[Results of radioimmunologic determination of renin activity and the concentration of angiotensin II in the plasma of hypertensive patients]. Studies of plasma renin activity performed by way of radioimmunoassay in 44 patients with essential hypertension permitted to subdivide the patients with Stage 2 disease into 2 groups: Group 1 with normal or elevated plasma renin activity, and Group 2 -- with sub-normal activity. A statistically significant reverse relationship was found between the age of the hypertensive patients and their plasma renin activity; this parameter tends to decrease along with the increasing duration of the disease. With paralled determinations of renin activity by way of radioimmunoassay and biological method in 20 patients a positive correlation was established; the figures obtained by radioimmunoassay were twice as high as those obtained by the biological technique. A radioimmunological determination of the concentration of angiotensin II in 14 patients with essential hypertension and in 4 normals permitted to reveal its elevation over the level of the normals in 10 of the patients. Positive correlation was established between the renin activity and the angiotensin II concentration.


[Possibilities for a complex of corrected orthogenal systems of electro- and vectorcardiograms and the ergometric bicycle test with loading in the diagnosis of the latent form of ischemic heart disease]. The examination was conducted in 100 patients with a cardiac pain syndrome and a normal ECG at rest. Apart from the routine clinical examination, the patients were subjected to ergometric bycycle tests with recording corrected orthogonal electrocardiogrammes and vectorcardiogrammes. All the examined patients were subdivided into 3 groups with reference to their electrocardiographic response to the exercise: group 1 -- 55 persons with physiological changes, group 2 -- 37 persons with pathological changes, and group 3 -- 8 persons with threshold changes on ECG under the exercise. By comparing the vectorcardiogrammes in group 1 and 2 patients vectorcardiographic criteria pathognomonic for ischaemic heart disease were found. With their help the form of the lesion was established in 2 of the 8 patients with threshold changes on ECG under exercises. The method of combined evaluation of ECG and vectorcardiogrammes under exercises. The method of combined evaluation of ECG and vectorcardiogrammes under exercise tests increases their diagnostic potentials in revealing the latent form of ischaemic heart disease.


[Serum and myocardial enzyme activity in experimental myocardial infarct]. In 150 canine experiments it has been established that in myocardial infarction the activity of heart muscle enzymes decreases significantly and persistently in the zone of necrosis, moderately and reversibly--beyond this zone, individual enzymes being unequally sensitive to the effects of the given injuring factor. The shifts in the activity of the serum and heart muscle enzymes correlate only in the early days following the reproduction of the pathological state, while the levelling of hyperenzymia is accompanied by an enhancement of the enzymatic disorders in the myocardium in cases of infarction.


[Mechanism of the cardiotonic effect of alpha-adrenoblockade by phentolamine]. In canine experiments with recording intraventricular pressure and its first derivative, with electromagnetic flowmetry and thermodilution it has been demonstrated that controlled Phentolamine-induced alpha-adrenergic block results in an increase of the cardiac output, heart rate, myocardial contractility index, and, at the same time, in a reduction of the total vascular resistance, arterial pressure, intraventricular pressure and heart work. The beneficial chronotropic effect of Phentolamine was shown not to depend on its suggested "central" action, to be not determined by reflex stimulation of the cardiac activity due to systemic hypotension, but to be brought about by a block of the myocardial alpha-adrenergic receptors and a moderate activation of beta-adrenergic receptors. The concept of the untoward chronotropic effects being mediated by myocardial alpha-adrenoreceptors is being substantiated. The mechanism of the beneficial inotropic effect of Phentolamine may be based on the stimulation of beta-receptors, concomitant tachycardia, and, probably, the effect of the "centrai" action of the drug.


[Coagulologic characteristics of different stages of chronic circulatory insufficiency in atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis]. A total of 168 patients with atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis and different stages of chronic circulatory insufficiency were subjected to an examination of the state of their blood coagulation (thromboelasto- and coagulogramme) and fibrinolytic systems (indices of the general fibrinolytic activity of the blood, some components of fibrinolysis). In cases of circulatory insufficiency at its early stages (especially IIA) distinct signs of blood hypercoagulation were found to develop at the expense of an elevation of the level of fibrinogen A and B fibrinstabilizing factor, a reduction of the content of antithrombins and heparin, as well as signs of fibrinolysis inhibition at the expense of an increase of the level of plasminogen and antiplasmins activation inhibitors, fast acting including. During Stages IIB and III of circulatory insufficiency the signs of hypercoagulation of the blood and fibrinolysis inhibition are noted to decrease, although they do not disappear completely.


