Transillumination of the skull in premature infants. Transillumination of the skull in infants is a simple technique which can be used to detect several major abnormalities of the central nervous system. The usefulness of transillumination has been limited, however, by the lack of standard techniques for its performance and by the absence of normal values, especially in premature infants. In healthy premature infants, there is a progressive increase in transillumination with increasing gestational age over three sites--the anterior fontanelle, the frontotemporal fossa, and the parieto-occipital eminence.


Development of attention in preterm infants. The quality of the awake state and attention in preterm infants has been evaluated by rating indices of attention such as widening of the eye, type of fixation, brightening, scanning, and cessation of sucking measured during visual fixation of patterns. Twenty-six infants ranging from 28 to 32 weeks' gestation at birth (mean, 31 weeks) were tested from one to four weeks postnatally until 36 weeks' gestation. Indices of attention were rated on a scale of 4 with an optimal mean index of 4. A progressive increase in behaviors associated with fixation of visual stimuli has been shown from 32 to 36 weeks of conceptual age. Mean scores ranged from 0.7 at 31 weeks' gestation to 1.8 at 34 weeks' and 2.7 at 36 weeks' gestation. The possibility therefore exists that by as early as 31 to 32 weeks from conception the human brain may be capable of waking states and thus able to process some sensory stimulation.rease in behaviors associated with fixation of visual stimuli has been shown from 32 to 36 weeks of conceptual age. Mean scores ranged from 0.7 at 31 weeks' gestation to 1.8 at 34 weeks' and 2.7 at 36 weeks' gestation. The possibility therefore exists that by as early as 31 to 32 weeks from conception the human brain may be capable of waking states and thus able to process some sensory stimulation.


Effects of serosally added sugars on the transepithelial electrical properties of the perfused goldfish intestine. 1. A study has been made of the effect of serosally added sugars on the transmural potential difference and electrical resistance of the perfused goldfish intestine. 2. Addition of glucose at the serosal side resulted in a decrease of the transmural potential difference independent of the presence or absence of glucose at the mucosal side. The transepithelial resistance did not change. 3. The serosal glucose effect persisted in the presence of phlorizin at the mucosal side. 4. With the activity transported non-metabolized glucose analogue 3-oxy-methylglucose the same effects were observed as with glucose. 5. Replacement of NaCl by cholineCl, RbCl or LiCl at both sides of the intestine had a diminishing effect on the glucose evoked potentials and on the transepithelial conductance. 6. Phlorizin in concentrations lower than 10(-4) M, at the serosal side did not influence neither the mucosal nor the serosal glucose effects. 7. Ouabain at the serosal side inhibited the serosal glucose effect and decreased the transepithelial conductance. 8. The results support the concept that sugar transport at the serosal side of the epithelial cell has features in common with the sodium-dependent sugar transport mechanism at the mucosal side.


Effects of Na and K ions on the active Na transport in guinea-pig auricles. 1. The effect of Na and K ions on active Na transport was studied in guinea-pig auricles by means of flame photometry. 2. The Na influx into preparations rewarmed in Tyrode's solution after cooling was estimated to be about 1.05 mmole/l fibre water - min (l.f.w.-min) or c. 8 pmole/cm2 - s. Intracellular Na ions enhanced the active Na efflux over a wide range of concentrations. A decrease in the extracellular Na concentration ([Na]o) had no major effect on the active Na efflux. 3. Extracellular K ions initiated an active Na efflux from rewarmed auricles with an elevated [Na[i over a narrow range of K concentrations ([K]o). 4. Assuming Michaelis-Menten kinetics the maximal active Na efflux activated by internal Na ions was calculated to be about 4 mmole/l.f.w. - min (30 pmole/cm2 - s). Half maximal Na efflux occurred at about 22 mmole/l.f.w. [Na]i. The maximal K-activated active - min (28 pmole/cm2 - s) and was half maximal at a [K]o of about 0.2 mM. 5. It is tentatively concluded that the maximal active Na efflux from guinea-pig atria is 3--4 times larger than the physiological flux. Under normal conditions active Na efflux in heart is mainly regulated by variations of [Na]i.


Habituation and conditioning of the defense reactions and their cardiovascular components in cats and dogs. Cardiovascular and behavioural responses elicited by novel, noxious or aversive stimuli have been studied in dogs and cats. Hindlimb blood flow, heart rate and arterial blood pressure increased in dogs when an orienting response was elicited by a novel stimulus (a sound). Similar cardiovascular responses occurred in dogs to mild noxious stimulus and in cats displaying a threatening posture when confronted by a dog. The cardiovascular components of the orienting response to a sound habituated with repetition of the sound. In two dogs however sensitization (increase) of the response occurred with reped by repetition of the confrontations: the vasodilation in the muscles waned and eventually was replaced by vasoconstriction while the cardiac acceleration and pressor response persisted. The threatening response was the most persistent. The modification of the behavioural and cardiovascular aspect of the response was not developing in parallel. The cardiovascular pattern was altered before any apparent changes of the behavioural pattern occurred. The cardiovascular responses of the noxious stimulus in dogs and cardiovascular components of the defence reaction in cats were readily conditioned to a sound. The possible role of the modification of the cardiovascular pattern in defence reactions in pathogenesis of hypertension is discussed.


Renal effects of furosemide in glycerol induced acute renal failure of the rat. The renal effects of furosemide in acute renal failure of the rat were studied using clearance and micropuncture techniques. Acute renal failure was induced by an intramuscular injection of 50% glycerol (10 ml/kg). Functional impairement of the glycerol treated animals consisted of a decrease in urinary sodium excretion, renal blood flow, total kidney GFR and effective filtration pressure of superficial nephrons. Effective filtration pressure was calculated from proximal free flow and stop flow pressure measurements. In contrast to control animals furosemide did not increase urine volume during acute renal failure due to a marked fall in GFR. Renal blood flow, as measured by an electromagnetic flowmeter, also decreased after furosemide in glycerol treated rats and increased in control animals. Furosemide reduced effective filtration pressure during acute renal failure to almost zero, whereas in control animals effective filtration pressure virtually remained constant.


The involvement of noradrenergic nerves in the cardiovascular reflex responses to lower body negative pressure in the anaesthetised rabbit. 1. Resting cardiovascular status and the reflex responses to lower body negative pressure (LBNP) were examined in control rabbits and in rabbits sympathectomised with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). 2. Resting systemic arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance were significantly higher in control than in 6-OHDA treated animals. 3. Control animals responded to LBNP at -25 mm Hg with a peripheral vasoconstriction and tachycardia. These responses were absent in 6-OHDA-treated animals. 4. Control animals responded to LBNP at -70 mm Hg with a peripheral vasoconstriction and a bradycardia  followed by a tachycardia. There was no significant change in heart rate in response to this stimulus in 6-OHDA-treated animals, although a slight vasoconstriction was seen. 5. Bethanidine blocked the tachycardia and vasoconstriction seen in response to LBNP in control and 6-OHDA-treated rabbits. Under these conditions there was no significant difference between the total peripheral resistance of the control and treated animals. 6. The results indicated that neither the maintenance of the resting systemic arterial pressure nor the reflexes elicited by LBNP in control or in chronically sympathectomised rabbits involved hormonal mechanisms, but LBNP was maintained for 1 min only. These findings are discussed in the context of previous observations.


Functional and anatomical characteristics of the nerve-brown adipose interaction in the rat. Two aspects of the coupling of neural information to brown fat thermogenesis were examined-namely, the thermal responses to increasing neural stimulation and the anatomical nature of the brown fat innervation. Upon stimulation of the nerves to the interscapular brown fat pad, there ensued a biphasic response. This response was manifested by an initial, but transient temperature decrease, followed by a rise in brown fat temperature. The magnitude of both components of this response increased with increasing stimulus strength, thereby demonstrating the ability of the tissue to respond in a graded manner a feature which may underlie the controlled thermogenic response of brown fat observed in the cold-exposed intact animal. No anatomically unique fibre types appeared to be specifically associated with innervation to the brown adipocytes or to the vessels within the fat pad. On the other hand, the nerves entering the interscapular fat pad were morphologically dissimilar, a finding consonent with their functional dissimilarity (i.e., innervation of adipocytes, innervation of blood vessels in the fat pad, and innervation of areas in the overlying skin).


Some technical improvements for the voltage clamp with the double sucrose gap. A new double sucrose gap chamber using electrodes of high stability and low resistance is described. The size of each sucrose gap and the central node can be modified independently so that this chamber is suitable for research on multicellular or unicellular excitable preparation under voltage clamp conditions. The shape of the central channel is made so as to reduce the series resistance between the preparation and the recording electrode to a minimum. A window made in the floor of the chamber allows to observe the preparation under a microscope.


Hemodynamic effects of norepinephrine and isoprenaline in various regions of the canine splanchnic area. Responses to norepinephrine (NE) and isoprenaline (ISO) (1-1024 ng/kg i.v.) were assessed by electromagnetic flowmetry on 18 arteries of the splanchnic region in anesthetized dogs. Measurements were judged according to the 2 criteria: 1. direction of effect; 2.sensitivity of vascular areas to catecholamines, expressed as D50 (i.e. the calculated dose inducing 50% of the maximum effect). NE decreased flow in all arteries (40-80%), but caused additionally an increase in the celiac, splenic and splenic artery proper. Thus changes in the spleen are responsible for the increase with NE. Flow reduction in the pancreatic branch of the cranial mesenteric artery was small. All flow reductions induced by NE had a similar D50 (about 30 ng/kg), except that in the hepatic artery (100 ng/kg).


Norepinephrine and isoprenaline induced changes of peripheral blood flow acceleration caused by changes of cardiac inotropy. In anesthetized dogs the norepinephrine (NE) and isoprenaline (ISO) (1--1024 ng/kg i.v.)--induced increase of maximum peripheral flow acceleration (celiac artery, cranial mesenteric artery, renal artery; and femoral artery) and the changes of the maximum first derivative of arterial pressure were compared with the increases of maximum ascending aortic flow acceleration and maximum first derivative of left ventricle pressure (LV dP/dt max). The maximum effect of each dose on maximum acceleration of flows (dF/dt max) and maximum first derivative of pressures (dP/dt max) occurred simultaneously for all v56--512 ng/kg) and for ISO (D50:128--256) ng/kg). We demonstrated that other varure) played only a minor role in the increases of LV dP/dt max in our studies. In contrast with the uniform response of dF/dt max and dP/dt max, the reaction of peripheral vascular resistance varied. In particular in the gastrointestinal tract the resistance could either be increased (NE, D50:115 ng/kg) or decreases (ISO, D50:15 ng/kg). Gastrointestinal resistance was a more sensitive variable for catecholamine stimulation than dF/dt max and dP/dt max. The data show that under the present experimental conditions induced by NE and ISO is due to increase of cardiac inotropy.


