Nuclear distribution in Alternaria tenuis. Nuclear distribution and behaviour during vegetative growth and spore formation in Alternaria tenuis was studied utilising the HC1-Giemsa staining technique. The vegetative mycelium and conidia are predominantly monokaryotic. Anastomoses, followed by nuclear migrations, have been recorded. Intercellular nuclear migrations have only been observed in germinating conidia. Nuclear behaviour during conidial formation indicates that the conidia are homokaryotic. Cytological differences have been found in different monocoidal isolates of A. tenuis.


A study of fungal spore poupulations in the atmosphere of Kuwait. The fungal air-spora of Kuwait was investigated using the Petri-dish trapping technique. During the period from 1st April, 1974 to 30th June, 1975, a total of 3685 colonies were recorded from 2% malt agar plates. Fifty-five genera and 116 species were identifed. Alternaria occupied the first place in the order of percentage incidence. being represented by 18.3% of the entire catch, followed by Aspergillus (17.1%), Penicillium (14%), Cladosporium (13.6%), Drechslera (13.3%), and Ulocladium (7.1%). The widest spectrum of species was displaced by Aspergillus (possessed 19 species) followed by Penicillium (17 species), Alternaria (6 species), Drechslera (5 species), and Ulocladium (4 species). The monthly total number of fungi showed marked seasonal periodicity with the greatest number of colonies occurring in March-April and November. The lowest counts were recorded in mid-summer (July) and mid-winter (January). Only 220 colonies and 17 species of thermophilous fungi were reported from plates incubated at 45 degrees C. The most common species were Aspergillus fumigatus and A. terreus.


Isolation of fungi belonging to the genera Geotrichum and Trichosporum from human dermal lesions. Isolates of Geotrichum and Trichosporum spp. obtained from patients with a variety of dermal lesions were studied. Among 2,202 cases examined, microorganisms of these genera were recovered from 100 (4,5%); there were 38 isolated of Geotrichum- and 62 of Trichosporum- spp. Most isolations were obtained from nails: 52 cases. The species most frequently found were T. beigelii (25 cases) and G. candidum (30 cases). In 50 of the patients, these fungi were isolated in pure culture, in an additional 40 Trichosporum spp. were found. Mixed cultures with C. albicans were observed in 28 patients, with other Candida spp. in 16 and with dermatophytes in 6. Among the patients whose isolations occurred in pure cultures, the number of colonies recovered was large in 20 cases, 1 with Geotrichum candidum - 19 with Trichosporum (16 T. beigelii, 3 T. capitatum). The relationship between the isolated yeast-like fungi and the dermal lesion was considered to be direct in these 20 patients.


Quantitation of cannabinoids in biological fluids by radioimmunoassay. A tritium based radioimmunoassay for delta9THC and its metabolites has been developed for the use of investigators studying the epidemiological, medical, clinical, and research aspects of cannabis use. The assay is sufficiently sensitive to detect cannabinoids in the urine of marijuana smokers for several days after their last exposure to the drug. The results obtained from a 28 day study indicate that the assay reflects the administration and removal of oral doses of THC. The specificity of the antisera, as determined in cross reactivity studies, allows not only the assay of metabolites in biological samples without interference from other drugs, but also the evaluation of extracts of other kinds of samples which may contain unmetabolized delta9THC. The technique of radioimmunoassay has many advantages over other methods of analysis. It is simple to perform and can be readily applied to the rapid analysis of large numbers of samples. It can be used in the direct analysis of physiological fluids and other biological samples which ordinarily have to be processed before other techniques can be applied. The method is non-destructive abd obviates the need to use radiolabelled drugs in man during metabolic and other studies. This radioimmunoassay has been designed with particular emphasis on ease of use by other investigators. We anticipate that it will prove useful to investigators and scientists for determining the absence, or presence and amount, of THC metabolite in a biological specimen, for epidemiologists in determining the full extent of cannabis use and to the medical/clinical community for establishing the minimum effective dose of delta9THC for each patient. The widespread application of a single method of analysis should also remove a great deal of the controversy surrounding marijuana studies performed to date.


Relationships between structure and activity of retinoids. Structure-function relationships of 19 retinoids were studied in three in vitro systems in defined, serum-free medium. These systems measure effects on differentiation and growth, as well as toxic effects. The ring, side chain, and polar terminal group of natural retinoids all may be modified synthetically to yield highly active compounds. Several retinoid ethers were found to be significantly less toxic than the corresponding carboxylic acids or alcohols.


Sex hormone receptors in mammary tumours of GR mice. Studies of the growth behaviour and hormone receptor contents of GR-mouse mammary tumours suggest that the hormone responsive tumours are mixed populations of hormone-dependent cells and autonomous cells. The hormone-dependent moiety of these tumours contains high levels of progesterone receptor and oestrogen receptor. The autonomous moiety has a low but probably significant oestrogen receptor level, and is practically devoid of progesterone receptor. Androgen receptor levels in both moieties are low. Endocrine ablation prevents growth of the hormone-dependent moiety of the tumours, but not of the autonomous moiety.


[Drug safety--achievable goal or utopia?]. The new German Drug Law, recently passed by the Bundstag (House of Representatives) endeavors to assure safety in drug distribution and use, especially to guarantee the harmlessness of drugs according to the regulations provided by the law. The following contribution tries to analyze how far we have come up to now as to a safe use of drugs, which improvements are possible, what they will cost, and finally who of us must contribute towards a rational compromise between therapeutic success and unavoidable risk.


Impaired renal concentrating ability in hypothyroid man. The renal concentrating ability was studied in ten patients with hypothyroidism and in 15 euthyroid controls. Solute-free water reabsorption was reduced in the patients with myxedema (4.2 +/- 0.3 ml/min: controls 5.8 +/- 0.6 ml/min; p less than 0.01). This defect was apparent at high rates of solute excretion, and was associated with enhanced excretion of sodium (p less than 0.01) despite a decreased filtered load (p less than 0.005). The myxedema patients had a modest reduction in maximal urine osmolality (p less than 0.04), which was entirely attributable to the lower values observed in younger patients. The results may be explained best by decreased sodium chloride reabsorption in the ascending limb of Henle's loop and/or diminished permeability of the distal nephron in myxedema.


3H-Estradiol uptake and retention by target tissues of light-sterilized female rats. Tissue distribution of radioactivity was studied at 2, 4 and 6 h after intravenous injection of 3H-estradiol-17beta (41.7 ng/100 g b.w.) in 12 light-sterilized and 11 control female rats ovariectomized 72 h prior to injection. Female rats were light-sterilized by exposure to continuous illumination for 82 days and, based on the duration of continuous vaginal cornification and the absence of corpora lutea at post-mortem histological examination of the ovaries, were anovulatory for at least 30 days prior to injection. Control rats were housed under conditions similar to the experimentals except that they were exposed to alternating lighting (14 h light:10 h dark). They remained ovulatory throughout the experiment. Uterine 3H-estradiol uptake and retention were significantly depressed in the light-sterilized group. There were no significant differences in 3H-estradiol uptake or retention as a result of light-sterilization in any of the other tissues studied, including anterior, middle, and posterior hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala, cerebrum, anterior pituitary and plasma. The failure to detecta reduction in neural 3H-estradiol uptake demonstrates that the anovulatory state can exist without a concomitant reduction in the hypothalamic estrogen binding capacity. The possibility is discussed that the decreased target tissue binding noted in various types of anovulatory animals is the result, not the cause, of altered ovarian function.


Stress-induced gonadotropin and prolactin secretory patterns. To further evaluate the influence that sex, time of day and/or stage of the estrous cycle have on stress-induced changes in gonadotropin secretory patterns, rats were subjected to acute ether stress and subsequently sacrificed at 1.5, 3, 5, 10 and 15-min intervals. A significant change in FSH levels was not detectable, however serum LH levels consistently showed a transient elevation, and prolactin release occurred rapidly and in large increments in every case. Variation in basal hormone levels due to sex, circadian rhythmicity, or estrous cyclicity did not alter the pattern of the response of individual hormones to the stress but did markedly influence the magnitude of the response.


Congenital release thrombocytopathy: pathophysiology and management. Congenital release thrombocytopathy must be included in the differential diagnosis of bleeding diatheses in women. A review of the coagulation profiles of 7 patients with congenital release thrombocytopathy suggests that more sophisticated platelet aggregation studies must be performed when routine screening procedures fail to determine the cause of a clinically suspected bleeding disorder. Establishing the diagnosis helps to avoid the use of medications which cause an acquired platelet dysfunction, and contributes to adequate prophylaxis against surgical and obstetric hemorrhage.


Vaginal adenosis. Factors influencing detection in a colposcopic evaluation. In a colposcopic evaluation of DES-related genital abnormalities, biopsy-proven adenosis was detected in the vaginal walls or hood in 84.5% of 220 women. Patient selection (DES history only vs prior examination) did not significantly influence the detection rate for adenosis. However, the detection rate of adenosis in the vaginal walls showed highly significant correlations with the presence of cervical ectopy and/or hood and with the colposcopic appearance of the area biopsied. Using colposcopy, the columnar pattern had a diagnostic accuracy of 94.4%; mosaic pattern, 85.5%; and white appearance, 68.0%. Differences in the histologic features of mucosal surface glandular tissue, squamous metaplasia, and nonglycogenated squamous mucosa were related to specific colposcopic patterns and helped to account for the variation in the accuracy of the three appearances in detecting adenosis. Biopsy specimens of the hood were not necessary to achieve a high yield of adenosis although we obtained evidence that the hood contains microscopic features typical of vaginal adenosis. Epithelial atypicality in the vagina (moderate squamous cell dysplasia) was demonstrated in only 1 patient.


Effects of Aureo-S-700R on sporulation, viability and infectivity of ovine coccidial oocysts. Sporulation rates of normal oocysts and oocysts isolated from lambs infected with coccidia and fed Aureo-S-700R for 25 days were studied at different temperatures. The viability and infectivity of the latter were also investigated. Temperatures of 5 and 10 degrees C inhibited sporulation of oocysts, but when the same oocysts were subsequently incubated at 25 degrees C, they sporulated. At 35 and 40 degrees C, sporulation was initially fast, but death and degeneration of oocysts occurred at these temperatures after 3 days. Normal oocysts sporulated faster and in greater numbers than oocysts isolated from medicated lambs; both kinds of oocysts sporulated best between 20 and 25 degrees C. Lambs inoculated with oocysts from medicated lambs passed fewer oocysts for a shorter period of time than lambs inoculated with normal oocysts. The former lambs gained more weight, passed better formed faeces, ate better and had higher PCV and haemoglobin values than the latter.