[Intravascular disorders of microcirculation and microthrombus formation in patients with chronic ischemic disease of the heart]. Most of the 104 patients with ischaemic heart disease had distinct functional and structural microcirculation disorders. The slugging syndrome was revealed in 98% of the cases. In 56% of the patients microthrombus formation was noted in the microcirculatory bed, as well as a reduction of the perfusion capillary blood flow and an increase of the shunting flow, the half-resorption of sodium-131I from the skin and muscle depot being decreased. A clear relationship is noticed between the intravascular microcirculatory disorders, the functional state of the erythrocytes and platelets, the increased coagulation  potential of the blood, the appearance of components that indicate the possibility of a diffuse intravascular blood coagulation (fibrinogen B, products of fibrinogen and fibrin decomposition), the changes in lipid metabolism. Stasis of the blood flow with distinct signs of the slugging syndrome, microthrombosis, activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and increasing shunting flow were revealed in patient with a severe course of the disease. Criteria for a quantitative assessment of the noted changes were developed.


[Overall assessment of the state of the coronary bed in patients with ischemic heart disease]. A method of summated assessment of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary bed of patients with ischaemic heart disease based on selective coronary angiography data is introduced. To simplify the calculations of the total lesion of the coronary bed a special chart-table was complied that permits to determine the percentage of the lesion. A unified assessment of the degree of the coronary lesions will permit to interpret in comparable values the state of different groups of patients, the efficacy of different therapeutic methods, and will permit to determine the correlation of clinical, electrocardiographic, haemodynamic and other parameters with the degree of the lesion. The introduced technique of determining the total lesion of the coronary bed takes into account narrowins exceeding 50% of the arterial lumen, the type of blood supply to the heart, the localization of the narrowings, the effect of centrally located narowings upon the subsequent stenoses of all the most important arteries of the heart. The conducted comparisons have demonstrated a high degree of correlation between the frequency of anginal attacks, the tolerance of physical exercises, the level of end-diastolic pressure in the left ventricle, and the severity of the lesion in the arterial bed.


[State of the coronary vessels in patients with ischemic heart disease according to findings from angiographic and morphologic studies]. The data of intravital and postmortem coronary angiography were compared with those of morphological studies of the cardiac arteries in 20 patients with ischaemic heart disease. The purpose of the investigation was to study the correlation of the coronary lesion, including that of the distal arterial branches, by way of comparing intravital and postmortem coronary angiogrammes, with the data of morphological examinations of the cardiac arteries in cases of ischaemic heart disease. The errors of intravital diagnosis were found to comprise 12.7% and to be due to the nature of the anatomical lesion of the arteries, as well as to an incomplete opacification of the vessels in several observations. A term--vascular wall "resistance"--is introduced for the cases of extended atherosclerosis of the coronaries with distinct calcification and impaired mobility of the vessels, as shown by cineradiography. Intravital diagnosis of atherosclerosis of distal branches of the coronaries was found to be possible only in cases of stenosis exceeding 40--50%.


[Experience with combined use of neurolepsy and vasodilator substances in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarct]. On the basis of an examination of 412 patients with myocardial infarction the efficacy of a long-term employment (for 3--4 days) of a neuroleptic Droperidol and a vasodilator Curantyl was examined. Optimum dosages of the drug and its administration techniques were worked out with due account of the data of clinical and physiological observations and blood concentrations of Curantyl. The incidence of the pain syndrome, of extrasystolic arrhythmias, of cardiogenic shock and sudden ventricular fibrillation was shown to decrease under the effect of the treatment. Without affecting the haemodynamics of the general circulation, the employed combination of drugs improved the pulmonary circulation and produced a beneficial inotropic effect upon the right ventricular myocardium, thus causing a distinct improvement of microcirculation, normalizing the ratio of diameters of the arterioles and venules, increasing the level of the tissue blood flow, and significantly reducing the intravascular aggregation of the formed elements of the blood. A long-term combined employment of the drugs for a few early days of the disease clearly favoured a positive haemodynamics in an important part of the patients, as demonstrated by the data of electro- and vectorcardiography.