Evidence against cholinergic mediation of the effect of angiotensin II on the guinea pig ileum. The belief that the smooth muscle contracting activity of angiotensin II (angiotensin) in the guinea pig ileum is partly mediated by release of acetylcholine was reexamined, with the following results. 1. Atropine did not reduce the maximum contraction produced by angiotensin, although it caused a shift to the right of the log dose-response curve (dose ratio = 2.2). A similar shift was observed with histamine, bradykinin and BaCl2. 2. A moderate potentiation of angiotensin by eserine was also observed, which was similarly found for the other agonists. 3. A previous report that atropine blocks the fast (phasic) component of the isometric response of the ileum to angiotensin was not confirmed. The disappearance of the phasic component was found to be due to a tachyphylactic change in the response. 4. Depolarization by high doses of nicotine, and inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis by hemicholinium, did not affect the response to angiotensin. 5. Ilei in which the intramural ganglia had been destroyed by incubation at 4 degrees 48-56 h responed maximally to angiotensin, without loss of the phasic component of the response. It is concluded that the available evidence does not support the participation of a cholinergic mechanism in the effect of angiotensin upon the guinea pig ileum.


The turnover and distribution of labelled corticosterone during post-natal development of the duckling (Anas platyrhynchos). During 6 months of post-natal development in the laboratory, the weight of the adrenal gland relative to body weight decreases exponentially. In the 3 day-old duckling a single intravenous dose of labelled corticosterone becomes distributed in a very large apparent volume and an "extracellular" pool that is greater than the extracellular fluid volume and the pattern of disappearance of labelled hormone from plasma is biphasic. Later during development the volumes of distribution decrease and the biphasic pattern of disappearance becomes less distinct until at 6 months only one phase of disappearance can be detected with confidence. No significant change in plasma corticosterone concentration occurs during this period of development in the laboratory. Estimations of the corticosterone secretory rates, however, indicate that whereas the adrenal weight-specific rate os secretion increases during the first 3 weeks and declines therafter, the bodyf weight-specific secretory rate continues to decline throughtout the period of increasing body weight.


The influence of CSF calcium and magnesium on the ventilatory response to carbon dioxide during hyperoxia. Respiratory responses to inhaled carbon dioxide were measured in anaesthetized cats during perfusion of the ventriculocisternal system with artificial cerebrospinal fluid. A study was performed to evaluate the effect of changes in the magnesium and/or calcium concentration of the CSF on the CO2 response curve which was described as VE = S (PCSF, CO2 -- B). A decrease of S was observed when the magnesium concentration of the perfusion fluid was increased; the B-value remaining the same. The reverse was true down to magnesium concentrations of 0.6 mmol-1-1. Below this concentration S remained the same or decreased; the B-value was lowered. When both the calcium and magnesium concentrations of the CSF were changed, the relation between S and these concentrations could be described as to be proportional to CCAa-CMgb. The effect of changes in the calcium concentration was much more pronounced than comparable changes of the magnesium concentration as reflected by the magnitude of the exponents a and b which were found to be -2.80 (S.D. 0.11) and -0.60 (S.D. 0.03) respectively.


Differential effects of hypoxia with age on the chick embryonic heart. Changes in membrane potential, intracellular K and Na, K efflux and glycogen. The effects of hypoxia on different parameters of cell membrane function were studied in 7 and 19 day chick embryonic hearts. The following changes were observed: 1. Transmembrane potential: A depolarization of the cell membrane and a decrease in the duration and in the overshoot of the action potential. 2. Intracellular ion concentrations: A decrease in (K)i and an increase in (Na)i. Cellular Ca-content remained constant. 3. K efflux: An increase in the rate coefficient, which was larger in stimulated preparations. These changes were more pronounced in 19 day than in 7 day hearts. The effects of hypoxia were increased by simultaneous substrate depletion and counteracted by an excess external glucose. We conclude that: 1. The 19 day hearts are more sensitive to oxygen lack than the 7 day hearts. The difference can be correlated with the observation that the younger hearts are able to consume more glycogen during hypoxia. 2. The changes of the resting membrane potential and the overshoot of the action potential correlate with changes in respectively (K)i and (Na)i. 3. An increase in the background K current may be an important factor in explaining the shortening of the action potential during hypoxia.


Effect of adrenergic blocing agents on peripheral noradrenaline induced thermoregulatory responses in the pigeon at heat. 1. The hyperthermic effect of intramuscular NA at 32 degrees C was abolished by propranolol but not by phentolamine preinjection. 2. The lack of hyperthermic response was at least partly due to the blocking effect of propranolol on beta-receptor mediated in heart rate. 3. After NA the respiratory rate was gradually increased in birds preinjected either with propranolol or with phentolamine.


The role of sarcolemma and mitochondria in regulating Ca2+ movements in human myometrium. A subcellular fraction enriched in sarcolemma was isolated by differential and sucrose gradient centrifugation from human myometrium. The Ca2+ binding characteristics of this fraction were compared to that of mitochondria and microsomes that were isolated simultaneously. 1. Oxalate increased ATP-dependent Ca2+ uptake by the sarcolemmal but not the mitochondrial fraction, while azide inhibited mitochondrial but not sarcolemmanl Ca2+ transport. 2. The amount of Ca2+ bound in 10 min by these two fractions from a 0.3 muM free Ca2+ solution was similar, but the rate of Ca2+ uptake at 1 muM Ca2+ was greater for the mitochondrial than the sarcolemmal. fraction. The properties of Ca2+ binding by the microsomal fraction were intermediate between these two fractions. 3. The results suggest that mitochondria have a greater potential for lowering intracellular Ca2+ activity in human myometrium than do sarcolemma or sarcoplasmic reticulum.


The influence of nephrectomy, ureteral ligation, and of estradiol on plasma renin substrate in unilaterally nephrectomized rats. The effects of three experimental conditions on the concentration of plasma renin substrate were studied with special reference to plasma renin concentration in unilaterally nephrectomized rats. After simultaneous bilateral nephrectomy the maximum increase in plasma renin substrate was 17 times higher than normal within 24 h, while in rats which were unilaterally nephrectomized 10 days previously, followed by the removal of the remaining kidney (two-step bilateral nephrectomy), the maximum increase in plasma renin substrate was markedly suppressed (6-fold of normal). The maximum increases in plasma renin substrate by estradiol treatment in normal and unilaterally nephrectomized rats were about the same, associated with similarly decreased plasma renin concentrations. The similar increase in plasma renin substrate was found after ureteral ligation in unilaterally nephrectomized rats and bilateral ligation of the ureters in normal rats. This was the case where the plasma renin concentrations changed differently after ureteral ligation. After two-step bilateral nephrectomy plus estradiol treatment the maximum increase in plasma renin substrate was found to be higher than that found after two-step bilateral nephrectomy, but was lower than that after simultaneous bilateral nephrectomy. It is suggested that under the pathological conditions that stimulate renin substrate production, the plasma rein substrate concentration is less affected by circulating renin.


[Circadian rhythms of rat internal temperatures and thermal ambiance (author's transl)]. Chronic recording of cerebellar and subcutaneous temperatures were carried out in rats maintained at different ambient temperatures in a 12 h light-dark cycle (light from 7 to 19 h). Cerebellar and subcutaneous temperatures followed a rhythm with a period of 24 h with acrophase at 1 h and an amplitude of 0.75 degrees C. The amplitude and acrophase were not altered by modification of the ambient temperature (20-25-30-34 or 35 degrees C), but each elevation of ambient temperature produced a rise in the mean internal temperature of the rat. This rise, hardly perceptible at ambient temperatures of 25 and 30 degrees C, reaches 0.5 degrees C between 20 and 25 degrees C and 1 degrees C between 30 and 34 degrees C. This elevation of temperature was maintained for the duration of the 10 days of observation. These results pose at least three questions: the degree of liaison between the rhythms of activity (waking) and temperature; the lability of the mean internal temperature, which alter with ambient temperature while the amplitude of the circadian rhythm is unaltered and the absence of reduction of mean interanl temperature several days exposure to a raised ambient temperature, even when activity and metabolism are reduced by the second day of exposure.


Changes of plasma volume and plasma composition in water-deprived rats. Plasma volume, hematocrit, protein and electrolyte concentrations in plasma were measured in control and water-deprived rats every three days after starting the experiment until the 15th day. Plasma volume variations, as related to body weight, suggest that water loss from plasma was proportional to total body water at three days and after 9 days of water deprivation. Greater plasma water than body water loss was found during the period between 3 and 9 days. Plasma protein and electrolyte variations suggest that during water deprivation there is a loss of protein, sodium and potassium from plasma, which is proportionally less than that of plasma water. Potassium, calcium and inorganic phosphorus were lost proportionally to plasma water. The variations in plasma volume changes were partially explained as due to variations in plasma protein and electrolyte concentrations.


Myocardial glucose uptake and breakdown during adenosine-induced vasodilation. In isolated K+ (16.2 mM)-arrested cat hearts perfused at constant pressure adenosine infusions (0.8 mumoles - min-1 - 100 g-1 for 10 min) caused an increase in myocardial 14C-glucose uptake and release of 14CO2 + H14CO3- AND 14C-lactate simultaneously with a rise in coronary flow. The ratio of the release of 14CO2 + H14CO3- to that of 14C-lactate and the specific activity of lactate in the effuate were not altered. In K+ -arrested hearts perfused with constant volume neither glucose uptake nor glucose breakdown were influenced by 0.8 or 100 mumoles - min-1 - 100 g-1 adenosine with 0.1 - 5 mM glucose in the perfusion medium. It is concluded that adenosine does not affect directly the myocardial glucose carrier system, aerobic or anaerobic glucose breakdown or glycogenolysis, but enhances glucose uptake secondarily by increasing coronary flow. This interpretation is substantiated by the finding that mechanically produced increases in perfusion volume caused similar increases in myocardial glucose uptake as were observed with comparable adenosine-induced coronary flow increments.