Studies on the induction of permeability in Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. The initial process in the hatching mechanism of Ascaris eggs is the sudden onset of permeability in the previously impermeable ascaroside membrane. During this change the ascaroside membrane remains intact and no chemical changes can be detected. Using the molecular probe 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulphonic acid no conformational changes were detected in the ascaroside membrane during the induction of permeability. It is suggested that either the permeability change is due to a very localized chemical or conformational change, not detectable by conventional analytical techniques, or the change is due to mechanical damage of the ascaroside membrane, brought about by the activity of the infective larva.


Boophilus microplus: the effect of host resistance on larval attachments and growth. Growth and behaviour of Boophilus microplus larvae on British breed cattle, with different resistance levels to the tick, were studied to elucidate the nature of resistance. On highly resistant animals, larval growth rate was slower for the first 3 days, but by day 4 they had attained the normal weight and the majority were subsequently able to moult. Using phosphorus-32 labelled larvae, it was found that attachment times were shorter and more time was spent wandering on highly resistant animals during the first 16 h. On the second day, attachments had stabilized, but more detachments were still made from highly resistant animals. This was considered to impose an additional stress as the cattle skin environment can rapidly desiccate larvae. However, the larvae were able to compensate by uptake of fluid from the host. Loss by repulsion of live larvae from the host or drowning in serous exudate were also not considered of major importance. The nature of rejection is discussed in a further paper. The distribution of larvae after 24 h suggests that their early behaviour largely determines the areas favoured by adults. Movement to, and accumulation in, favoured areas is discussed.


Observations on coprophagy and the transmission of Hymenolepis nana infections in mice. Young, previously uninfected white mice became infected with Hymenolepis nana when exposed in small cages to parasite eggs which had been sprinkled in suspension onto the floor of their cage, or to faeces from mice with patent infections. The mean daily probabilities of infection for individual eggs under these two conditions were 2-9 X 10(-6) and 5-4 X 10(-6) respectively. If the mice were starved for 24 h prior to exposure to faeces, then the mean daily probability of infection increased to 2-6 X 10(-4). These differences in transmission are interpreted as being due to differences in the extent of coprophagy; they are not due to any effect of starvation on the hatchability of eggs.


A rapid method for assessing megathrombocytes: its application to thrombocytotic and acquired thrombocytopenic states. A rapid technique suitable for routine laboratory use for determining the percentage of large platelets in the peripheral blood is described. In 50 haematologically normal subjects, megathrombocytes (platelets with a volume of 16-33 fl) constituted 3.0-16.6% (mean +/- 2 SD) of the platelet count. Of the 10 patients examined with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, an increased percentage of megathrombocytes (mean 26.6%) was found in all with severe thrombocytopenia, and in 6 of 8 (mean 19.8%) with moderate thrombocytopenia; the percentages were not influenced by prior splenectomy. Six of 12 patients with severe hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia had an increased percentage of large platelets (mean 15.9%), as did one of 21 patients (mean 9.9%) with moderate thrombocytopenia of simimlar aetiology. When patients with nearly identical platelet counts were compared, the mean percentage of megathrombocytes was greater in immune than in hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia for both severe (t=3.17, P less than 0.01) and moderate (t=4.5, P less than 0.001) thrombocytopenia. An increased percentage of large platelets (mean 21.9%) was found in 6 to 8 patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, in 7 of 20 (mean 15.8%) with chronic myeloproliferative disorders and in one of 15 (mean 8.8%) with reactive thrombocytosis. Determination of the percentage of megathrombocytes by this technique assists in differentiating immune thrombocytopenia from hypomegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia, in diagnosing mild disseminated intravascular coagulation, and in determining whether thrombocytosis is reactive or a consequence of a myeloproliferative disorders.


Hand-foot-uterus-(HFU) syndrome with hypospadias: the hand-foot-genital- (HFG) syndrome. Three brothers with the typical findings of the HFU-syndrome, but in addition with various degrees of hypospadias are reported. The family history otherwise was negative. The similarity of the "pattern-profile" of these cases with the mean pattern of the 11 previously reported ones is striking, as expressed by a product moment correlation of 0.83, 0.8 and 0.78 respectively. The widening of the concept of the HFU to that of a HFG-syndrome, as suggested by Poznanski et al, in 1974, is discussed.


Cardiorespiratory status of erythroblastotic newborn infants: III. Intravascular pressures during the first hours of life. We measured aortic and central venous pressures beginning soon after birth in 40 prematurely born infants with moderate or severe erythroblastosis fetalis, including 13 with severe and 10 with mild hydrops fetalis. All but four were asphyxiated at birth and this affected intravascular pressures. Before resuscitation, aortic or central venous pressure or both were elevated in more than one third. All but two of the remaining infants had normal initial pressures. Following resuscitation which relieved acidosis, hypoxia,  and anemia, but did not reduce blood acidosis, hypoxia, and anemia, but did not reduce blood volume, the high pressures usually fell to normal and occasionally to subnormal levels, normal pressures fell to subnormal in almost one half, and those with initial subnormal pressures remained hypotensive. In all, 40% were hypotensive after resuscitation; treatment with blood volume expanders consistently returned these pressures to normal. Only two of the 13 severely hydropic infants and none of the mildly hydropic had findings indicative of hypervolemia and myocardial failure which persisted after treatment of asphyxia.


[Double blind study of vitamin E compared to placebo in the prevention of anemia in the low birth weight infant during the 7th week of life: therapeutic study]. alpha-tocopherol and placebo were compared by a double-blind trial to study their preventive effect on secondary anemia in a sample of low birth weight (less than or equal 2,500 g) infants. In the 7th week of life, hematological data from each of the two groups of infants (receiving vitamin E or placebo) were compared either by covariance analysis or by the t test of comparison of means. The infants who were given vitamin E have a higher serum level of vitamin E, a lower hemolysis, a higher erythrocyte count and a higher hemoglobin level than infants given the placebo. No significant difference was observed with respect to hematocrit or reticulocyte count. Thus, it appears that vitamin E has an effect on some of the factors in the anemia of infants of low birth weight.


Size and structure of the genome of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus. The genome of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus consists of two segments of dsRNA, in equimolar amounts, with molecular weights of 2.5 X 10(6) and 2.3 X 10(6) daltons, as determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The viral RNA was resistant to ribonuclease, and in sucrose gradient it co-sedimented at 14S with RNase resistant RNA from virus infected cells. Upon denaturation in 98% formamide, the viral genome sedi-mented at 24S in formamide sucrose gradient and became sensitive to RNase. Denatured 24S viral RNA did revert to its undenatured 14S form upon recentrifugation in aquaeous sucrose gradient (0.1 M NaCL), but co-sedimented with the denatured large size class of reovirus 25S RNA. The same results  were obtained if the native viral RNA was pre-treated with ribonuclease before denaturation, indicating the absence of exposed single strainded regions in the viral genome. Since infectious pancreatic necrosis virus contains only two dsRNA segments it does not belong to the family Reoviridae and may represent a new group of viruses.


A study of the interaction between ethidium bromide and rye chromatin: comparison with calf thymus chromatin. We studied the interaction of ethidium bromide with rye and calf thymus chromatin. Both types of chromatin have the same dye accessibility, which is about 50% of that of DNA. From this result we conclude that the molecular structure of these two chromatins is similar. For rye, the extraction of H1 produces no change in the binding of ethidium bromide. The subsequent extraction of H2A and H2B produces a 14% increase in the binding, and the removal of H3 and H4, another 54% increase. At this stage, the number of binding sites is still less than that of DNA. This is presumably due to the presence of some tightly bound non-histones. Thus, the arginine-rich histones and the tightly bound non-histones are most responsible for limiting the binding of ethidium bromide to rye chromatin.


A general method for isolation of high molecular weight DNA from eukaryotes. A new method for isolation of high molecular weight DNA from eukaryotes is presented. This procedure allows preparation of DNA from a variety of tissues such as calf thymus or human placenta and from cells which were more difficult to lyse until now (e.g. Crypthecodinium cuhnii, a dinoflagellate). The DNA obtained in such a way has an average molecular weight of about 200 X 10(6) d and contains very few, if any, single strand breaks.


Venous outflow of the hormones secreted by the rat pituitary autotransplanted beneath the kidney capsule. In adult female or male rats subjected to hypophysectomy and autotransplantation of the pituitary beneath the renal capsule, the levels of prolactin in the renal vein of the pituitary-bearing kidney were not significantly different from those found either in the renal vein of the contralateral kidney or in the jugular veing. LH levels were slightly but highly significantly higher than those found in hypophysectomized rats; the levels found in the two renal veins and the jugular vein were also not sigificantly different from one another.


Developmental patterns of acid hydrolases during differentiation of fetal mouse skin. The activities of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase were assayed in fetal and neonatal mouse epidermis by microanalytical methods. The level of acid phosphatase activity was low in the epidermis on Day 15 of gestation. Acid phosphatase activity increased 10-fold between Day 15 of gestation and neonatalhood. On the other hand, beta-glucuronidase activity was high on Days 14 and 15 of gestation and low after Day 17 of gestation. The relative ratio of acid phosphatase to beta-glucuronidase activity appeared to represent a marker for the degree of differentiation in whole epidermis.


[A factor analytical method for the examination of aphasic disorders]. According to calculations based on factor analysis a general, a sensory, and a motor speech factor were determined for 50 aphasic patients, 29 non-aphasic patients with an injured brain and 20 persons who had no brain injuries. The method of examination and the graduation for the quantification of speech disorders are presented and discussed.


The involvement of further nutritional factors in the fatty liver and kidney syndrome in chicks. Supplementing chick diets causing fatty liver and kidney syndrome (FLKS) with a wide range of minerals or with antibiotics did not affect mortality significantly but supplements of isolated soy protein or a mixture of crystalline amino acids were both equally effective in reducing mortality. Biotin supplementation of the parent flock diet subsequent mortality among the progeny by 30 per cent. Data on the age-distribution of the syndrome and the general conclusions from a whole series of experiments are presented.


