices in the polyploid clones are discussed.


[Age and changes in the structure of the neurohypophysis of the sterlet, Acipenser ruthenus L]. The results are given of histophysiological study of neurohypophysis in sexually mature sterlets (Acipenser ruthenus L.) of different age. An attention is paid to the age morphological changes of neurohypophysis and, in particular, to the number, size and topography of large and giant widenings of neurosecretory fibers, so-called Gerring bodies. The relation between the frequency of Gerring bodies and the age of fishes was followed. A suggestion is put forward to the effect that the appearance of Gerring bodies, widenings of axons of highly differentiated and strongly "weared" neurosecretory cells, is due to frequency of stress situations in ontogenesis.


[Dynamics of changes in the concentration of luteinizing hormone in the pituitary and plasma and estrogens in blood of female rats during sexual maturation]. The dynamics of LH content in hypophysis and blood and oestrogen content in blood was studied in female rats from the 1st till the 42nd day of postnatal development. The two peaks of LH content in blood on the 18th and 22nd days correspond to the maximum accumulation of the hormone in hypophysis. The 3rd peak on the 41st day is somewhat behind the accumulation of the hormone in hypophysis (37th day). At the moment of vaginal opening, both the hormone synthesis and the secretion sharply decreased. The measurable quantities of oestrogens were found in blood beginning from the 8th day of life. The maximum level of oestrogens was noted from the 13th till the 16 day. These results suggest the absence of distinct interrelations of the feed-back type between hypothalamus, hypophysis and gonads.


[Patterns in the cellular organization of ovule growth in the pine, Pinus silvestris L. II. Growth processes in nucellus and integument]. The dynamics of growth processes was studied in the integument and nucellus of Pinus silvestris during the year of fertilization. The growth of two parts of the nucellus and integument under study is described by an S-shaped curve but the dynamics of growth processes and the ratio of cell reproduction and elongation differ in each tissue. The growth of micropylar part of the nucellus and integument proceeds, mainly at the expense of cell proliferation. At the first stages of growth the cell size remains constant, then during a short period the reproduction and elongation of cells occur simultaneously, and after the fertilization the growth proceeds at the expense of cell elongation only, since the cell division arrests completely. In the part of nucellus concrescent with the integument, the mitotic activity disappears still prior to fertilization and the growth proceeds, mainly, at the expense of cell elongation. Differences in the cell size are observed both between tissues and between different regions of the same tissue. The larges nuclei are situated in the micropylar part of nucellus. The nuclear size suffers insignificant changes during the growth of the tissues under study.


[Effect of colchicine on the morphogenesis and ultrastruct of Acetabularia mediterranea]. The effect of colchicine on morphogenesis of the regenerating nuclear fragments of Acetabularia mediterranea has been studied. Colchicine was shown to inhibit the formation of caps. The algae are most sensitive to colchicine at the early stages of regeneration. The breakdown of microtubules in the perinuclear cytoplasm of regenerating algae under the effect of colchicine was found under the electron microscopy. The breakdown of microtubules in this zone appears not to disturb the transport of morphogenetical substances in the apical cell part. Colchicine inhibits the morphogenesis, apparently, at the expense of protein inactivation in the zone of growth.


[RNA synthesis gradients in the nucleus-free fragments of Acetabularia mediterranea under conditions of local illumination]. The intensity of RNA synthesis was studied in different regions of anuclear fragments of the Acetabularia mediterranea stem under their local illumination. The local illumination was shown to activate RNA synthesis and formation of distal-medial gradients of this synthesis in the illuminated regions of the fragments to a much greater extent than in their darkened regions. The formation of the gradient in the illuminated region took place even if the growth in this region was insignificant and was not accompanied by the cap formation. The results obtained suggests the absence of obligatory correspondence between the ability of morphogenesis and the gradient of RNA synthesis.


[Comparison of the effect of chloridin on rat embryos during postimplantation periods of development in vivo and in vitro]. The effect of chloridin (2,4-diamino-5-parachlorophenyl-6-ethylpyrimidine) on the rat embryos developing in the maternal organism and on the embryos explanted 24 hrs after the treatment in the nutrient medium (homologous blood serum) was compared. The pathological processes both in vivo and in vitro were shown to be similar. The number of atypical and died embryos in vitro was, however, much higher, apparently due to the absence of some protective membranes in the cultivated embryos.


[Heat production in the early stages of axolotl growth according to direct and indirect calorimetry findings]. The level of energetic metabolism of the growing axolotls was studied by the methods of direct and indirect calorimetry. Just after the hatching the heat production of the larvae calculated by the gas exchange exceeds markedly the level of heat production measured by the calorimeter. During the subsequent growth the level of heat production changes as a transitional process, so that therafter indirect calorimetry gives constantly higher values of energetic metabolism than direct one.


Reconstruction of the orbit with antibiotic acrylic in cases of severe bone loss. The advantages of using antibiotic acrylic resin in the reconstruction of the orbit following injury or tumor removal are described. Four cases are presented whose long-term results confirm the value of the new method.