Influence of extracellular fluid volume expansion on magnesium, calcium and phosphate handling along the rat nephron. Renal tubular handling of P, Ca, Mg and Na was studied in the rat both before and during mild hypertonic NaCl loading (ECVE), using micropuncture and clearance techniques and electron microprobe analysis. Micropuncture was performed at the late proximal and early distal tubule sites. ECVE significantly increased the urinary output of all four elements. In the case of Mg, the increase was relatively small and depended on slight but statistically unsignificant inhibition of reabsorption all along the entire length of the nephron. For Ca, it depended on the inhibition of proximal reabsorption, partially compensated by increased reabsorption along the loop. For P, it depended on proximal inhibition, no important net phosphate movement occurring in the loop during both periods. Ca reabsorption was highly correlated to that of sodium along the proximal tubule and Henel's loop, Ca and Mg reabsorption were closely related to the load delivered at the beginning of the structure. These observations are compatible with the view that tubular reabsorption of Ca and Mg is concentration rather than Tm limited, and that reabsorption of Ca, unlike that of Mg, is linked to the movements of sodium. Following ECVE, the difference between early distal and urinary deliveries increased significantly for Ca and P, but not for Mg. For phosphate, this difference accounted for by 45% of the delivery at the early distal tubule site, at variance with microinjection data obtained in the rat under similar salt loading conditions, which indicated that 17% only of the phosphate distal delivery were reabsorbed along the terminal segments. This discrepancy is discussed in terms of nephron functional heterogeneity.


Renal hemodynamics and renal O2 uptake during hypoxia in the anesthetized rabbit. The effects of hypoxic hypoxia on renal hemodynamics and metabolism have been studied in anaesthetized mechanically ventilated rabbits. Acute hypoxa (FIO2 = 0.10, PaO2 = 35 torr) induces at constant mean arterial pressure a 45% decrease in RBF, GFR, TNa and RVO2 whereas free water clearance increases. These alterations were still apparent 50 min after resuming normal arterial oxygenation. In order to assess the role of the stimulation of catecholamine release in these observations, two other sets of experiments were performed: 1) the animals were ventilated with the same hypoxic gas mixture but after alpha adrenergic blockade (phentolamine: 0.2 mg - kg - min-1 i.v.), 2) hypoxia was induced by ventilating the animals with CO (FICO = 0.002) at constnat PaO2. Increase in renal vascular resistance and reduction of renal O2 uptake were still observed. This indicates that adrenergic stimulation cannot fully explain the renal vasoconstriction encountered in hypoxia. The role of a local vasoactive factor, especially that of the renin angiotensin system is discussed. The apparent O2 cost of Na reabsorption was not greatly modified by any type of hypoxia and the Na: O2 ratio remained close to the value observed in normoxic animals. This indicates that the kidney may adapt to hypoxia by reducing its O2 demand keeping unaltered its tubular function and basal O2 needs.


Characteristics of C-fibre receptors in the cat's foot responding to stepwise increase of skin temperature ot noxious levels. 1. Response characteristics of unmyelinated cutaneous fibres with receptors sensitive to heating of the skin were determined by controlled radiant heat stimulation applied to the foot sole of anaesthetized cats. To evaluate response characteristics without repetivie stimulation the skin surface temperature was raised stepwise ("staircase") up to noxious levels in each trial. 2. A monotonically increasing discharge rate on increasing temperature (up to the highest temperatures tested, 52-55 degrees C) was shown by 29 out of 47 heat sensitive C-fibres, i.e. by about  60% of the receptors, whereas 13 fibres, about 30%, had discharges which were found to be presumably unsuitable for discriminating temperature levels above 50 degrees C. The threshold temperatures of both fibre groups were found to be usually near 40 degrees C. Thus our results indicate different temperature ranges among heat receptors with potential nociceptive functions. 3. Five fibres of our sample, i.e. about 10%, could be identified as "warm fibres". They had tresholds near 30 degrees C and had their discharge maxima at 44 degrees C. In contrast to the "heat-fibres" mentioned above they were inactivated during tonic noxious heat stimulation and in the time following. Though warm fibres respond with a burst of high frequency when the skin temperature is raised suddenly from normal to noxious levels and though they start to discharge again irregularly at noxious temperatures (e.g. 50 degrees C) after a silent period, when stimulated tonically, warm fibres seem to transmit little quantitative information about noxious temperature levels. Therefore they can presumably be discarded as "nociceptors".


Boundary layer resistance of steady-state oxygen diffusion facilitated by a four-step chemical reaction with hemoglobin in solution. The steady-state diffusion of oxygen in layers of hemoglobin solutions takes place under conditions of chemical equilibrium everywhere except in two boundary layers where deviations occur. The transport resistance of a boundary layer is defined in this paper. It is independent of the solution in the region of equilibrium and therefore forms a suitable basis to compare facilitated transport with different reaction schemes. Results are presented for a four-step reaction scheme between oxygen and hemoglobin, and compared with those of a single-step reaction for various reaction rates. The sensitivity of the results to changes in the reaction rates of the four-step model is also studied. With a knowledge of the boundary layer resistance the results of equilibrium calculations can be corrected in a simple way, which allows dirrect evaluation of experimental results.


Comparison of shivering in man exposed to cold in water and in air. Metabolic rate (M), mean skin temperature (Tsk) and rectal temperature (Tre) were studied during 2 h exposure to cold in the air (Ta = 15-25 degrees C) and in water (TH2O = 24-32 degrees C). From the results, it was possible to draw tentative equations of the metabolic response in transient and steady state as functions of body temperatures: Mair = 41,3-57.77 dTsk/dt-5.01 (Tskt-Tsk0) and Mwater = Mair + 984.15-23.79 Tre. These equations show an important difference between the two groups of experiments: in water, both Tsk and Tre are required, whereas Tsk suffices in air. This leads to discuss the usage of mean weighted skin temperature and rectal temperature to describe peripheral and central input respectively, specially on man in cold air, in the range of these experiments.


Quadrupole mass filtering for registration of blood gas partial pressures. With a newly developed quadrupole mass spectrometer several blood gas partial pressures are recorded simultaneously and continuously. In the mass filter the separation of the ions to be detected takes place in a hyperbolic electric field with variable direct and alternating voltages with a constant frequency of 2.4 MHz. For blood gas analysis a fully relaxed experimental animal was artifically ventilated and provided with arterial and venous catheters. Each catheter consisted flexible steel tubing (external diameter 0.6 mm) slotted near the end and covered with a silicone rubber membrane. The distance from the measuring tip to the mass spectrometer was 150 cm. Experiments with blood, in vivo equilibrated with gas mixtures, showed good reproducibility; the mean error of the helium partial pressure, for example, was less than 4%. During respiration using a gas mixture with 40% argon, the time constant t63% was found to be 55 s for the whole experimental arrangement including the experimental animal.


Altered permeability of the erythrocyte membrane for sodium and potassium ions in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Permeability of the erythrocyte membrane for sodium and potassium ions was studied in 8-10-week old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR, Kyoto Wistar strain), normotensive Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. The rate constnat of Na/Na exchange was considerably greater in the SHR than in the normotensive Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. This difference remained the same in the rats adrenalectomized 7 days prior to the experiment. The maximum difference in the constants was found when the sodium pump was blocked by ouabain. The accumulation of 42K in the erythrocytes of the SHR (the sodium pump being blocked) took place at a considerably slower rate, and the K+ washout into a potassium-free medium was faster than in the normotensive Wistar and Sprague-Dawley rats. These results seem to indicate a higher permeability of the SHR's erythrocyte membrane for Na+ and K+ ions, as compared to normotensive Wistar and Sprague-Dawley strains. It is suggested that the increased permeability of the erythrocyte membrane for Na+ and K+ in the SHR may reflect a more widespread cell membrane defect, which could serve as a general cause for activating the mechanisms maintaing high blood pressure.


Anoxidative work and metabolism of isolated perfused rat hearts as influenced by artificially increased heart rate. Under anoxidative conditions the capacity of mechanical activity and the metabolism of isolated rat hearts were studied at various pacemaker-induced heart rates. Isovolumic work decreased to about one third of its initial rate within a 5 min period of anoxidative perfusion and remained almost constant during a further 10 min observation time. Increased heart rate (100, 175, and 250 b.p.m.) was associated with an increase in left ventricular diastolic pressure and with decreases in systolic pressure and maximal dp/dt. Lactate production, tissue creatine phosphate and inorganic phosphate had no consistent relationship to heart rate, whereas tissue ATP decreased with increasing heart rate. It is concluded that the rate of anoxidative isovolumic work cannot be increased by raising the heart rate since anoxidative carbohydrate breakdown cannot be more activated than at the lowest heart rate studied and cannot be more activated than at the lowest heart rate studied and cannot  exceed a rate of 30 mumol hexose/min-g dry weight in the perfused heart.


Cardiac Purkinje fibers: cesium as a tool to block inward rectifying potassium currents. When a cardiac Purkinje fiber is exposed to 20 mM Cs the membrane potential falls to about -60 mV within 1 min. In voltage clamp experiments, exposure to Cs blocks both the pacemaker current iK2 and the instantaneous outward current iK1, while the delayed outward rectifying potassium current ix is not affected. In the presence of 20 mM Cs, the steady state currents are related linearly to the clamp potential and are insensitive to alterations in [K]0. The Cs sensitive current was defined as the difference between control and membrane currents measured in the presence of 20 mM Cs. This current displays inward-going rectification and its reversal potential follows log E1K]0 with a slope of 60 mV per decade.


A longitudinal study of parotid secretory kinematics by cinemicrography and computer analysis. The kinematic responses of parotid gland acini to isoproterenol were studied in vitro by time-lapse cinemicrography. It was shown that once secretion begins, granule depletion accelerates to a maximum rate in 8-10 min, continues at a steady rate for 5-8 min and then slows, depletion becoming essentially complete 25-30 min after stimulation. The continuum of morphologic change manifested by the acinar lumen during secretion was quantified by computer analysis of sequential cine-frames representing a time resolution of 0.1 min. Interpretation of seventh-order and eleventh-order polynominal non-linear least squares trend curves shows that the lumen enlarges from an initial cross-sectional area of approximately 96 mum2 at 14.9 min. The shape of these curves suggests that after an initial partial enlargement the lumen shrinks (or remains steady) before climbing to the maximum. The basic pattern resembles distortion curves characteristic of two-phase viscoelastic compliance systems. It is also shown that luminal plasma membranes undergo a very active ebb and flow during the egestive phase of secretion.