An ultrastructural study of heterokaryons derived from Theileria parva-infected bovine lymphoblasts and Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. An ultrastructural study was made of Sendai virus induced heterokaryons derived from Theileria parva-infected lymphoblasts and Ehrlich ascites tumour cells. When fusion occurred, parasites were successfully integrated into the cytoplasm of the resulting heterokaryons where they appeared as morphologically normal macroschizonts. Homokaryon formation was also noted. This occurred frequently between Ehrlich ascites tumour cells and rarely with lymphoblasts. A small proportion of heterokaryons contained altered forms of T parva showing nuclear components, vesicular structures and paired organelles similar to the microshizont stage of the parasite.


[The mutagenic effect of x-rays iii. radiation genetic risks]. In the estimation of radiation genetic risks, the results must be derived from animal experiments. According to recently performed investigations, humans have almost the same mutation sensibility like mice. In risk estimations, it is necessary to take into account the factors which influence the mutation rate induced per unit dose. Risk estimations are carried out by comparing the effect per unit dose with the risk of the same effect, which is caused by unknown natural influences. The reader is reffered to data derived from humans.


Synchronization of periodical cicada emergences. Synchronized insect emergences are shown to be a possible consequence of predation in the presence of a limited environmental carrying capacity through a mathematical model for cicada populations that includes these two features. Synchronized emergences, like those observed in 13- and 17-year cicades, are predicted for insects with sufficiently long life-spans. Balanced solutions, in which comparable emergences occur each year, are found for insects having sufficiently short life-spans, such as 3-, 4-, and 7-year cicadas. For the values used here, synchronized emergences occur for insects with life-spans of 10 years or more, and balanced emergences occur for life-spans of fewer than 10 years.


Experience with subcutaneous mastectomy. A review of 67 patients who had undergone subcutaneous mastectomy indicates that the procedure should be used with well defined criteria. Both the patient and the surgeon should understand clearly that the procedure does not afford absolute protection against breast cancer. In proper perspective, used in appropriate circumstance, subcutaneous mastectomy is one more tool in the physician's armamentarium  against breast disease-- a tool that may offer relief and satisfaction, with only moderate risk of morbidity.


Enzymic activity of 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and of some glycolytic enzymes occurring in the testicle of Graphosoma italicum Mull. and of Eurydema ventralis Kol. (Heteroptera--Pentatomidae). In the testicle of Graphosoma italicum and Eurydema ventralis the histochemical localization of 3-beta-HSD, SDH, MDH and LDH was followed up. The enzymic activity was detected in various stages of the sexual cells; the strongest activity was found in the evoluted spermatids and spermatozoa. As far as the nutritive cells of the testicle are concerned, the reaction of these different enzymes appeared very weak or absent.


A comparative study of adrenal progesterone secretion during the estrous cycles of hamsters and rats. Adrenal secretory rates and peripheral plasma levels of progesterone (PROG) were determined during the estrous cycles of hamsters and 4-day cyclic rats. In both species, the PROG concentrations in peripheral plasma were never more than 6% of those observed in adrenal venous plasma. In hamsters, adrenal PROG secretory rates varied from 3.8 +/- 0.8 ng/min at 0800 hr on proestrus (P) to 8.5 +/- 1 ng/min at 2000 hr on estrus (E). The rates noted on P were among the lowest observed and were similar to those noted at 0800 hr the following morning. In rats, adrenal PROG secretory rates varied from 57 +/- 9 ng/min at 0800 hr on E to 130 +/- 18 ng/min at 2000 hr on P. A significant decline occurred between 2000 hr on P and 0800 hr the following morning. Rats secreted 3 to 8 times more PROG than did hamsters when the secretory rates are expressed as ng/min/100 mg adrenal. In hamsters, the data suggest a relative lack of influence of female reproductive hormones on adrenal PROG secretion and in turn the latter may not be involved in reproductive hormonal changes leading to ovulation. In rats, the increased adrenal PROG secretion noted on P may be due to the influence of reproductive hormones on adrenocortical function. This elevated rate may in turn influence the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-ovarian axis.


Changes in hookworm distribution in Surinam. During the months May-July, 1974, a follow-up investigation was carried out on hookworm infections in dogs and cats in order to study changes in the hookworm distribution in Surinam since 1967. Fifty-two cats and 152 dogs were examined for the presence of helminths in the oesophagus, small intestine, coecum and heart. In total 15,942 helminths were isolated; most of these (14,006) were hookworms belonging to the species Ancylostoma caninum, A. tubaeforme, A. ceylanicum and A. braziliense. The average size of the hookworn load in dogs and cats appeared to have decreased since 1967, especially as regards A. ceylanicum. The distribution area of A. braziliense had extended largely by 1974 to the east and south in Surinam. In west Surinam A. braziliense infection was not found, just  as in 1967.. The remaining parasites were Dipylidium caninum, Toxocara sp., Dirofilaria immitis, Spirocerca sanguinolenta, Spirometra mansonoides, Taenia taeniaeformis and Trichurisvulpis.


Cytotoxicity of caffeine in cultured heart cells. The cytotoxic effect of caffeine on myocardial cells was evaluated in primary cultures of rat heart muscle (M) and endothelioid (E) cells. The cells were exposed to 5, 10, or 20 mM caffeine for 6, 12, or 24 h. As an index of cell injury produced by the treatments, in situ changes in lysosomal membrane permeability were measured by a sensitive cytochemical technique. The highest concentration of caffeine (20 mM) produced such toxic signs as reduced cell viability, increased vacuolization, and pseudopod formation. At the lower concentrations, caffeine labilized lysosomal membranes of M cells more easily than those of E cells. Pretreatment with hydrocortisone prior to exposure to caffeine protected E and M cell lysosomes from the labilizing effects of caffeine.


[Urodynamic assessment of women with urethral syndrome (author's transl)]. Thirty women presenting with urethral syndrome were investigated. A full urologic, radiologic, gynecologic and urodynamic assessment was carried out. In most patients the cause of their troubles was found. In 19 of them an obstruction was demonstrated. Two types of obstruction were seen: The first occurred mainly in postmenopausal women. Here, a narrow distal segment of the urethra was demonstrated. The second type of obstruction was seen mainly in younger patients. The cause was an incomplete relaxation or a spasm of the external striated sphincter. Other causes of symptoms were instability and atony of the detrusor. In some women no cause for their symptoms and recurrent urinary infection was found.


Genital manifestation of filariasis.

Genital manifestation of filariasis. The epidemiology, parasitology, and clinical and pathologic aspects of genital filariasis are reviewed. Emphasis is given to the milder forms of this disease which might be encountered in a routine urologic practice.


Metastases from testicular carcinoma. Study of 78 autopsied cases. The necropsy records of 78 patients with histologically proved germ cell tumors of the testis, who died as a direct result of their malignant disease, were reviewed to determine the usual modes of spread, distribution of metastasis, the histologic characteristics of the metastatic foci as compared with the morphology of the primary tumor and the specific cause of death. The sites of metastases in order of decreasing frequency for all cases were lung, retroperitoneal lymph nodes, liver, mediastinal lymph nodes, brain, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, bones, adrenals, peritoneum and spleen. The absence of metastases solely in the anterior mediastinum without involvement of other mediastinal nodes (middle/posterior) strongly supports the premise for a primary extragonadal origin whenever the anterior mediastinum alone is involved with malignant disease having the histologic appearance of a primary germ cell tumor. The histologic features of the metastatic lesions were usually similar in nature to those of the primary tumor except for seminoma in which the metastatic lesions proved to be of a different histologic pattern in almost one third of the patients dying from the disease. It should be axiomatic that whenever a patient with seminoma fails to respond appropriately to radiotherapy that his treatment be immediately discontinued and that appropriate biopsies be obtained to substantiate the histologic pattern present.


Multiple primary adenocarcinomas of urogenital tract. A case of multiple adenocarcinoma arising from the kidney, bladder, and prostate is presented with a relevant discussion of the possible factors of pathogenesis. A staged approach of radical extirpative surgery is suggested.


Medical audit, continuing medical education and quality assurance. Medical audit and continuing medical education (CME) are now the mainstays of quality assurance in hospitals. Audits should address problems that have serious consequences for patients if proper treatment is not given. The single most important step is the selection of essential or scientific criteria that relate process to outcomes. CME does less than commonly believed to improve care. Today, quality assurance increasingly means a near-guarantee to every patient of appropriate treatment and fewest possible complications. Maintenance of the public trust rests on a firm commitment of the medical staff and board to this principle, implemented through an organized program of quality assurance. Under these conditions, medical audit and CME can effectively improve care by improving physician performance.


Comparative studies on some leguminous protein sources and soybean proteins. The nutrient contents as well as the amino acid pattern of broad bean, kidney bean and soybean were determined. The levels of most of the amino acids were also estimated. Heat treatment of the leguminous seeds caused a noticeable reduction in the levels of methionine, cystine, lysine and tryptophan. Animal experiments showed high figures for digestibility, biological value and net protein utilization for the soybean diet whereas the broad bean and kidney beans gave lower values of these measurement compared with soybean.


[Effect of culinary treatment on residual quantities of streptomycin and oxytetracycline in meat and chicken by-products]. The effect of different methods of culinary treatment on the residual amounts of streptomycin and oxytetracycline in the meat and edible viscera (liver, muscle stomach) of egg-layer hens and in the eggs was clarified. Under the effect of heat treatment (cooking, frying, autoclaving) the amount of streptomycin and oxytetracycline in the meat and edible viscera of chicken was found to gradually decrease by comparison with the initial one, with oxytetracycline declining more intensively. In the chicken meat oxytetracycline becomes completely disintegrated after 2 hours of cooking, while amounts of streptomycin in the chicken liver are also much greater than those of oxytetracycline, whereas in the muscle stomach after 2-hour long cooking, in cooked and fried eggs, where oxytetracycline becomes fully disintegrated, certain amounts of streptomycin still continue to be present.


[Nutrition-physiological properties of frying fats. 8. Hematological and blood-chemical studies]. The hematological and chemical examination of the 3rd generation of rats fed soy bean oil used for fish frying showed not any abnormal data.