Behavior of microflow and local PO2 of the brain cortex during and after direct electrical stimulation. A contribution to the problem of metabolic regulation of microcirculation in the brain. Microflow was continuously recorded at four sites of the brain cortex (cat) during and after direct electrical stimulation of the brain. In some experiments local oxygen partial pressure (PO2) was additionally measured with a new combined element in the same capillary area where microflow was determined. This simultaneous measurement of both microflow and local PO2 in the tissue enabled us to analyze the kinetics of microflow and its dependence on local PO2 during activation. Microflow increased at all sites measured, in most cases within 1-2 s after the beginning of stimulation, reached the maximum of hyperemia after the end of stimulation and then gradually returned to the initial level within 30 s up to several minutes according to the intensity of the stimulation. The reaction pattern of microflow was uniform. As local PO2 normally did not decrease and did not even show an initial decrease after the onset of stimulation, the hyperemia could not be caused by local hypoxia. On the contrary, local PO2 always increased with the increase of microflow. This PO2 increase is necessary, because the tissue which consumes more oxygen needs higher PO2 gradients to transport the oxygen to the mitochondria.


The influence of the position of the oxygen dissociation curve on oxygen-dependent functions of the isolated perfused rat liver. II. Studies at different levels of hypoxia induced by decrease of blood flow rate. The influence of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) induced displacement of the oxygen dissociation curve (O.D.C.) on the isolated perfused rat liver was studied at different levels of stagnant hypoxia (hypoxia induced by decrease of blood flow rate at constant PO2 and at constant haematocrit). Rat livers were perfused with a medium containing either fresh or 2,3-DPG-depleted erythrocytes (2,3-DPG content: 4.3 +/- 0.4 and 0.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/l erythrocytes, respectively). The difference in oxygen affinity of the red cells did not affect the vascular resistance of the perfused liver tissue. The decrease in oxygen supply brought about by a decrease in blood flow rate resulted in a decrease of bile flow rate and of oxygen consumption. The higher 2,3-DPG content of the fresh erythrocytes was reflected in a higher bile flow rate at all blood flow levels, in a higher oxygen consumption at lower blood flow levels, and in a higher venous PO2 at the higher blood flow levels. Venous PO2, lactate/pyruvate (L/P) ratio and beta-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate (betaOH/Acac) ratio were relatively insensitive to stagnant hypoxia and to a difference in the 2,3-DPG content of the erythrocytes. The ATP content of the liver tissue was decreased at the lower blood flow levels. However, the ATP content of the livers perfused with fresh erythrocytes did not differ from that of the livers perfused with 2,3-DPG-depleted erythrocytes.


Oxygen pressure in small lymphatics.

Oxygen pressure in small lymphatics. Oxygen tension of the small lymph vessels (PLO2) of the rabbit hind limb was measured with both a flow-through micro chamber and a polarographic catheter-tip oxygen electrode to obtain experimental data on the source of oxygen in the lymph. The following processes may influence PLO2: 1. Since the structure of the lymphatic capillaries allows a free diffusion of small molecules from the interstitial fluid into the lymphatics the lymph within its capillaries can mirror the oxygen supply of the tissue, i.e., probably a mean interstitial PO2. 2. PLO2 might be influenced by the oxygen content of the tissue surrounding the lymph vessels. Measurement with the catheter electrode showed that PLO2 rose after superfusing vessel with O2-saturated saline. After occlusion of the artery running paralled to the lymph vessel, a decrease in PLO2 was recorded. PLO2 in the absence of lymph flow increased rapidly after O2 inhalation. This reaction could be impeded by occluding the artery running parallel with the lymph vessel. 3. The mean oxygen tension of the prenodal (afferent) lymph measured with the flow-through chamber was 28.1 +/- 12.0 torr, whereas that measured with the catheter electrode was 42.0 +/- 12.18 torr. This difference may be attributed to the oxygen consumption of the lymph cells. The lymph containing a large number of cells has a stronger oxygen consumption than that with a lower number of cells. These observations suggest that PLO2 is influenced not only by the oxygen tension of the tissues drained by the lymph but also by the oxygen consumption of lymph cells as well as by the oxygen content of the surrounding tissues and perhaps by that of the blood vessels which are located at different distances from the collecting lymphatic vessels.


Effects of extracellular volume expansion on the tubular reabsorption of glucose. A microinjection study. Clearance and intratubular injections of (14C) glucose were performed in glucose loaded rats, during control (C) and extracellular fluid volume expansion (VE) to 10% of body weight. VE resulted in a significant decrease in hematocrit from 47.50 +/- 1.06 to 38.80 +/- 1.14% and plasma protein from 6.23 +/- 0.25 to 4.13 +/- 0.21 gm/100 ml. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased by 51% from 1.06 +/- 0.07 to 1.60 +/- 0.35 ml/min. Fractional excretion of sodium increased significantly from 0.42 +/- 0.07 to 12.58 +/- 1.25%. Maximal glucose reabsorption (TmG) was unchanged from 3.47 +/- 0.42 to 3.29 +/-  0.41 mg/min. However, TmG/GFR decreased significantly from 3.14 +/- 0.22 to 1.94 +/- 0.21 mg/ml GFR. As compared to C, VE resulted in a significant increase in (14C) glucose recovery after injection into the early and late proximal tubules, from 63 +/- 3 to 81 +/- 2% to 88 +/- 1% respectively. After distal tubular injections (14C) glucose recovery was complete in both C and VE; early distal injection 97 +/- 1 vs 98 +/- 1%, late distal injection 98 +/- 1 vs 99 +/- 1%. These results indicate an inhibitory effect of VE on fractional glucose reabsorption in the superficial nephron. There is no evidence for glucose reabsorption in the superficial distal nephron during C and VE.


Modification of nucleic acid levels per mitochondrion induced by thyroidectomy or triiodothyronine administration. The authors have determined the liver mitochondrial population (number of mitochondria/nucleus) in young rats, which has been thyroidectomized (T) or thyroidectomized and subsequently treated with triiodothyronine (T3). They have observed that thyroidectomy decreased such a population to 72.3% with respect to the normal one, while the T3 administration (at the dose of 10 mug/100 g body weight every second day, from day 50 to day 60 of age) restored the mitochondria number to 81.8% of normal ones. The average levels of proteins per mitochondrion were 8.90 X 10(-13) g in the liver of normal 60-day-old rats. This content was doubled in T rats of the same age while the levels of nucleic acids or the nucleic acid polymerase activities per mitochondrion were enhanced, notwithstanding that the specific values (referred to mg mitochondrial protein) decreased. The T3 administration severely lowered the content of protein per mitochondrion, and this may indicate that thyroid hormones control the normal assemblage of mitochondrial protein.


The assessment of position of stationary targets perceived during saccadic eye movement. The experiment was performed to establish the accuracy with which visual targets perceived during saccadic eye movement are localised. Subjects were presented with the task of executing saccades of 30 degrees plus amplitude, passing through primary gaze, about the time of peak velocity a 5 ms red flash was presented at some random position (up to 30 degrees left or right of centre) on a horizontal visual display. Subjects were required to indicate the direction in which they thought the flash was localised by fixating in that direction. Observations were made under conditions of prolonged total darkness and in the presence of a contrasting background. Measurement was made of saccade velocity and eye displacement as an index of target positions. Eye displacement was linearly scaled with respect to true target direction. Targets were localised with an average error of 5 degrees-6 degrees although the variance was high. No systematic differences were found between conditions or subjects. Error was unrelated to saccade velocity. It is concluded that during saccadic eye movements the appreciation of target position is maintained with an acceptable degree of accuracy.


Anatomical and functional heterogeneity of nephrons in the rabbit: microdissection studies and SNGFR measurements. The single nephron glomerular filtration rate (SNGFR) was determined in superficial (S) and juxtamedullary (JM) nephrons of 10 anesthetized rabbits by the 14C ferrocyanide infusion technique. The length of the proximal tubules and the volume of the glomeruli were also determined for the same nephrons. SNGFR was higher in JM than in S: 28.6 +/- 3.4 versus 22.6 +/- 3.0 nl/min, P less than 0.001. In JM nephrons, glomeruli were larger than in S: 1.3 +/- 0.1 versus 0.9 +/- 0.1 nl, P less than 0.001, whereas there was no difference between proximal tubule length in either category (s, 8.7 +/- 0.3 and JM, 8.9 +/- 0.5 mm). In 6 out of 8 animals, SNGFR was significantly correlated to glomerular volume. Lack of correlation was observed between SNGFR and length of proximal tubule in all animals but one. These results show that the rabbit, as well as small rodents and the dog, has a higher SNGFR in juxtamedullary than superficial glomeruli. Although this functional difference is not related to the length of the proximal tubule in each individual animal, the ratio between the mean SNGFR value and the mean length of the proximal tubule in superficial rabbit nephrons is similar to the ratio found in other species.


The effects of asphyxia on afferent activity recorded from the cervical vagus in the duck. Recordings were made of nervous activity from duck arterial chemoreceptors, arterial baroreceptors and pulmonary receptors during steady-state conditions (normoxic normocapnia, hypoxia, and hypercapnia) and apnoeic asphyxia. Arterial chemoreceptors were stimulated by hypoxia and intra-arterial KCN injection and showed an increasing discharge throughout asphyxia. During the first 2 min of asphyxia the time course of the development of asphyxic bradycardia paralleled that of the increase in arterial chemoreceptor discharge. Arterial baroreceptors discharged at a constant latency from the heart beat when mean arterial pressure was constant, while a drug-induced increase in mean arterial pressure was associated with a reduced latency and increased baroreceptor activity per heart-beat. During asphyxia mean arterial pressure often rose so that, despite the effect of bradycardia, baroreceptor activity per heart-beat and activity per unit time increased. Pulmonary receptors showed a linear relationship (negative slope) between discharge rate and % CO2 in inspired air and usually stopped firing in apnoeic asphyxia. The initiation and maintenance of diving bradycardia are discussed in terms of these results.


Urinary oestrogen excretion, oestrous behaviour and ovulation in heifers treated with prednisolone during pro-oestrus and oestrus. The purpose of the trial was to investigate the effect of prednisolone treatment during pro-oestrus and oestrus on the ovarian function in heifers. Four heifers were treated daily with 30 mg prednisolone i.m. per 100 kg body weight from pro-oestrus until ovulation was palpated. Treatment with prednisolone did not appear to have any effect on the length of the follicular phase or on ovulation. In three of the treated heifers, the urinary excretion of oestrous behaviour was normal but in the remaining heifer the excretion of oestrogen was found to be lower and oestrous behaviour weakly expressed. The effects of corticosteroids on the follicular phase, ovulation and oestrous behaviour in different species are discussed.


Plasma progesterone in heifers treated with prednisolone during the oestrous cycle. Four heifers that had showed oestrus with regular intervals, were treated daily with 30 mg prednisolone per 100 kg body weight from the day after ovulation to slaughter. Two of the heifers were slaughtered on day 13 after oestrus for histological examination of the corpora lutea, and the remaining two were slaughtered on day 26 after oestrus. Three other heifers served as controls. Plasma progesterone was determined in all heifers during the period of treatment, and in one heifer during the cycle preceding. The normal increase of plasma progesterone in metoestrus was inhibited, and the plasma progesterone levels in dioestrus were found to be low in the prednisolone treated heifers compared to the controls. The corpora lutea of the two treated heifers slaughtered in dioestrus did not differ histologically from normal. The effects of prednisolone treatment on the development and function of corpus luteum, on prostaglandin secretion from uterus and on LH release, are discussed.


Blockade of apomorphine-induced aggression by morphine or neuroleptics: differential alteration by antimuscarinics and naloxone. Both morphine and the neuroleptics, haloperidol and oxyperomide, dose-dependently reduce the aggression in rats produced by 20 mg/kg of apomorphine, a dopamine receptor stimulant. The narcotics antagonist, naloxone, prevents this effect of morphine but not the effect of neuroleptics. Dexetimide, a centrally acting antimuscarnic drug, antagonizes the reduction in aggression produced by the neuroleptics, but does not affect morphine's action. The cholinergic agonist, pilocarpine, enhances this action of oxyperomide. These results suggest that a cholinergic component contributes to the anti-agression action of neuroleptics and demonstrates a difference in the mechanism of action between neuroleptics and morphine.


Long acting methadone.

Long acting methadone. Tablets were prepared using pan-coating, congealing, plasticization with organic solvents and direct compression methods. The tablets were evaluated using the official dissolution test, and an analysis of the active ingredient was accomplished by employing gas-liquid chromatography. The formulation and dissolution characteristics of sustained release tablets, employing the matrix concept to regulate drug release, were studied. Particle size distribution of plastic material influenced the release rates from porous inert matrices, and it was found that incomplete drug release occurred from these preparations. Three-layer slowly-eroding sustained release tablets, using a swellable gum (carbomer) were formulated; by adjusting the proportion of the gum quantitative release of the drug was attained. Approximation of linearity for drug release-time relationship was achieved from three-layer slowly-eroding tablets containing different concentrations of drug in the middle and outer layers. Administration of the above tablets, containing 30 mg of methadone, produced analgesia in male albino rats for approximately 60 h, without undesirable effects.


Lithium in the living organism. Is an integrated hypothesis feasible? 1. The effects of lithium on electrolyte metabolism can be demonstrated in man in acute as well as in long-term lithium treatment. No other lithium effects have been reproducible to a similar extent. 2. It seems feasible to integrate these lithium effects with effects on biogenic amines to form an integral hypothesis for lithium action in manic-melancholic man. 3. The results are consistent with one of the following two hypotheses: a) that lithium acts by membrane stabilization and/or b) that lithium acts by interplay with magnesium on one or more enzymes. 4. The above findings and hypotheses direct our attention to membrane dysfunction as the basic defect in manic-melancholic states. This may find support in our preliminary findings of special HL-A profiles in unipolar and bipolar manic-melancholic patients. 5. A four-type-pump-defect model to account for the various clinical types of affective disorders is proposed.


A neurobiological model for the symmetrical prophylactic action of lithium in bipolar affective disorder. By treating rats with lithium chloride or cocaine hydrochloride, or lithium chloride followed by cocaine hydrochloride, we have shown the antagonistic effects of these drugs on two mechanisms that may be involved in regulating serotonin 5-HT) synthesis in the striate cortex. Lithium chloride (5 to 10 meq/kg/day) stimulates the relative velocity of the active uptake of labelled tryptophan and proportionally enhances the conversion of labelled tryptophan to 5-HT in synaptosomally enriched preparations. With continued administration of lithium chloride, the activity of tryptophan hydroxylase from the median raphe and subsequently in lysed synaptosomal preparations from striate cortex is reduced; the substrate uptake remains enhanced, but the conversion of substrate to transmitter returns to control levels. In contrast, an injection of cocaine hydrochloride inhibits the high affinity uptake of tryptophan, reducing the conversion of the amino acid to 5-HT and resulting in an increase in the biosynthetic enzyme activity. However, administration of cocaine hydrochter three daily lithium chloride injections (10 meq/kg) results in no apparent effects on substrate uptake, conversion, or enzyme activity. We theorize that the effect of lithium was to push two regulatory parameters (the uptake of substrate and the enzyme activity) to their respective functional upper and lower limits, leaving the serotonergic neurons "buffered" against the "usual" effects of the stimulant drug, and offer this neurobiological model for consideration in relation to the clinical effects of lithium in the prophylaxis of both mania and depression in some patients.


Survival of large replanted segment of upper lip and nose. Case report. A child had essentially her entire lip and most of her nose bitten off in one piece by a dog. This was replanted by microvascular anastomoses. Most of the fragment survived.


Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix: incidence and the role of radiation therapy. Among previously untreated cases of invasive carcinoma of the cervix in intact uterus evaluated and treated at the authors' institution, primary adenocarcinoma accounted for 20% of the entire group. This incidence is higher than in previously reported series. It is felt that while the true frequency of this entity is increasing, careful fractional curettage, attention to morphologic characteristics, and special stains will distinguish adenocarcinoma from primary endometrial adenocarcinoma. Eight of 10 patients with Stage I adenocarcinoma were found to have sterilized hysterectomy specimens after preoperative irradiation. Radiation therapy alone may be adequate for Stage I adenocarcinoma.


Enhancement of morphine-withdrawal and apomorphine-induced aggression by clonidine. Clonidine, a proposed alpha-noradrenergic receptor stimulant, intensifies the aggression occuring during morphine-withdrawal or following the administration of apomorphine. The possibility of a noradrenergic/dopaminergic interaction in drug-induced aggression is discussed.


Effects of repeated daily injections of prostaglandin F2alpha on ovaries in mares. In experiment 1, seven groups of pony mares (2 or 3/group) were given either no injections (controls), or 5 (5X) or 10 (10X) daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of 1.25 mg PGF2alpha beginning on days 1, 7 or 13 post-ovulation. Compared to controls (24.5 days), the interovulatory interval was longer (P less than ..05) for day 7, 10X (33.5 days) and day 13, 10X mares (49.0 days) but was not different for the remaining groups. In experiment 2, nine groups of pony mares (4/group) were given either no injections (controls) or 1 (1X) or 10 (10X) daily SC injections of 1.25 mg PGF2alpha beginning on day 2 of estrus or on days 1, 7 or 13 post-ovulation. Compared to controls (25.0 days), the interovulatory interval was longer (P less than .05) for day 13 post-ovulation, 10X mares (40.0 days) and shorter (P less than .05) for day 1 post-ovulation, 10X mares (14.5 days). The interovulatory interval for the remaining groups was no different (P less than .05) from that for controls. In day 13 post-ovulation, 10X mares, the longer interovulatory interval did not appear to be related to a depression in either peripheral LH concentration (no effect of treatment on LH) or can follicular development (no effect of treatment on diameter of largest follicle). This suggests that circulating levels of gonadotropins were adequate for ovarian follicular development and ovulation and the effect of repeated dialy injections of PGF2alpha in preventing ovulation was likely exerted at the ovarian level directly on the follicle.


[Role of the epiphysis in the migration of retinal epithelial pigment during unilateral photic stimulation in Salmo irideus]. Unilateral exposure of dark-adapted fishes indicates that the exposed eye is only partly in a light-adapted state in so far as the position of the epithelial pigment and cones is concerned. This does not occur in epiphysectomized fishes indicating a possible role of the epiphysis. On the basis of available evidence, the nature of the epiphysis role is envisaged and a suggestion made that melatonin, whose synthesis is related to dark, may play a role in this phenomenon.


Adaptation of the growing lung to increased VO2. I. IDPN as inducer of hyperactivity. This paper is the first part of a study aiming to further analyse the hypothesis that in growing animals an increased VO2 due to a high physical activity leads to a quantitative adaptation of the gas exchange apparatus. Trying to avoid the tedious treadmill exercises we tested the applicability of the drug IDPN (imino-beta,beta'-dipropionitrile) as an inducer of increased VO2. Three intraperitoneal injections of IDPN permanently transform normal white mice into 'waltzing mice'. In our experiments ten male mice were injected with IDPN at the age of 20, 21 and 23 days. A control group was simultaneously injected with saline. The typical 'IDPN' hyperkinetic syndrome' appeared within five days from the first injection. The treated mice lost weight and grew at a slower rate than the controls. Their physical activity, as measured by Animex activity meters, was about twice that of the controls and was accompanied by a 50% increase in specific VO2 (VO2/body weight). At the age of about 4 months all animals were killed, their lungs fixed by intratracheal instillation of glutaraldehyde for a complete morphometric analysis. The body weights and the weights of heart, liver, kidneys, viscera, skin and carcass as well as the skin surface area were determined. IDPN mice were significantly lighter than the controls (-16%). All the other parameters cited above were reduced in about the same proportions, so that, when related to body weight, no significant changes could be detected. Specific lung volumes (VL/body weight) of IDPN mice were however up by 23%. These findings confirm that IDPN treatment represents a suitable way to increase VO2 in mice and may therefore allow to avoid more cumbersome methods of enforced exercise. The complete morphometric analysis will be published in a following paper.