[Nutrition-physiological properties of frying fats. 9. Overfeeding of frying fats and the drug- and toxic-substance-detoxicating microsomal enzyme-system of the liver]. Long-term feeding of frying oil to male rats increases significantly the activity of the drug and toxic substances metabolizing microsomal enzyme system. This effect was also seen in the females, but only statistically insignificant.


[Cutaneous granulomatous cladosporiosis]. The case of a 41 year old man with a tumorlike cutaneous cladosporiosis on the fifth right finger is described. Histologically seen there was an unspecific granulomatous inflammatory cellular infiltrate in the upper and middle corium, whereas in the deeper corium there were found big macrophages phagocytizing fungical elements pointing to cladosporiosis. The fungi grew up very slowly at a temperature of 30 degrees C. Since 1971 the patient was suffering from a "symptomatic" epilepsy medicamentally controlled. Though a neurotropic action of some cladosporion species is well known there could not be found any hint for a cerebral abscess.


Studies on mushroom flavours. 3. Some flavour compounds in fresh, canned and dried edible mushrooms. The concentrations of 1-octen-3-ol, 5'-GMP and glutamic acid were compared in 8 fresh, 3 canned and 5 dried mushroom species. The highest amounts of 1-octen-3-ol and 5'-GMP were found in the fresh muschrooms. Agaricus bitorquis, Pleurotus ostreatus and Pholiota squarrosa contained 5-7 times as much 1-octen-3-ol as Agaricus bisporus and Calvatia gigantea 58 times as much. Coprinus comatus and Pleurotus ostreatus contained much 5'-GMP. Little 1-octen-3-ol and 5'-GMP were found in most dried and canned mushrooms. Potatoes and tomatoes were analyzed for comparison. Little or no 1-octen-3-ol and 5'-GMP were observed. Glutamic acid was present in most samples in sufficient quantities to have an important influence on the flavour.


[Distribution of mercury in the fruit-bodies of Boletus edulis and Agaricus species (authors transl)]. The mercury content of various parts of single fruit-bodies of the Yellow Bolete Boletus edulis (n = 26), the Field-Mushroom Agaricus campester (n = 23) and of Agaricus silvicola (n = 17) was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. In each species the lowest mercury content was found in the stem (x = 1,96--3,21 mg/kg dry wt.), whereas the caps contained significantly more mercury (x = 4,19--6,97 mg/kg dry wt.). The highest mercury content was found in the gills and tubes (x = 4,85--8,77 mg/kg dry wt.), which contained significantly more mercury then the flesh of the caps (x = 3,11--5,60 mg/kg dry wt.). Young mushrooms seemed to contain more mercury then older ones.


[Thermal decomposition of cysteine, cystine, N-acetylcysteine, 4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid and cysteine methyl ester in soy bean oil (authors transl)]. During the thermal decomposition of cysteine, cystine, N-acetylcysteine, 4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid, cysteine methyl ester, in soy bean oil at 200 degrees C, a series of compounds containing sulphur are formed. Besides 15 alkylthiazoles, -thiazolines and -thiazolidines, compounds with 2 and 3 S-atoms can also be identified: ethane-1,2-dithiole, diethyldisulfide, diethyltrisulfide, 2-methyl-1,3-dithiolane, 1,2-dithiane, thialdine, 1,2,4-trithiolanes, 1,2,4-trithianes and 2-methyl-thiazolidino-(3,4-b-)-thiazolidine. N,N'-dibutyrylcystamine shows an antioxidant effect.


[Occurrence of bitter taste after roasting of proteins (author's transl)]. Proteins of animal and plant origin (e.g. casein, zein, soyprotein, gliadin), heated to 260 degrees C for 10 min, yield aqueous extracts of strong bitter taste. The thresholds (0.0005-0.008%) are in the range of the value for chininhydrochloride (0.001%) and are much lower than thresholds for enzymatic protein hydrolyzates. Polysaccharides, heated under identical conditions (e.g. cellulose, starch, agar, carrageene), don't yield bitter products. It is assumed, that proteins are important precursors for bitter compounds on roasting.


[Lead in mushrooms (author's transl)].

[Lead in mushrooms (author's transl)]. The lead content of 222 species of wild mushrooms, either edible or poisonous, was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Altogether 494 samples, grown in rural regions of southern Germany, were tested. The lead content was between less than 2.0 and 40.4, on the average 10.6 mg/kg dry weight, equivalent to less than 0.1 and 3.0, on the average 1.06 mg/kg fresh weight.


[Results and experiences in the artificial maritogenous insemination as a therapeutic possibility in sterile marriages]. Statement of the importance, indications, contraindications and conditions of the artifical maritogenous insemination (AMI) as a form of therapy in the cases of a primary and secondary sterility. Report about 60 married couples during the time 1971 to 1974, in which in 10 cases (16,6%) the AMI led to a desired pregnancy. 4 of the pregnancies resulted in abortion, one of the pregnancies was anextrauterine gravidity. In 4 cases after a normal pregnancy and a normal delivery 4 normal developing boys were born. One women being in the course of treatment in the 20 th. week of her normal pregnancy. The successes are nearly exclusive in the first cycles of the treatment. The biggest number of the conceptions (5) have been reached, if AMI have been led one day before rise in morning temperature. After extensive diagnostic and proof of the generative potency of the wife and probable potency generativ of the husband, belongs AMI a stable place in the therapy of sterility.


Staphylococci outside the hospital. Staphylococcus aureus in sheep. Biochemical properties were studied in Staph. aureus strains obtained from the anterior nares of healthy sheep and from the udders of ewes suffering from purulent mastitis. Of the total number of 84 isolated staphylococcal strains 75 (89.3%) were classified as the C biotype. These undoubtedly sheep-adapted staphylococci produced pigment and beta hemolysin, they were growing on crystal violet agar as the negative type in violet colonies lacking both fibrinolysin and alpha hemolysin. All of them coagulated human plasma within one hour after inoculation. In bovine plasma 27 strains (36%) formed the coagulum within 3 hours, 16 (21.3%) within 24 hours, and the remaining 32 strains (42.7%) only within 72 hours. Mannitol was fermented after five days only by 33 cultures (44%). The staphylococci were sensitive to the applied antibiotics without exception. All these sheep-adapted staphylococci had analogous biochemical features to the earlier discussed staphylococcal strains obtained by the authors from the nasal cavities of cattle. Next two strains were denoted as deficit variants of the C biotype because of their lack of pigment. Of quite a different character were 3 strains (3.6%) of the A biotype and one strain identified as the E biotype. The former were presumably transferred to sheep from man while the latter from a dog. The remaining 3 strains could not be subdivided according to the classificatory criteria used here.


[Phenamine sterotypy as a drug-induced model of psychopathology]. Stereotype movements in cats following the administration of bid dosages of phenamine is accompanied by crude disorders of conditioned avoidance with an increase of intrasignal reactions, a weakening of differentiated inhibition and an inhibition of avoidance responses due to low frequency irritation of the caudate nucleus. Caffeine even in large dosages does not possess such properties. Phenamine as in caudectomia decreases the amount of monomodel neurons in the neocortex, as well as group postdischarges in the caudate response of neurons. It is assumed that many indices of phenamine stereotypicity, as a possible model of psychopathology, may be explained by disturbances of the filtering and retention functions of the caudate nucleaus.


Amino acid sequence of human muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Isolation and amino acid sequences of tryptic peptides. 1. The amino acid compostion, N- and C-terminal amino acid sequences, and the subunit molecular weight of glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase from human muscle, were determined. The obtained results and the maps of tryptic peptides suggest that the enzyme is composed of four identical or very similar polypeptide chains. 2. From the tryptic digest of performic acid-oxidized enzyme, 32 peptides were isolated. The amino acid sequence analysis showed a high degree of homology with the corresponding tryptic peptides of the dehydrogenase from pig muscle, with 9 replacements and probably two additional amino acids in the examined sequences of the human muscle enzyme.


Similarity in active site arrangement of neutral protease from calf thymus chromatin and trypsin. 1. Susceptibility to inhibitors of neutral protease from calf thymus chromatin has been compared with that of trypsin. The chromatin protease reacts stoichiometrically with the inhibitors specific for trypsin (diisopropylfluorophosphate, tosyl-lysyl chloromethane, soybean trypsin inhibitor and Kunitz basic inhibitor from pancreas), but not with the inhibitor specific for chymotrypsin (tosyl-phenylalanyl chloromethane). 2. Chromatin protease, similarly as trypsin, cleaves Lys-X and Arg-X peptide bonds. 3. It is concluded that the structure of active site region of both enzymes is very similar.


Inhibition of pyruvate oxidation by skeletal muscle mitochondria by phenylpyruvate. 1. Phenylpyruvate inhibits pyruvate plus malate oxidation in human and rat skeletal muscle mitochondria in state 3 and in the uncoupled state, it has, however, no effect in state 4. 2. Inhibition by phenylpyruvate of pyruvate oxidation by intact uncoupled rat muscle mitochondria was competitive, with the Ki value about 0.18 mM. 3. It is suggested that the inhibition of pyruvate oxidation is due to the action of phenylpyruvate on muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase, and is the principal cause of the elevated concentration of pyruvate and lactate in blood plasma of phenylketonuric patients.


Arteriovenous anastomoses in the skin of tropical cattle. As part of a general study of the vascular arrangement in the skin of cattle in tropical environments, the arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA) and other specialized vascular structures in the various skin sites of cattle were observed histologically. AVA were abundant in the skin from the scrotum, eye margin and the lower limb sites but were generally less numerous on the hairy body skin sites of cattle. Most of the AVA, especially those in the scrotal skin, were complex and tortuous S-shaped vessels, mainly located in the mid- and lower reticular layer and the mid- and lower papillary layer. The possible significance of their presence in various body sites, especially on the scrotal skin, is discussed.


In vivo determination of the stress-strain relation of the human myometrium. Smooth muscle is capable of responding by contraction to mechanical distension. Neither the structural basis for this phenomenon nor the theories of smooth muscle behavior are completely clear. A method is now described by which the contractile response to mechanical distension of the human uterine muscle in vivo is determined. The distension is enforced sinusoidally within the frequency range 0.005-2 Hz, by filling and emptying a rubber balloon introduced into the uterine cavity. A tonometric index of the myometrium is defined using Hook's law after the approximate evaluation of a contractile modulus and the tangential stress and strain in the inner layer of the uterine wall. The regression line of indices upon frequency is calculated and intercept and regression coefficient of the equation for basic conditions are compared with those obtained during administration of pharmacologically active agents. It is suggested that the differences in intercepts and regression coefficients be used as a measure of drug effect.