[Radiological diagnosis of echinococcus disease in man (author's transl)]. The position of radiological diagnostics in the context of the diagnosis of echinococcosis was discussed on the basis of 11 examined cases of Echinococcus cysticus (9) and Echinococcus alveolaris (2). General thoracic x-rays as well as radiological examination of the gastrointestinal track and the kidneys were used to establish the extent of echinococcosis and to determine the involvement of neighboring organs. Diagnosis of the liver is generally of major interest diagnostically. With a scintigram of the liver, parenchymatous lesions of 2-4 cm and larger can be diagnosed with an optimal examination technique. The scintigram used in connection with the arteriogram can clarify the extent of the parenchymatous lesions. The celiacogram is the most important of the morphological liver diagnostic methods. It can be augmented by the selective hepaticogramm. An exact localization and the relationship of the process to the vessels is possible only with the celiacogram. In addition, the exclusion of other liver processes for the differential diagnosis is possible with the angiogram. The direct splenoportography is for the most part, replaced today by the indirect splenoportogram, it is only used now for special problems.


[Encephalopathy during oral treatment with bismuth salts]. Side effects of orally administered bismuthic salts have been known for many years. Many systems are involved, including the digestive and urinary. The authors discuss a recently discovered effect on the central nervous system, termed "bismuth encephalopathy". In the light of the medical literature reviewed, two original aspects are stressed: the clinical symptoms are stereotyped and completely reversible, and the distribution of the disease is almost epidemic, being limited in time and space. The prodromes include confusion, asthenia, slowing of mental functions and disturbance of gait. The clinical picture is dominated by four major symptoms: confusion (again), ataxia, dysarthria and, above all, myoclonic jerks. In conclusion, various pathogenetic hypotheses are considered. The purpose of this study is to enable the general practitioner to detect the development of this condition early in treatment with oral bismuthic salts. Withdrawal of the medication always results in normalization of the patient's condition.


The amnesia gradient: inadequate as evidence for a memory consolidation process. Rats were conditioned to fear a tone paired with shock to the feet. Retention tests 4 days later showed that consolidation had occurred. Other animals were not tested for retention at 4 days, but the tone was presented in order to reactivate their memories of the conditioning. An amnesia gradient was generated by low-intensity electrical stimulation of the amygdaloid complex at different intervals after the tone, but stimulation was without effect either when given to rats not previously conditioned or when given to conditioned rats without preceding memory reactivation. Thus, stimulation of the amygdaloid complex can can affect memory retrieval. Moreover, the data call into question the assumption that an amnesia gradient indicates that the memory consolidation process has been modified.


Hydroxymethyluracil in eukaryote DNA: a natural feature of the pyrrophyta (dinoflagellates). Analysis of the DNA of several diverse dinoflagellates and other algae has revealed that the presence of the base hydroxymethyluracil (HOMeU) is a feature common among the DNA's of dinoflagellates; this base has not been found in any other group of eukaryotes that has been examined. Among examined members of the dinoflagellates, the ratio of the base pairs HOMeU-A to T-A, where A is adenine and T is thymine, ranges from 0.14 to 2.13. In addition to hydroxymethyluracil, the DNA of one dinoflagellate contains methylcytosine, and that of another contains methyladenine, while the DNA of other dinoflagellates contains no detectable amounts of either of these two bases.


Posttraumatic hypopituitarism: anterior pituitary insufficiency secondary to head trauma. A 30-year-old woman, who was involved in an automobile accident two years before admission, presented with hypopituitarism. Deficits of ACTH, FSH, LH, GH, and borderline TSH were demonstrated. Normal TRF response and elevated prolactin levels indicated residual normal anterior pituitary tissue with inadequate hypothalamic control. We have briefly reviewed the subject of posttraumatic hypopituitarism.


Experience with splenectomy in auto-immune thrombocytopenia and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia. In a 5-year period 37 patients with auto-immune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) and 22 with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) underwent splenectomy. In 26 of the patients with AITP (70%) a satisfactory response was obtained, although there was 1 death a year later as a result of infection. In 6 cases (16%) significant postoperative haemostatic problems were experienced. Seventeen of the patients with AMM (77%) improved as a result of the operation, but 3 of them (14%) died in the postoperative period. During the follow-up period a further 4 patients died (18%). Haemorrhagic complications occurred in 7 patients (32%), of whom 2 died immediately after the operation. Haemostatic screening procedures during this whole period failed to predict the risk of postoperative haemorrhage, and in neither group did prophylactic platelet infusion significantly reduce haemorrhagic complications.


Primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma in a Black youth. A primary mediastinal choriocarcinoma in a Black youth is described. The tumour was resistant to treatment and the patient deteriorated rapidly. No testicular tumour was present. The clinical, biochemical and autopsy findings are described.


Observations on the intestinal protozoa infecting man in Rhodesia. Humans in Rhodesia harbour a wide range of intestinal protozoa. Of the species included, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli and Giardia lamblia have previously been recorded. Other species which are either rarely reported or which have previously never been reported from this country, include Trichomonas hominis, Chilomastix mesnili, Enteromonas hominis, Retortamonas intestinalis, Balantidum coli,Entamoeba hartmanni,Entamoeba histolytica Laredo. Endolimax nana, Dientamoeba fragilis and Isospora belli. The importance in Rhodesia of these species, and especially of E. histolytica, is discussed.


Warfarin-associated embryopathy in a 17-week-old abortus. Histological and anthropometric studies were made of the hands and face of a 17-week-old (postmenstrual) human fetus that was exposed to warfarin throughout gestation. The fetus had marked nasal hypoplasia and the facial cartilages contained discrete foci of abnormal cartilage. When compared with age-matched control fetuses hand pattern profile analysis showed that the brachydactyly was due to shortening of the terminal phalanges. Histologically chondrogenesis was disordered in the carpals and phalanges, with the most deviant development occurring at the distal ends of the terminal phalanges. In none of the areas of abnormal cartilage was there evidence of hemorrhage or hemosiderin deposition. It is our contention that warfarin is teratogenic in human beings and that its teratogenicity is not due to focal hemorrhage.


Renewal of the gonads in Styela clava (Urochordata: Ascidiacea) as revealed by autoradiography with tritiated thymidine. DNA-synthesizing cells in the gonads of the ascidian Styela clava were labeled with tritiated thymidine and detected with autoradiography. In the testis, spermatogonia and primary spermatocytes are labeled after 1 hr. Labeled spermatozoa occur in the lumen of the testis follicles after 10 days and in the sperm ducts after 20 days. In the ovary, only germ cells (oogonia and pre-leptotene primary oocytes) and follicle cells are labeled after 1 hr. By 60 days, oocytes with basophilic cytoplasm (15-65 mu in diameter) are labeled; test cells embedded in larger eosinophilic oocytes (150 mu in diameter) are also labeled. Germ cells give rise to both oocytes and follicle cells. Through continued cell division, follicle cells give rise to test cells.


A successful method for development of voluntary alcohol intoxication in mice. Eight strains of male mice, C57BL, C3H SWM, SW, KK, KSB, KR and DBA, were fed on a standard pelletized diet and offered a choice of water or 10% sake solution (sake containing 10% alcohol). Both young (3 months of age) and old (8 months of age) groups were studied simultaneously. The degree of intoxication was measured by recording the drinking behavior on a pulse recorder, by calculating gaschromatographically the blood alcohol concentration, by taking depth electroencephalogram readings and so on. Intoxication, shown by lack of coordination such as grossly impaired gait, was observed only in the older mice of strain with a moderate natural alcohol preference such as C3H, SWM, SW, KK and KSB. In general, the intoxicated mice were over 9 months of age, tended to consume fluids regardless of the time of day or night and suffered a loss of body weight. The blood alcohol levels of them were over 4.6%. The threshold elevation of the ascending reticular activating system on electroencephalogram in a intoxicated mouse reached about 167%. The present study provides a successful method for the development of voluntary alcohol intoxication in mice.


Man, fish, and mercury on small islands in Japan. This paper examines the differentiating patterns of subsistence activities, fish-eating habit, mercure level in human biological specimens, and the interrelation among these variables on several small Japanese islands. The catch and supply of fish vary according to patterns of division of labour on each island. The frequency of fish-eating is generally regulated by the availability of fish, and is well associated with the level of mercury in hair or red cells. Difference in variety of fish consumed has a modifying effect on the mercury level. The importance of understanding the total ecological setting relating to any environmental problem should be emphasized.


Herpes simplex eye infections: clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and management. Herpes infection of the eye may be acquired as the patient's first exposure to the virus (primary infection) or as involvement of a new anatomical site (the eye) in a patient with previous HSV infection. In either case, patients with herpetic eye infection risk recurrent eye disease throughout their lives. The infective lesions of the corneal epithelium (dendritic and geographic ulcers) occasionally develop into noninfective indolent or trophic ulcers, particularly under the influence of cauterizing chemicals or corticosteroids. Inflammation of the corneal stroma may accompany herpetic epithelial lesions or occur independently. Stromal keratitis probably represents the host's immune response to viral antigens filtering down from epithelial lesions or from viral replication in stromal cells. The clinical manifestations of ocular HSV infection are reviewed, pathogenesis and possible pathways of the infection are analyzed, and some practical guidelines for management and prevention are presented.


[Gonadal load in radiotherapy of benign diseases. II. Infectious diseases and keloids]. The irradiation damages to the gonads caused by the radiotherapy of parotiditis and mastitis and of cheloids was determined partially under different irradiation methods. The measurements were effected with LiF dosimeters in the Alderson phantom with a tube tension of 250 kV for the inflammatory diseases and 55 kV for the cheloids. The gonad dose measured at the surface was within the range of hundreths of permille for the parotiditis, for the mastitis is was between tenths of permille and 2% depending on the therapy method. The gonad dose of the cheloid irradiations showed a clear relation to the distance between radiation source and gonads. The importance of radiological protection is emphasized.


[On the effect of mebendazole on metacestodes of Mesocestoides corti and Echinococcus multilocularis (author's transl)]. Mebendazole (5-benzoyl-2-methoxycarbonylaminobenzimidazole) was highly effective against tetrathydridia of Mesocestoides corti in the peritoneal cavity, liver and in the subcutis of mice when administered orally in the food (450 or 465 ppm) from days 7 or 40/50 post infectionem (p.i.) for 10 or 20 days in total doses of approximately 660-1660 mg/kg body weight (b.w.). All tetrathyridia were killed when treatment began at day 7 p.i., and only some survived when medication was started on days 40/50 p.i. A treatment of 5 days was only partially effective. In experiments with Echinococcus multilocularis laboratory animals were intraperitoneally infected with metacestode tissue transplants. Beginning on days 4-7 p.i. or on day 40 p.i. the animals were treated for 5, 10 or 20/21 days with mebendazole medicated food. In  mice a treatment for 10 or 20/21 days with total mebendazole doses of approximately 660-2180 mg/kg b.w. caused an average reduction on metacestode weight of 61-89%. An average reduction between 58 and 84% was achieved in Meriones after a treatment for 20/21 days with total doses of approximately 650/530 mg/kg b.w. However, histological examinations and transplantation experiments revealed that in most of the treated animals metacestode tissue survived and retained its capability for budding. On the other hand, indications for a partial destruction of the parasite tissue were found in some of the treated animals. The oral mebendazole treatment was well tolerated. After intraperitoneal injection of 3 X 150 mg/kg b.w. mebendazole - as applied by Campbell et al. (1975) - all of 36 mice or Meriones died.