Comparison of the effects of leucines, non-metabolizable leucine analogues and other insulin secretagogues on the activity of glutamate dehydrogenase. Glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) from bovine liver was employed in model system for testing a possible role of GLDH in insulin release. The ability of different insulin secretagogues to stimulate the activity of the diethylstilbestrol-inhibited enzyme was tested. The two insulin-releasing amino acids, L-leucine and its non-metabolizable analogue 2-aminobicyclo(2, 2, 1)heptane-2-carboxylic acid [b(--)-BCH], were the best stimulators of GLDH activity. The non-secreting stereoisomers, D-leucine and b(+)-BCH, were less effective. Glucose, L-arginine and the leucine metabolite alpha-ketoisocaproic acid lacked significant effects on GLDH activity. Small and diverging effects were obtained with sulfonvlurea compounds: whereas carbutamide caused slight stimulation, tolbutamide and glipizide had no effect, and glibenclamide was an inhibitor. The specificity of the insulin-releasing amino acids L-leucine and b(--)-BCH in stimulating GLDH activity makes it tempting to speculate about a connection between allosteric regulation of pyridine nucleotide-dependent enzymes and insulin release.


Electric activity of the rat myometrium in vivo during the estrous cycle. Electric activity of the uterus was recorded by 6 chronically implanted wire electrodes in 17 unrestrained 5-day cycling rats. Results obtained during 196 h of recording revealed consistent changes in frequency, amplitude, temporal pattern and in direction and distance of propagation of electric activity. In estrus, bursts were short and of variable amplitude and frequency, while in metestrus bursts had high amplitude, longer duration and regular frequency. The activity decreased from metestrus to the first diestrous day and still more to the second diestrous day. In diestrus and proestrus long bursts appeared once to twice within an hour. In proestrus the morning level of activity was still low, but high at night, when it resembled the activity in estrus. Electric activity spread in both directions but with a higher frequency in the cervical direction in all phases of the cycle. Cervical electric activity appeared in synchrony with that of the uterine body and did not differ from it in type.


Is there a diurnal variation in the susceptibility of mouse skin to the tumorigenic action of methylcholanthrene? A study of tumour yield with special reference to the variation between cages. Skin tumour development was studied in groups of mice painted once with 125 mug of 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) either at 12:00 or at 24:00 MET. Eight animals were kept in each box. The animals were observed weekly for 20 months and all tumours were registered. There was no difference between the two groups of mice as regards tumour induction time or number of papilloma-bearing mice. In the groups of mice treated at 24:00 the number of skin tumours to develop was 9 per cent higher than in groups of mice treated at 12:00. This difference in papilloma yields is not statistically significant. Among female mice painted at 24:00 carcinoma-bearing animals were significantly more numerous (50 per cent) than among those painted at 12:00, whereas there was no difference between the groups of male mice. Considering the groups collectively (males + females), the intergroup difference (17 per cent) in advantage of painting at 24:00 was barely significant (0.5 less than p less than 0.10). There was no difference between the groups as regards the total number of carcinomas to occur. When the tumour yields in individual boxes were found to vary greatly. The slight increase in tumour yield after night painting correlates with the circadian variation in proliferative activity of the epidermidis. Previous reports in the literature have shown similar differences. Further investigations and better methods seem necessary before a definite conclusion can be drawn concerning a possible diurnal variation in the susceptibility of mouse skin to chemical carcinogenesis. It is also emphasized that it is necessary to exercise great caution when the results of classical epidermal chemical carcinogenesis experiments are to be interpreted. It seems necessary to observe animals for at least 15 months before any conclusion can be drawn.


The effects of L-histidine and of specific histamine receptor agonists, on the expression of morphine tolerance and physical dependence in mice. The effects of L-histidine, and of the specific histamine receptor agonists 2-methylhistamine and 4-methylhistamine, on the expression of morphine tolerance and physical dependence have been studied in mice. These agents were administered during the "withdrawal" phase of development. All of them significantly increased tolerance but reduced the degree of physical dependence. The effects of 2-methylhistamine, which has predominantly H1-receptor activity, were completely abolished by the prior administration of the H1-antagonist mepyramine. The H2-antagonist metiamide, on the other hand, did not alter the action of 2-methylhistamine on physical dependence, though tolerance was restored to its original level. The effects of 4-methylhistamine, which is a specific H2-receptor agonist, were inhibited by metiamide, but mepyramine was unable to reverse the actions of this agonist. The effects of L-histidine, the major precursor of brain histamine, were unaltered by mepyramine, but partially inhibited by metiamide. These experimental findings are discussed in detail, and are considered to give further support to the view that histamine is implicated in some way in the mechanisms of the "withdrawal" phase of morphine tolerance and physical dependence in mice, with H2-receptors probably playing the more important role.


[Biotypological study of a sample of young males consulting for psychosexual troubles]. Biotypes of 320 male subjects consulting for elective sexual troubles are not similarly distributed as those of 210 psychiatric patients: gynoïdes (with or without hypo-androgenism) and, to a certain extent, normo-androgenics are found in equal proportions, while hyperandrogenics are twice as frequent and juveniles twice less frequent among consultants for sexual troubles. This observation would indicate that the excess of androgenic hormones is more disturbing than its insufficiency, from the psychosexual point of view.


Ultrastructural observations on rabbit, hamster and mouse eggs following electrical stimulation in vitro. The fine structural changes were studied in the plasma membrane, cortical granules (CGs) and meiotic spindle of rabbit, hamster and mouse eggs in response to electrical stimulation. Eggs were collected 16 to 18 hours after HCG injection, and freed from the cumulus oophorus. They were stimulated in vitro by delivering a single monophasic square wave pulse of 150 V for 1 msec. Stimulated and unstimulated eggs were fixed for fine structural observations 1, 30 and 60 minutes after stimulation. Within one minute of stimulation the microvilli of rabbit eggs were long, branching and had bulbous ends. Umbonate protrusions were also present on their surface. By 30 minutes after stimulation the rabbit eggs lacked microvilli and the perivitelline space with detached vesicles. Degenerating changes were readily noticeable in the microvilli of hamster eggs by 60 minutes. Changes were not noted in the microvilli of stimulated mouse eggs. There were markedly fewer CGs in the hamster and mouse, but not rabbit, eggs by 30 minutes after stimulation, and nearly all of them disappeared in the mouse and hamster eggs by 60 minutes. The density of the CGs in the rabbit was not altered. The meiotic spindle of hamster eggs dissipated within one minute of stimulation, however, the microtubules reappeared by 60 minutes after stimulation. Rotation of the meiotic spindle occurred in the mouse and hamster eggs by 30 minutes after stimulation. In some of the mouse eggs the spindle migrated to the center and the chromosomes were in telophase.


Circulatory responses of the near-term sheep fetus to prostaglandin E2. The effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on the fetal circulation was measured in chronically catheterized ewes using radioactive microspheres. The injection of 10 mug/kg PGE2 into six fetuses resulted in a biphasic pressor response with a hypotensive period followed by a prolonged period of hypertension. The fetal arterial pressure rose from 45 to 63 mmHg (P less than 0.002). The placental membrane flow changed from 36 to 16 ml/min (P less than 0.004), the fetal renal blood flow changed from 8.6 to 7.1 ml/min per kg of fetus (P less than 0.001). It was postulated that the hypotensive response was due to a direct effect of PGE2 on the heart and the hypertensive response was due to PGE2 releasing a vasoconstricting agent into the fetal circulation. In nine experiments the PGE2 was administered to the maternal lcirculation. This caused a fetal hypertension and a vasoconstriction of the fetal renal, placental membrane, and umbilical circulations. These changes were similar in time course and magnitude to those described above. It is postulated that PGE2 crosses the placenta and that the fetal responses seen in this series are similar to those seen when PGE2 is administered to the fetal circulation.


Appearance of the interventricular septum in obstructive lesions of the left ventricular outflow tract. Measurements of the thickness of the septum were made in 26 cardiac specimens and in 13 patients. There were 10 normal specimens, five with aortic stenosis, two with asymmetric septal hypertrophy, four with hypertensive cardiovascular disease, and five with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Patient measurements were obtained by visualizing the septum during simultaneous left and right ventriculography on angiograms obtained in the left anterior oblique projection. Four patients were normal, five had aortic stenosis, and four had a symmetric septal hypertrophy. Measurements derived from normal cardiac specimens and angiographic appearance suggested that the normal septum is a smooth-walled structure with right and left ventricular surfaces parallel, diverging only slightly at the apex of the ventricle. In aortic stenosis and idiopathic cardiomyopathy, the septum tends to be biconvex with maximal thickening in its middle third. Hypertensive cardiovascular disease produces uniform septal thickening, resembling an exaggeration of normal. However, in asymmetric septal hypertrophy no consistent patterns of hypertrophy or septal thickening are evident; bulging can be present at any point along the left ventricular surface of the septum.


Two lesser known but useful signs of neonatal pneumothorax. Two lesser known signs of neonatal pneumothorax are presented: the "large, hyperlucent hemithorax" sign and the "medial stripe" sign. In a review of 113 consecutive cases of proven neonatal pneumothorax, the large, hyperlucent hemithorax was the presenting sign in 29 and the medial stripe in 12 (25% and 11%, respectively). A left-sided preponderance of both signs but especially of the large, hyperlucent hemithorax remained unexplained. The practical significance of the signs, differential diagnosis, and influence of the Mach effect are described.


Carcinoembryonic antigen in patients treated with radiation therapy for invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Plasma carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in 75 patients with invasive cervical cancer were measured during and after radiation therapy. Initial CEA levels were elevated in 65% of the patients, the incidence varying with stage of disease. Of the 32 patients followed during therapy, CEA levels rose in 26 (81%). CEA values after therapy in the same 32 patients showed three patterns: (1) decline to normal, associated with a disease-free state; (2) decline but not to normal, associated with heavy cigarette smoking or persistent disease; and (3) decline to normal, followed by a rise to abnormal, associated with tumor recurrence. Elevation of CEA levels preceded recognition of recurrent cervical cancer by as much as 4 months in five of seven patients.