The pathology associated with single and quadruple infections of hamsters with Dipetalonema viteae. Two groups of five hamsters were each infected subcutaneously with infective larvae of Dipetalonema viteae; one group received single infections, and the second group received quadruple infections. A third group of five hamsters served as controls. Hamsters with primary and quadruple infections had cellular infiltrates in the liver and glomerular basement membrane thickening; these lesions were more extensive in the multiple than single infections. Hyperinfected hamsters also developed subcutaneous nodules. By histologic examination, it was seen that nodules were encapsulated abscesses which had a central, necrotic core, and were confined by a fibrous connective tissue capsule. The central portion of some nodules contained nondegenerated worms. The same area of other nodules contained dead worms, while still other nodules contained calcified worms or necrotic and calcified debris.


[Change in the metabolism and toxic effect of benz(a)pyrene by its metabolites and a series of phenols]. Effects of some phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives on benz(a)-pyrene metabolism have been studied in the microsomal system isolated from the mouse embryonic cell cultures. The rate of benz(a)pyrene metabolism was shown to depend on the structure and concentration of the agents added. The toxic effect of benz(a)pyrene was summed up with that of either agent studied (except ionol) added simultaneously to the cell culture.


[Effect of uncoupling agents and benz (a) pyrene metabolites on respiration in L cells and normal mouse embryonal fibroblasts]. A method is proposed for a polarografic study of the respiration of cell suspensions obtained from monolayer cultures of L-cells and from normal embryonic fibroblasts of mice (C3HA line). 6-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (6-OHBP). The metabolite of the carcinogenic hydrocarbon benzo(a)pyrene, was shown to be a strong uncoupler of of oxidation and phosphorylation of cell suspensions. Its effect was influenced by the presence of calf serum in the incubation media. Possible relationships between the toxic effect of 6-OHBP on monolayer cultures of normal and tumor cells, and its effect on cell energetics are discussed.


Veterinary surgeons in zoological medicine. To be successful in zoo work veterinary surgeons must alter their approach and acquire a basic philosophy of concern for wild species. With proper motivation and background information and a good biological outlook, they would be in a unique position to solve problems essential to the continued existence of some species of wild animals and the betterment of human life. Veterinary schools will have to make a concentrated effort to give students an opportunity to explore the nature of the problems of wild animals. Present instruction in zoological medicine in the USA and Canada is described.


[Carboxylation processes in cattle with different levels of productivity]. The experiments were conducted on bulls-analogs of the black-piebald and Simmental breed which differ from each other in the intensity of live weight gain (18-31%) as well as on lactating cows-analogs of the black-piebald breed which differ in the level of milk productivity (41-80%). The intensity of the carboxylation processes (CO2 fixation) as well as of protein and lipids biosynthesis in the liver of the bulls from a heavy-producing group (the second group) is shown to be considerably higher than in the low-producing animals (the first group). In venous blood plasm of the second group bulls the content of urea and citrate was higher (by 29-141 and 33%, respectively) than in the first group animals. Blood plasma of the lactating cows from a heavy-producing group contains more urea (57-70%), citrate (146-80%) and total protein (10-14%) than that of animals with low milk productivity. Similar regularity is also observed as to the amount of urea and citrate of milk of cows with a higher milk productivity (by 40-50 and 51-53% higher respectively, than in the low-productive animals).


[Comparative study of several indices of the specific effect of products prepared with the use of smoke and the synthetic smoking agent VNIIMP-1]. Long-term investigations were conducted with three generations of animals to elucidate the effect of cooked sausage prepared by various methods on the sexual and reproductive functions. It was found that the smoke-treated products under study produced on the organism a more marked untoward effect than did the ones prepared by using the synthetic smoking agent (see article of journal).


The ageing process in infective larvae of the roundworms Haemonchus contortus and Nippostrongylus brasiliensis: carbohydrate content. Trehalose, glycogen and traces of glucose were the only anthrone sensitive carbohydrates identifiable. The variation of 13-22% of the dry weight in different populations of Haemonchus contortus L3 is shown to be due to their capacity to synthesize glycogen during ageing. This contrasts with the larvae of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis in which a low level of carbohydrate remains constant with time. It is suggested that H. contortus can convert lipid to carbohydrate as is the case for several other nematodes. H. contortus L3 show some evidence of physiological adaptation.


[Studies on mushroom flavours. 1. Organoleptic significance of constituents of the cultivated mushroom, agaricus bisporus]. The flavour of Agaricus bisporus was studied by comparing the results obtained in chemical and organoleptic analysis of the same extract. The natural (-)-form of 1-octen-3-ol had a stronger flavour than the (+)-form and was the most important aroma component. Nucleotides, amino-acids and carbohydrates also contributed significantly. Benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, 1-octen-3-one, n-butyric and isovaleric acids as well as low-boiling volatiles contributed less to the flavour. A synergistic effect of nucleotides, carbohydrates and (-1-octen-3-ol on the flavour was not observed.


Studies on mushroom flavours 2. Flavour compounds in coprinus comatus. In an aqueous extract of fruit bodies of Coprinus comatus 3-octanone, 3-octanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octanol, 2-methyl-2-penten-4-olide, 1-dodecanol and caprylic acid were identified conclusively and n-butyric and isobutyric acids preliminarily. Amino-acids, nucleotides and sugars were also determined. A mixture of 37 compounds found in the extract had a stronger flavour than the natural extract. 3-Octanol, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-octanol and 2-methyl-2-penten-4-olide were the volatiles with the strongest flavour. Mass and IR spectra of 2-methyl-2-penten-4-olide are presented.


[Mercury content of mushrooms (author's transl)]. The mercury content of 236 species of wild mushrooms was determined by flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy. Of each species several samples--altogether 616--were tested. The mercury content was between 0.04 and 21.60 mg/kg dry weight, equivalent to 0.002 and 3.090 mg/kg fresh weight. The mercury content was clearly species-dependent. Mercury-rich species particularly were found in Tricholomataceae, Agaricaceae and Lycoperdaceae, whereas in Boletaceae, Amanitaceae and Russulaceae mercury-rich species were rather rare. There was a considerable variability within species, too; hence, other factors, yet unknown, must also determine the mercury content. Geographical influences were not demonstrable. All mushrooms grown on wood had a very low mercury content. Storing over several years did not diminish the mercury content of dried mushrooms. The highest mercury content was found in a poisonous mushroom, but on the average, poisonous mushrooms contained less mercury than edible ones.


Olfactory mechanisms affording protection from attack to juvenile mice (Mus musculus L.). The extent to which odours protect juvenile mice, Mus musculus L., from attacks was investigated in 6 experiments by measuring a) social responses within caged pairs of adult hermaphrodite hermaphodite after one partner was marked with either male or female juvenile's urine, and b) attacks suffered by adult males, juveniles of both sexes, and by adult hermaphrodites marked with these urines, after being introduced individually into territories of dominant hermaphrodites. The finding that urine of female but not that of male juveniles contains an active aggression-inhibitor and the questions this raises concerning the nature of the male juvenile's immunity are critically discussed.


Chemocommunication among domestic cats, mediated by the olfactory and vomeronasal senses. I. Chemocommunication. Chemocommunication functions are known in many social mammals, such as gerbils, hamsters, and deer. But also mammals known as at least partly solitary do communicate by chemical signals. The existence and use of pheromones in domestic cats was the subject of this study. It turned out that male and female cats spent much time in exploring their own and foreigners' urine and skin gland secretion rubbed off on several objects. Male receivers performed sniffing and flehmen more frequently than females on the same urine, whereas female cats paid more attention to skin gland secretion. Both urine and cheek gland secretion of the female donor appeared to contain pheromones which inform the tomcat about her hormonal phase.


[Electronic urethro-cystometry before and after reconstructive surgery using the Zoedler method]. Electronical measurement of pressure in the bladder and urethra of 9 incontinent women treated by the Zoedler-plastic. A comparison of pre- and postoperative levels yielded the following results: 1. The functional length and the closing-pressure of the urethra show uncharacteristic changes of the levels only. The expected postoperative rise of the levels have not come true. 2. The vesico-urethral quotient at strain (pV max/pU max) is (with the exception of one case) corresponding to the result of the operation. 3. The clinical recovery from incontinence after the Zoedler-plastic is combined with small changes in the pressure-graphs only.


Diurnal variations in the urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate in hyperparathyroidism. The urinary excretion of calcium and phosphate during the day and night was studied in 20 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and in the same number of controls with normal function of the parathyroids. A significant difference in TRP between day and night was found in the controls but not in the HPT group. In other respects there were no substantial differences between day and night. The higher excretion of calcium observed in the HPT group was largely attributable to the patients with remal calculi. The simplified sampling procedure when only night urine is analysed has no disadvantages-it is more likely to improve the diagnostic reliability as it reduces the influence of meals, for example.


[Diurnal periodicity of wakefulness and sleep in the catfish Ictalurus nebulosus]. In studies on the behavioural reactions, cardiac rhythm, respiration and EMG in unrestrained catfish, awakefulness and two forms of rest were differentiated. It was shown that in the diurnal rhythm of these functional states, certain behavioral reactions, cardiac rate, type of respiration and EMG correspond to each of these states. By means of discrete recordings of these parameters within several days, in 15 specimens diurnal distribution of awakefulness and two forms of rest was investigated. It was found that the daily form of rest in the catfish exhibits some similarity with cataleptic-like immobilization which was observed in the diurnal activity of amphibians, reptiles and birds.


Invagination of the vermiform appendix. A report of two cases associated with endometriosis. Two cases of invagination of the Vermiform appendix associated with endometriosis are presented. Classification, incidence, etiology, symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment are discussed. The literature is reviewed in brief, and it is concluded that the possibility of invagination of the Vermiform appendix should be considered in obsure abdominal cases with recurrent right lower quadrant pain.


[Cardiac component of emotional stress in the elk, Alces alces, and the reindeer, Rangifer tarandus]. Using radiotelemetric technique, extraordinary changes have been found in cardiac activity of the elk and reindeer during spontaneous emotional stress under natural conditions. Cardiac reaction is characterized by rapid 2--3-fold increase in the heart rate and by 3--4-fold increase in the amplitude of T-wave. It was suggested that these changes are associated with abnormalities of metabolic processes in the heart.


[Species characteristics of the diurnal periodicity of rest and activity in Black Sea fish]. In 6 species of the Black Sea teleosts differing in habitats and other ecological peculiarities, behavioural and electrophysiological experiments revealed 3 types of the diurnal periodism of motor activity and rest. The first type was most evident in the grey mullet Mugil sp., being characterized by the decrease of the level of the activity at night time. In the second type, motor activity was observed at any time; this type of periodism was typical of the dogfish Squalus acanthias and the hunchback Sciaena umbra. In the third type of periodism, the level of the activity remained also unchanged, but in contrast to the second type, it was practically equal to zero. This type was most evident in the scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus. The data obtained indicate that species peculiarities may be found in the diurnal rhythm of the activity and rest. These periods of rest we consider as "presleep" or "protosleep" (the initial stage of the development of sleep) in vertebrates.


[Headache].

[Headache]. Headache is an alarm symptom, whether there is an organic disease (lesional headache) or a perturbation of one of the various functions of the head (functional headache). Lesional headaches follow a sinusitis or an arthrosis, or accompany a "temporal arteritis of Horton". Functional headaches include several varieties. 1. Trigemellar neuralgia. 2. Vascular algia originating from the basal arteries, the large cerebral venous sinuses or the branches of the external carotid. Among these are: a) headaches due to a dilatation of the internal wall, causing "Horton headache", migrain-like psychosomatic migraine and hormonal migraines (premenstrual, menstrual, menopausal or linked to the use of contraceptive pills); b) headaches caused by an angiospasm of the arteriole, which is the case in exposure to the cold, in traumatic headaches (malfunction of temporomandibular articulation, dry alveolitis), in psychosomatic angiospastic algias and in ethmoidal artery algias previously described by the author in 1949 (Godin's disease). 3. Headaches due to psychic hypertension. 4. Postconcussional psychogenic headaches. 5. Neurotic headaches. The author gives a detailed description of the subjective symptoms in each case, including localisation, form, intensity, duration course and associated phenomenons. This facilitates greatly the differential diagnosis and the choice of complementary examinations. Necessary biological investigations should be performed (e.g. hormonal balance). One should however avoid to increase the number of complementary examinations which would only delay treatment and would expose patients to somatisation. Furthermore, in each case drug treatment, periarterial infiltration technics of the temporal, internal frontal, facial, mastoid and occipital arteries are described. The necessity of questioning the patient at length and to listen to him to enable him to verbalise conscious conflicts is emphasized. A serious medicopsychological examination and a relaxation treatment to reduce anxiety and muscular tension are advised in some cases.


Cystic goiter with squamous-cell metaplasia--case report and comment on origin of squamous-cell cyst. A 53-year-old woman with a left unilocular cystic goiter of the size of a small orange was reported. Approximately four-tenths of the innter surface was lined with several layered squamous epithelium with few follicles remaining. A gradual metaplastic transition from the follicular epithelium to the flattened cuboidal and to the squamous epithelium was observed. The ultimobranchial body has been understood to be a possible origin of an entirely squamous cell cyst of the thyroid, three of which have been reported. The difference between the ultimo-branchial and metaplastic origins will be discussed, and a new designation-primary (ultimo-branchial) and secondary (metaplastic) squamous-cell cyst will be proposed.


Prostaglandin levels in peripheral plasma during the reproductive cycle. The levels of the major plasma metabolite of PGF2alpha, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-PGF2alpha, were followed in peripheral venous plasma during the reproductive cycle in three species, viz., the ovine, bovine, and human species. In the sheep and cattle low levels were encountered during the major part of the estrous cycle. During the last days of the cycle high levels of the prostaglandin metabolite were found, coinciding with the decrease in progesterone production. The human menstrual cycle was characterized with respect to some plasma steroids and peptide hormones. The prostaglandin metabolite levels were low throughout the cycle, generally ranging between 30 and 70 pg/ml. No significant variation in the prostaglandin production could be seen during the menstrual cycle.


Diurnal variation of nasal protein concentration. In normal subjects a marked diurnal variation was disclosed in the concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA and albumin in nasal secretion, the night values being 4.5-5.5 times higher than those during the day. It is suggested that this is due to changing secretory activity of the nasal glands.


Choosing a substitute cardiac valve: type, size, surgeon. Certain ideal characteristics of substitute cardiac valves are analyzed for each of the four basic types of available substitute cardiac valves. Of the four, the caged disc prosthesis is the least desirable: it obstructs, it clots and it degenerates. Each of the other three types of substitute cardiac valves has more favorable characteristics. Ideally, the caged ball prosthesis might be limited to patients with predominantly regurgitant lesions because of the problem of prosthetic disproportion. The tilting disc has favorable hemodynamic and wear characteristics, but long-term anticoagulant therapy is essential, as with the caged ball and caged disc types of prosthesis. The porcine xenograft appears to be desirable, but patients with sufficient implantation time (more than 5 years) for proper evaluation are just beginning to be studied and, therefore, final judgment must be reserved. Assuming that valve replacement is to be carried out in a large medical center by a surgical team experienced in this procedure, the results of this operation today are dependent more on the type and size of substitute valve inserted than on the surgeon who inserts the valve. It is therefore important for the cardiologist to become more informed about the various types of prosthetic cardiac valves and to become a member of the team deciding which type and size of cardiac valve are most suitable for his (or her) patient.


Stereo high-voltage electron microscopy of whole cells of the human diploid line, WI-38. The human diploid cell line, WI-38, has proven to be an especially good object for high-voltage electron microscopy using whole cells. Cells of intermediate passages were grown on plastic-coated, carbon-shadowed gold grids, fixed with glutaraldehyde, post-fixed with osmium tetroxide, stained with uranyl salts and critical-point dried. The absence of an embedding matrix produces images of increased contrast and resolution. The approach combined with stereo-microscopy has extended our knowledge of cellular ultrastructure. Stereo-images of whole cells reveal nuclei, mitochondria, microtubules, microfilaments, the endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes in their expected forms. At high magnifications a continuity of microtubules, microfilaments and membranous elements with thin (3-6 nm) strands of the ground substance has been observed. These strands form a three-dimensional lattice or mesh that pervades all parts of the cytoplasm. The entire structure is referred to as a microtrabecular lattice or mesh, the strands being the trabeculae. The inclusion of microtubules, microfilaments, ribosomes and vesicles of the endoplasmic reticulum within the material of the lattice makes them all part of a totally organized cytoplast.


Psychiatric casualties following revision to the "continent" Kock ileostomy. The advantages of the appliance-free "continent" Kock ileostomy over the conventional ileostomy may result in its earlier and more frequent use in treating ulcerative colitis. Caution must be observed in selecting patients for surgery because of the high incidence of psychological problems in this population. Increased restraint is especially indicated as such surgery may no longer be reserved for life-threatening or incapacitating conditions. As the Kock operation becomes more widely known, patients with conventional ileostomies are requesting revision to the reservoir. This paper addresses itself to unexpected problems that may arise in this group. Two cases are presented of men who made tenuous adjustments to the primary surgery but for whom revision to the continent ileostomy proved psychologically catastrophic. Psychiatric evaluation is urged in the absence of clear-cut medical indications for revision. Suggestions concerning selection of patients who seek such change are offered.


Some social and medical characteristics of Army men with testicular cancer. Risk of developing cancer of the testis was related to social and medical characteristics in a case-control study of men on active duty in the US Army, 1950-1970. Service records were obtained for 702 newly-diagnosed patients and 624 members of a systematic sample of unaffected servicemen. Risk ratios were computed for seminomas, tumors of other histologic types, and for all tumors combined. Respectively, these risk ratios were 0.3, 0.1 and 0.2 for blacks compared to whites, 1.5, 1.1 and 1.3 for Protestants compared to Catholics, and 1.5, 1.0 and 1.2 for the ever married compared to the never married. Risk increased regularly with duration of schooling for seminomas but not other types of tumors. Risk appeared relatively low for men from large sibships. Men from the North Central or Western parts of the country were at higher risk than those from the South or Northeast, a trend that was stronger for tumors other than seminomas. Observed changes in risk with respect to history of mumps and ABO blood group were small.


Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in Hodgkin's disease after splenectomy. This is a report of a patient with Hodgkin's disease who underwent a staging splenectomy and extensive radiation therapy and then developed "idiopathic" thrombocytopenic purpura. This appears to be the second known instance of such a combination of events. The patient was in complete remission of his Hodgkin's disease from radiation therapy at the time and continues in remission 56 mo since completing therapy. There was a complete and, apparently, permanent response of the thrombocytopenic purpura to a course of corticosteroid therapy.


Sickle beta-thalassemia: identical twins differing in severity implicate nongenetic factors influencing course. 25-yr old female identical twins of Italian-American origin concordant for sickle beta-thalassemia were studied to explain their clinical differences. One of them has been severely affected from childhood with one aplastic crisis, an earlier onset of vaso-occlusive crises, and recent cardiac decompensation; the other twin shows no cardiac decompensation. Similar are their degree of anemia, RBC indices, blood volumes, absence of splenic sequestration, depression of pO2, elevation of p50 and 2,3-DPG, hemoglobin composition, and peripheral blood globin-synthetic rates. Regarding differences, the more severely affected has a shorter 51Cr RBC life span, a greater menstrual blood loss, and is more overweight, whereas the less severely affected has functional asplenia by 99mTc scanning and a larger proportion of RBC with decreased cellular deformability. We conclude that in sickle beta-thalassemia: (1) genotype alone does not determine the clinical course; (2) significant differences in clinical course can occur with almost identical hemoglobin composition and globin synthetic rates; (3) cellular deformability changes do not correlate exactly with clinical course; and (4) functional asplenia and leanness may be advantageous.