Preanesthetic evaluation and management of malignant hyperthermia in the pig experimental model. Fifty-three swine from the University of Missouri Sinclair Medical Research Farm were used in experimentation to determine their susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia, to determine appropriate anesthetic agents for susceptible swine and to investigate appropriate pharmaceutical agents which could protect against the development of malignant hyperthermia. The screening technics used were successful in determining susceptible animals to MH and the anesthesia studies indicated that dissociative anesthetics had less tendency to trigger MH than did halothane and pancuronium was shown to have greater safety as a muscle relaxant than succinylcholine in this group of pigs. Pigs pretreated with reserpine had less tendency to develop symptoms of MH and some were completely protected. The principle undesirable effect was the development of hypotension if sufficient reserpine was used to provide total protection.


Sodium nitroprusside-induced hypotension for supine total hip replacement. Deliberate hypotension was produced during general anesthesia by the infusion of sodium nitroprusside in 13 patients undergoing total hip replacement. Hemodynamic data from these patients were compared with those obtained from 5 patients under normotensive anesthesia for the same procedure. During the hypotensive period, which averaged 1.5 hours, the cardiac index rose 20 percent compared with controls. No acidotic tendency was seen. Blood loss in the study group averaged 475 ml, compared with 1475 ml in controls. From these data, a dose-response curve was derived which may allow the accurate prediction of the minute dosage of sodium nitroprusside required to safely induce hypotension during anesthesia.


Massive myoglobinuria precipitated by halothane and succinylcholine in a member of a family with elevation of serum creatine phosphokinase. Massive myoglobinuria developed in a patient given halothane and IV succinylcholine, Marked elevations of serum CPK were found in the patient and several family members. Myopathic changes in electromyogram and lack of neuromuscular symptoms and physical findings prompted the diagnosis of familial nonprogessive muscular dystrophy. Other hereditary muscular diseases were eliminated by medical workup. It is recommended that patients with known myopathy or unexplained elevations of serum CPK not receive the combination of halothane and succinylcholine.


The effects of heparin on recovery from ischemic brain injuries in cats. Since ischemic anoxia in experimental animals has been reported to produce areas of cerebral postocclusive nonperfusion, the authors studied the effect of heparin on recovery from tourniquet-produced cerebrovascular injury in 41 barbiturate-anesthetized, ventilated cats (PaCO2 30 +/- 2.5 torr). Twenty-four control animals were subjected to 2-to-12-minute ischemic injuries without further treatment. Seven experimental animals were given heparin (1000 u/kg) 1 minute before 4-to-7-minute ischemic injuries, while 10 animals received heparin (1000 u/kg) immediately after 4-to-7-minute injuries. All animals were monitored with continuous arterial and intracranial pressure (ICP) recordings, EEG, and evoked cortical responses. Ischemia and evoked-response recovery times were linearly related in all groups (r = 0.998 control, r = 0.936 heparin preinjury, r = 0.951 heparin postinjury). Regression-line slope comparison indicated shorter evoked response and EEG recovery times in the heparin-treated groups than in the control group. Heparin administration did not effect elevations of ICP seen 6 and 12 hours postinjury in control versus experimental groups. In cats with injuries lasting 5 minutes or more, all control animals were decerebrate and apneic, while 5/12 heparin-treated animals had lesser neurologic deficits.


Change in pulmonary venous admixture with varying inspired oxygen. Pulmonary venous admixture (Qsp/Qt) was analyzed as a function of fractional concentration of inspired O2 (FIO2) in 30 patients who required postoperative mechanical ventilation. Pulmonary and radial artery blood-gas tensions and pH were measured and Qsp/Qt was calculated with FIO2 ranging from 0.21 to 1. In all patients, Qsp/Qt decreased when FIO2 was increased from 0.21 to 0.4 and then stabilized to an FIO2 of approximately 0.6. As the FIO2 was increased to 1, Qsp/Qt increased. Since the inhalation of gas mixture with FIO2 greater than or equal to 0.6 increased right-to-left intrapulmonary shunting of blood, we recommend respiratory function be evaluated during inhalation of a clinically useful concentration of O2 rather than at an FIO2 of 1.


Absence of recall after general anesthesia: implications for theory and practice. To investigate the possibility that recall of auditory information occurs following general anesthesia, letter-work pairs were presented to 36 patients receiving light planes of general anesthesia for short operations. Postoperative testing which tapped auditory and visual memory demonstrated no evidence of recall. In a subsequent study, a single work was repeated during brief obstetric procedures in 12 patients. Postoperative testing was designed to maximize apparent recall. The only patient able to remember the experimental word had awakened during anesthesia. Even without the use of more sophistaicated physiologic and psychologic measures of recall, the data presented indicate that, for all practical purposes, an adequately anesthetized patient does not remember information presented during surgery. Apparent recall probably indicates inadequate or uneven anesthesia. Anesthetic agents may interfere with memory formation by altering brain RNA or protein synthesis or electrochemical activity, or they may produce retrograde amnesia.


Halothane MAC in dogs unchanged by phenobarbital. Halothane MAC in dogs was not significantly changed by phenobarbital (PB) therapy. Following 10 consecutive days of oral PB (10 mg/kg), halothane MAC was 0.95 +/- 0.05 vol/dl (mean +/- SE) compared with a halothane MAC of 1.05 +/- 0.03 vol/dl in another group not given PB. The absence of change in MAC may reflect either the development of tolerance to CNS sedative effects of PB or the masking of antanalgesia effects of the barbiturate by associated sedation and/or analgesia.


Effect of morphine-diazepam on signs of anesthesia, awareness, and dreams of patients under N2O for cesarean section. Morphine (0.2 mg/kg) and diazepam (0.1 mg/kg) were injected IV after delivery of the fetus in 68 parturients undergoing cesarean section (CS). General anesthesia was with thiamylal-N2O-O2 (4:2) and muscle relaxant. Twenty-four to 36 hours postoperatively, 1 patient had recall, 1 had unpleasant dreams, and 2 had pleasant dreams. The incidence of recall and unpleasant dreams was 3.8 percent in elective CS and 0 percent in emergency cesareans. Morphine-diazepam combination caused anterograde and retrograde amnesia. During the cesarean, movement of patient, size of pupils, or changes in blood pressure were not indicative of awareness or dreams. During anesthesia, 33 percent O2 produced adequate oxygenation of mother and fetus.


Relation of PaCO2 to fresh gas flow in a circle system. Recent reports have described methods of controlling the level of CO2 during anesthesia with a N2O-relaxant sequence and controlled ventilation. This paper describes a method of predicting and controlling the PaCO2, using body weight for determination of the fresh gas flow from the anesthetic machine, removing the absorbent from the canister while leaving the canister in the circuit, and controlling ventilation at 12 ml/kg and at 12/min.


A comparative interaction of epinephrine with enflurane, isoflurane, and halothane in man. Forty-eight patients undergoing transphenoidal removal of pituitary tumors received submucosal injections of epinephrine in saline solution during halothane, enflurane, or isoflurane anesthesia. Twelve additional patients received epinephrine in 0.5 percent lidocaine while anesthetized with halothane. Positive evidence of ventricular irritability was given by the appearance of 3 or more premature ventricular contractions during or following injection. Positive or negative responses were plotted against the total dose of epinephrine in mug/kg body weight. From these data, the dose producing a positive response in 50 percent of patients (ED50) was calculated. An ED50 of 2.1 mug/kg for halothane, 3.7 mug/kg for halothane-lidocaine, 10.9 mug/kg for enflurane, and 6.7 mug/kg for isoflurane indicates the relative safety of these agents when epinephrine is injected for hemostasis. The data also suggest that lidocaine given with the epinephrine protects against ventricular arrhythmias.


A preplanned treatment for malignant hyperpyrexia. Although a rare complication of general anesthesia, unanticipated malignant hyperpyrexia requires a rapid, organized treatment plan. With the aid of a treatment protocol sheet and a compact drug and cooling package, treatment can be implemented quickly in each operating room.


Maintenance of body temperature by heated humidification. Though difficult to prove conclusively, humidification of anesthetic gases during prolonged surgery appears beneficial. Even slight falls in body temperature are detrimental, causing significant increases in O2 consumption in the immediate postoperative period. A new heated humidifier which supplies gases at 100% relative humidity at 35 degrees C at the patient inlet has been used both to supply humidity and to prevent a fall in interoperative temperature. This was successfully employed in 19/25 prolonged procedures. The warmed humidified gases contributed significantly to the maintenance of homeostasis during anesthesia.


A comparison of the efficiency of three anesthesia circle systems. Three commonly employed anesthesia circle systems were tested to determine what effect the placement of the inflow port, overflow valve, and inspiratory and expiratory valves, as well as inflow rate, had on the rate of rise of anesthetizing alveolar concentrations of halothane. System efficiency was evaluated on the basis of whether alveolar gases, containing low concentrations of halothane, or fresh and deadspace gases, containing higher concentrations of halothane, were eliminated through the overflow valve. Small potentially significant differences in efficiency were found: greatest efficiency (greatest ejection of alveolar gas) occurred when inspiratory and expiratory valves were close to the endotracheal tube and the overflow valve was immediately distal to the expiratory valve. Increasing inflow rate from 1 to 3 L/min had a large impact on the rate of rise of alveolar halothane concentration. A further increase to 5 L/min had a relatively small effect.


Clinical use of etomidate for anesthesia induction: a preliminary report. Etomidate (0.3 mg/kg) and thiopental (4 mg/kg) were administered IV for induction of general anesthesia, comparing heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and side effects. No significant difference between the drugs was found in the circulatory parameters, but respiration was more depressed by thiopental. A high incidence of the side effects of myoclonia and pain on injection was seen with etomidate. The incidence of side effects was not affected by speed of injection or type of premedication. Mechanisms to reduce the incidence of side effects are needed for etomidate to become a useful induction agent.


The anesthetic effect of oxygen.

The anesthetic effect of oxygen. Low pressures of O2 (3 to 5 atm) cause convulsions in mice but higher pressures produce a state very similar to anesthesia. The authors estimated the anesthetic potency of O2 in mice which were exposed to either N2O alone, N2O + NaBr, or O2 + NaBr. From the dose-response curves, ED50S were derived for the gases. The ED50 for N5O alone was 1.50 +/- 0.036 atm (n = 12) and 1.11 +/- 0.041 atm (n = 12) in the presence of NaBr, a reduction of 25 percent. The O2 ED50 with NaBr was 3.91 +/- 0.077 atm (n = 12). After correction for the NaBr, the ED50 of O2 is estimated at 5.3 atm. This is lower than predicted from the lipid solubility of O2.


Serum IgE levels in white and metis communities in Saskatchewan. Serum IgE levels and the prevalence of certain atopic diseases have been studied in 819 individuals in 176 white families living in central Saskatchewan and in 275 individuals in 58 Metis families living in northern Saskatchewan. The geometric mean serum IgE level in the white community (81.3) u/ml) was lower than that in the Metis community (275.4 u/ml). The prevalence of asthma, eczema and urticaria was greater in the white than in the Metis community and contrasted with the increased prevalence of helminth infestation as well as of other untreated viral and bacterial diseases in the Metis community. It is suggested that atopic disease is the price paid by some members of the white community for their relative freedom from diseases due to viruses, bacteria and helminths.


Method of purifying beta-(1-3)-glucanase from Candida utilis. A method has been developed to obtain a rapid purification of the beta-(1-3)-glucanase present in culture fluids of the yeast Candida utilis.


Types of respiratory activity in Moniliella tomentosa during growth under different conditions. The osmophilic yeastlike fungus Moniliella tomentosa is an obligate aerobe and is not susceptible to glucose repression. Respiration is greatest in exponentially growing cells and is then highly sensitive to cyanide. Respiration in older cells or in chloramphenicol-grown cells is mediated by a cyanide-insensitive respiration which is sensitive to salicyl hydroxamic acid. Growth of cells under reduced oxygen does not influence the respiratory capacity of the cells but results in a longer generation time and a lower final cell yield. Low aeration levels and growth in the presence of chloramphenicol have a profound effect on ethanol and polyol production.


Studies on bacteriophage distribution: virulent and temperate bacteriophage content of mammalian feces. Freshly voided samples of the feces of cows, pigs, and humans were analyzed for the enumeration of cell-free plaque-forming units (PFU) of coliphages and Salmonella phages. Coliphage PFU counts per gram (wet weight) of feces were found to range from less than 10(1) to greater than 10(7). Salmonella phages were found in three out of five porcine samples, but none were found in the four bovine samples analyzed. Virulent coliphages related to the phiX174/S13 serological group showed some "habitat preference" in that the S13 type of phages was found only in pig feces, whereas the phiX174 type of phages was found only in cow dung. Temperate coliphages were detectable in a majority of samples of both human and porcine origin but were infrequently found in bovine samples. About 80% of the temperate coliphages of fecal origin have been found to be serologically related to phage HK022 (Dhillon and Dhillon, 1973), and all are efficiently inducible by ultraviolet light irradiation. However, considerable diversity with the group was found when the prophage immunity pattern of 10 randomly selected isolates was examined.


Constant release of photosynthate from marine phytoplankton. The release rate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by unialgal cultures and natural phytoplankton assemblages was constant over a wide range of dissolved inorganic carbon concentrations. DOC release was not proportional to the particulate organic carbon production rate. We postulate that intracellular DOC, fated for release, exists either as a separate pool from that leading to particulate organic carbon production or that there is active metabolic control on one portion of a common pool.


Anesthesia for vanishing lung syndrome: report of a case. A patient with severe bullous emphysema in whom one bulla occupied an entire hemithorax and shifted the mediastinum to the opposite side was anesthetized for bullectomy in a lateral thoracotomy position using an awake intubation with a Bryce-Smith double-lumen endotracheal tube under spontaneous ventilation on room air. The maintenance anesthetic was halothane and oxygen, with pancuronium bromide for relaxation and ventilation of the good lung only. This technique avoids many of the potential problems presented by this type of patient.


Medical legal aspects of clinical monitoring. Modern laboratory technology has spawned a plethora of techniques for measuring and monitoring drug concentrations and body constituents; but the availability and frequent over-use of these determinations, some of which are exotic and require specialized personnel and expensive apparatus have further escalated the already high cost of medical care in several ways. The specter of medical malpractice suits has compelled the physician to practice defensive medicine including ordering unnecessary monitoring procedures, particularly for drug levels. Further impetus has been superadded by the courts and state legislatures; for example, phenylketonuria (PKU) determinations are mandatory in almost all states. Court rulings have held that "common knowledge" not expert testimony, may be all that is necessary to hold the doctor culpable for not ordering a test; nor is expert testimony necessarily required if the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) or drug company insert recommends that certain tests or monitoring procedures be performed and the doctor fails to comply. (PSRO) programs will force further conformity, leave less to the discretion of the physician and place the government in an ever more regulatory role. Professional societies should take cognizance of the impropriety and danger of the government dictating diagnosis and treatment and should launch a vigorous program to scrutinize pending regulatory legislation and to make official and informed representations to appropriate legislators.


Biochemistry of Vibrio cholerae virulence: purification of cholera enterotoxin by preparative disc electrophoresis. Procedures for cholera enterotoxin purification previously developed in this labarotory were not applicable to large-scale purification, and these methods resulted in low yields of pure toxin. An efficient scheme has been developed whereby pure cholera enterotoxin can be obtained from 6 to 8 liters of culture supernatant fluid. This method consists of concentration by membrane ultrafiltration followed by gel filtration and cation-exchange chromatography. Pure cholera enterotoxin of high biological potency was obtained after a final step of preparative acrylamide gel electrophoresis. The degree of purity of the toxin-antigen as well as its biological activity were determined at various setps of purification. This alternate technique for purification is offered because of the widespread interest in cholera enterotoxin as a specific stimulator of adenyl cyclase.


Microbial conversion of tall oil sterols to C19 steroids. Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B-3683 converted tall oil sterols to C(19) steroids as efficiently as it converted soybean sterols.


Alterations in nail pigment with cancer chmotherapy. Three patients developed different nail color alterations after they had received chemotherapy for cancer. Many anticancer drug combinations are associated with similar findings. Transverse pigmented bands are most common, and these changes should not be confused with those attributable to systemic disease.


[Acute villous atrophy due to intolerance to soy bean protein]. In infancy, intolerance to soybean protein may be associated with cow's milk protein intolerance. In the reported case, the intolerance to soybean had clinical expression. In addition, this intolerance was expressed on the histological level with severe villous atrophy which subsided 18 days after the suppression of soybean from the diet. These facts invite to administer soybean proteins with caution in patients with cow's milk intolerance.


Immunology and adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy of breast cancer. Antibody against a breast carcinoma antigen was present in patients with breast carcinoma and other cancer more often (P less than .05) than in normal women. The incidence of antibody in women with breast carcinoma correlated with the presence or absence of gross tumor, and the titer of antibody paralleled the clinical course. These results suggest importance of a host-immune response to breast carcinoma. Fifty-seven patients with stage II carcinoma of the breast were entered into a prospective randomized adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy program of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil, and BCG vaccine +/- an irradiated allogeneic tumor cell vaccine. After 24 months of study, metastases occurred in two patients (3.5%) and a new primary carcinoma developed in the contralateral breast in two others, for an overall treatment failure rate of 7%. Adjuvant chemoimmunotherapy can delay early recurrence. Long-term follow-up is needed to assess the significance of these results.


Ischemic therapy in thrombocytopenia from hypersplenism. Percutaneous transfemoral arterial balloon occlusion or gelatin sponge embolization of the splenic artery or both were carried out in three high-risk patients with hepatic cirrhosis to reduce splenic hyperfunction and improve severe thrombocytopenia. Although this maneuver raised peripheral platelet counts in each patient, in one patient left upper quadrant pain with splinting of the lower chest cage led to hypostatic lower lobe pneumonia, while in another septic splentitis with gas-forming organisms necessitated splecectomy. Transfemoral occlusion of the splenic artery, although an effective, noninvasive approach to control splenic hyperfunction, has at the same time potential dangers that should be viewed with extreme caution in therapeutic application.


[Variations in the pattern of ruminal volatile free fatty acids, acetoacetate and glucose in the blood plasma of lactating cows after a period of fasting and renewed feeding]. 3 lactating cows were fasted for 4 days and then again received food. The trial was performed to investigate the effect of fasting on the concentration and molar proportion of volatile fatty acids in the rumen, on the concentration of free fatty acids and glucose in blood plasma and on the acetoacetate concentration in the blood. Fasting produced a considerable decrease in the total concentration of volatile fatty acids. Processes of ruminal fermentation were characterized, during the fasting period, by a continuous increase in the molar proportions of acetic acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid whereas a significant decline observed to occur in the molar proportions of propionic acid and butyric acid. The reciprocal behaviour of acetate and propionate under conditions of fasting lead to a linear increase in the C2 to C3 ratio from 4.4 : 1 to 9,6 : 1. With renewed food supply all fermentation data returned to normal levels. The concentrations of blood glucose declined after 24 hrs of fasting, remained at the same level for the following 2 days and rose again to normal values on the 4th day of fasting. The concentration of acetoacetate decreased significantly on the first day of fasting to values that were 4 times as high as the initial value. The concentration of free fatty acids in blood plasma increased tremendously to a value 40 times as high as that observed at the beginning of the fasting period. It proved to be a good indicator for the energy requirements of the organism.


Survival of airborne influenza virus: effects of propagating host, relative humidity, and composition of spray fluids. Influenza A virus, strain WSNH, propagated in bovine, human and chick embryo cell cultures and aerosolized from the cell culture medium, was maximally stable at low relative humidity (RH), minimally stable at mid-range RH, and moderately stable at high RH. Most lots of WSNH virus propagated in embryonated eggs and aerosolized from the allantoic fluid were also least stable at mid-range RH, but two preparations after multiple serial passage in eggs showed equal stability at mid-range and higher RH's. Airborne stability varied from preparation to preparations of virus propagated both in cell culture and embryonal eggs. There was no apparent correlation between airborne stability and protein content of spray fluid above 0.1 mg/ml, but one preparation of lesser protein concentration was extremely unstable at 50 to 80 per cent RH. Polyhydroxy compounds exerted a protective effect on airborne stability.


[Adaptational evolution of embryogenesis and adult placental individuals]. On the basis of a comparative morphological and embryological analysis the author concludes that lower mammals (ovipositors and marsupials) and higher mammals should not be united into a single class. Two classes should be distinguished: 1) lower mammals including modern ovipositor animals and marsupial animals and fossilized Multituberculata, Triconodonta, Symmetrodonta and Pantotheria; and 2) higher mammals or placental animals.


[Yolk sac development in two-humped camel embryogenesis]. The early formed yolk sac is observed in the embryo of Camelus bactrianus at the stage of 7 pairs of somites at the age of 22-24 days. The yolk placenta is formed at the stage of 17-22 pairs of somites at the age of 27-28 days. The yolk placenta of the Camelus bactrianus is functioning for a long time: during the embryonic and prefetal periods. Yolk hemopoiesis lasts from the middle of early embryonic period up to the second half of the late prefetal period. A continuous existance of the yolk sac in Tylopoda is likely to be a primitive feature of their development.


Lowering brain phenylalanine levels by giving other large neutral amino acids. A new experimental therapeutic approach to phenylketonuria. Hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase activity was inhibitied in F344 rat pups by injection with parachlorophenylalanine on days 7, 8, and 9 after birth. On day 10, animals were divided into control and experimental groups. Controls received an injection of phenylalanine, with the characteristic phenylketonuria (PKU) changes of elevated phenylalanine but normal tyrosine levels. The experimental group received a similar injection of phenylalanine but in addition received either a single amino acid or a combination of amino acids from the large neutral amino acids (LNAA) group. The LNAA group of amino acids--phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, and valine--compete with each other for entry into brain by a common transport mechanism. Compared with controls, the experimental group had lower phenylalanine levels in brain, but no change in serum levels, giving a lower brain-serum phenylalanine ratio. Increasing the serum concentrations of amino acids competitive with phenylalanine for transport across the blood brain barrier might form an alternative approach to effective dietary treatment of PKU.


Neonatal encephalopathy following fetal distress. A clinical and electroencephalographic study. Twenty-one neonates of over 36 weeks' gestation suffered perinatal asphyxia but not chronic hypoxia. Three clinical stages of postanoxic encephalopathy were distinguished. Stage 1 lasted less than 24 hours and was characterized by hyperalertness, uninhibited Moro and stretch reflexes, sympathetic effects, and a normal electroencephalogram. Stage 2 was marked by obtundation, hypotonia, strong distal flexion, and multifocal seizures. The EEG showed a periodic pattern sometimes preceded by continuous delta activity. Infants in stage 3 were stuporous, flaccid, and brain stem and autonomic functions were suppressed. The EEG was isopotential or had infrequent periodic discharges. Infants who did not enter stage 3 and who had signs of stage 2 for less than five days appeared normal in later infancy. Persistence of stage 2 for more than seven days or failure of the EEG to revert to normal was associated with later neurologic impairment or death.


A survey of preweaning mortality in the pig. Preweaning mortality was studied in 34 commercial piggeries on the North Coast of New South Wales during a 12-month period. For the 1,068 farrowings recorded, the mean litter size at birth was 10.4 and 0.6 piglets per litter were stillborn. The mean total mortality to weaning was 19.7%, but for individual herds the figure varied from 5.1 to 48.2%. A number of biological factors influenced the extent of preweaning mortality. Most losses (74.6%) occurred during the first 4 days of life. The mortality increased significantly with increasing litter size at birth, but the mean litter size at weaning also increased up to 10.5 in litters of originial size 14. Neither the breed nor parity of the sow had a significant effect on preweaning mortality, but the mean number of piglets weaned increased with parity up to sows on their fifth farrowing. Some management factors also influenced mortality. Piggeries using farrowing crates had significantly fewer losses than those not using crates. Within the group not using crates the intensive units had a higher preweaning mortality than either the mixed or sideline. Size of piggery had no influence on piglet losses.


Fecundity and proglottid release of Taenia ovis and T. hydatigena. The rate of release of proglottids was examined in 19 dogs infected with Taenia ovis and 16 infected with T. hydatigena. Faeces were examined for proglottids daily until the apparent death of the worms. Autopsies were then performed and surviving worms recovered. The number of eggs per proglottid was estimated in 12 T. ovis and 12 T. hydatigena from natural infections. In dogs infected with T ovis the time of first recovery of proglottids after infection varied from 44 days to more than 126 days. Up to 3 proglottids per worm per day might be released, each containing about 88,000 eggs. Infection can persist longer than 5 years. Dogs infected with T. hydatigena released their first proglottid from 48 to 65 days after infection. Each worm could produce 2 proglottids per day, each containing about 53,000 eggs. Although each T. ovis may produce over 250,000 and each T hydatigena over 100,000 eggs per day, it is probable that many of them hatch in the small intestine and are rendered inactive.


Selection for agonistic begavior in wild female Mus musculus. Artificial selection was used to establish different levels of agonistic behavior in laboratory-reared wild female Mus musculus. A within-family selection design with replicated high and low lines and two nonselected control lines was employed. Females only were tested at 8 weeks of age on 2 consecutive days. Testing consisted of placing a C57BL/6 female mouse in the home cage of the isolation-reared wild mouse for 7 min or until an attack occurred. The wild females were rated on a 5-point scale for agonistic behavior, and the sum of the scores over the 2 test days was the criterion for selection. The six lines, each containing ten breeding pairs, were selected for four generations. By the fourth selected generation, the responses of the high and low lines had diverged in the expected directions. One-way analyses of variance indicated reliable differences among high, low, and control lines in the second, third, and fourth generations. It was concluded that female agonistic behavior is influenced by genotype and that the level of this behavior can be manipulated by means of artificial selection.


Effects of light conditions on mating speed in Drosophila mercatorum. Mating speed of flies which have been aged either in the light, in the dark or in a light-and-dark cycle was measured using two strains, Rochester (R) and Salvador (S), of Drosophila mercatorum. A significant difference in mating tendency depending on the condition of pretreatment was found between R and S strains, while both strains showed a similar pattern of the diurnal rhythm in the light-and-dark cycle. Compared under the same conditions, S flies usually showed a higher mating speed than R flies. Mating speed seems to be affected by at least two different genetic systems. One of them is the genetic system determining absolute speed of mating. Another is the genetic system determining sensitivity to the environmental conditions. There may be considerable differentiation in both systems between R and S strains.


Relations between twins' similarity of appearance and behavioral similarity: testing an assumption. Questionnaires rating twins' physical similarity and similarity of dress were obtained from the parents of 121 identical and 70 same-sex fraternal twin pairs. Within-pair difference scores on several behavioral measures (two intelligence tests, two perceptual tests, one reading test, one test of speech articulation, and one personality inventory) were correlated with the twins' scores for physical similarity and similarity of dress. The correlations revealed no systematic relation between the similarity of appearance and the similarity of behaviors for either the identical twin pairs or the same-sex fraternal twin pairs. The assumption that twins' behaviors are more alike because they are more similar in appearance does not seem warranted.


Retardation and twin concordance in infant mental development: a reassessment. A reappraisal is made of Nichols and Broman's conclusion that there is no evidence that genetic influences are important in infant mental development if severely retarded twins are excluded from the sample. The reappraisal touches on certain idiosyncrasies of their sample, the test scores reported, and their definition of severe retardation. Data are presented for a sample of White twins who have been followed longitudinally since birth. For Bayley Mental Scale scores at 9 months of age, the monozygotic within-pair correlation was 0.85 and the dizygotic within-pair correlation was 0.62. With 13 retarded twins excluded, the correlations became 0.81 and 0.64, respectively, with the monozygotic correlation still being significantly larger (p less than 0.01). The present results indicate that genetic factors play a role in infant mental development.


Genotype x age interaction for neuroticism. Twin data suggest that genetic variability in neuroticism increases with age.


Comment on "IQs of identical twins reared apart". Jensen's claim that the twins from the four studies of separated identical twins come from the same population is shown to be wrong. The consequences of this are briefly discussed.


Twins' IQs: a reply to Schwartz and Schwartz. It is argued that the criticisms by Schwartz and Schwartz of Jensen's analysis of IQ data on monozygotic twins reared apart fall down on two central points, methodological and theoretical: (a) Valid inferences concerning the broad heritability of intelligence can be drawn from analysis of the combined data from several independent studies of MZ twins reared apart, even though the groups differ significantly in mean IQ; (b) Mean population differences within a given racial category can involve genetic as well as environmental factors.


Motion of mitral apparatus in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with obstruction. Motion of the mitral apparatus in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with obstruction was investigated by conventional single dimensional and multidimensional echocardiography. In systole, anterosuperior displacement of the posterior papillary muscle, failure of mitral valve closure, and anterior motion of both mitral leaflets were shown. The anterior leaflet was seen to impinge on the posterior papillary muscle but not on the interventricular septum in systole. The abnormality of the single dimensional mitral echogram, previously ascribed to systolic anterior motion of the mitral anterior leaflet, was found to be a complex of echoes from the chordae tendineae, the papillary muscle, and, furthest from the septum, the mitral anterior leaflet. It is concluded that systolic anterior motion of the mitral anterior leaflet is of smaller amplitude than others have suggested, and that obstruction to left ventricular outflow in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is produced by systolic contact between the mitral anterior cusp and the posterior papillary muscle. The theory is put forward that displacement of the posterior papillary muscle above and in front of the mitral leaflets produces chordal slackening, and that it is displacement of the chordae tendineae by the blood flowing to the aortic root during left ventricular ejection, which is responsible for systolic anterior motion of the mitral leaflets.


Effect of acute administration of propranolol on ventricular function in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy measured by non-invasive techniques. Seventeen patients with hypertropic obstructive cardiomyopathy, were studied using non-invasive techniques before and after the intravenous injection of 5 mg propranolol. The folloeing were analysed: left ventricular ejection time index, derived from the carotid pulse and heart rate; the isovolumic relaxation time, derived from the apex cardiogram and phonocardiogram; the diastolic closure rate of the mirtal valve; and the left ventricular diameters, systolic and diastolic, both measured by echocardiography. Propranolol produced shortening of the isovolumic relaxation time, increase in both the diastolic closure rate of the mitral valve and left ventricular systolic and left ventricular diastolic diameters. These results show that propranolol increases the rate of filling and the volume of the left ventricle, indicating that an improvement in distensibility is produced by beta-adrenergic blockade.