[Several indices of hemodynamics, gas exchange and exercise tolerance during treatment of ischemic heart disease with obsidan]. The analysis of the parameters of haemodynamics and gas exchange in connection with the tolerance of physical exercises in 57 patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease treated with Obsidan permitted to distinguish two variants of response to the exercises. The first is characterized by a greater increase of the cardiac output and by a slighter participation of the oxygen utilization coefficient and oxygen pulse in ensuring the oxygen regimen of work. The prescription of Obsidan is rational in the first variant of response to the physical exercises.


[External heart rupture in myocardial infarct (clinical picture, prospects for resuscitation)]. An analysis is presented on 53 cases of external ruptures of the heart in cases of transmural myocardial infarction. Most of the patients were above 60 years of age, with a hypertensive syndrome, with intensive, protracted, often recurring cardiac and retrosternal pains. The pains were interpreted as the manifestation of myocardial rupture. Blood tests revealed a high leucocytosis, an elevated level of lactate dehydrogenase and catecholamines excretion, mainly at the expense of noradrenaline, as well as an increased amount of serotonin, histamine, magnesium salts. A sudden onset of a catastrophic deterioration in the form of a cardiogenic shock was interpreted as a partial rupture with a progressively increasing penetrating rupture; clinical death with a preserved electrical activity of the heart--as its complete rupture. Cases of temporary efficieny resuscitation with a survival period in some cases of as long as 3 days are presented. The authors believe it possible to foresee a myocardial rupture, to diagnose it before the electrical activity of the heart ceases, to maintain the life of the patient so as to permit a cardiac surgical team to undertake an operative procedure.


[Manifestations of cardiac decompensation in myocardial infarct]. A study of the causes of mortality among myocardial infarction patients and of the peculiarities of the manifestations of cardiac decompensation was conducted by way of mathematical prognosing and with the aid of the "Mmirp-1" computer, and permitted to conclude on the necessity of distinguishing between the primary circulatory insufficiency in the acute period, and relapsing circulatory disorders. The prognosis in myocardial infarction permits indirect appraisal of the reserve capacities of the diseased heart. The results of the conducted study indicate that the primary circulatory disorders are 6 times as frequent as the relapsing ones and that half of the patients with signs of circulatory failure dies within the first day of the disease. The long-term prognosis is equally unfavourable for the patients with circulatory insufficiency signs in the acute period: by the end of the 2nd year only 4 of every 10 patients with primary circulatory disorders survive, and 1--2 of every 10 patients with signs of relapsing circulatory disorders, which should be taken into consideration when developing the methods of complex therapy.


[Metabolic disorders in chronic circulatory insufficiency]. Some enzymes of glycolysis and tissue respiratory were studied in 377 patients with chronic circulatory insufficiency developing due to atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis and rheumatic heart diseases. The severity of hyperenzymia was found to grow along with the increasing stages of circulatory insufficiency. A direct correlation was established between the total activity of LDH and MDH, as well as between LDH5 and MDH1. The presence of enzymatic shifts in patients with haemodynamic disorders permitted to include, with good substantiation and differentiation, such drugs into the complex therapy that favourably effect the disturbed metabolic processes.


[Digitalis poisoning, risk factors and digitalis intolerance]. It was established by means of radioimmunoassay that the blood concentration of Digoxin in patients with congestive heart failure depends not only on the dose of the drug given, but also on the stage of cardiac insufficiency. With equal daily doses, higher Digoxin concentrations were observed in patients with more severe cardiac insufficiency. The analysis of the obtained data has demonstrated that in 75% of the patients with signs of digitalis intoxication the concentration of Digoxin in blood exceeded 2.5 ng/ml. In animal experiments it was established that a distinct reduction of the toxic threshold took place in rabbits with acute myocardial infarction, acute pulmonary embolism, congestive cardiac failure, this threshold being determined by the amount of intravenously injected Strophantin that causes persistent ventricular tachycardia.


[Radioimmune method of determining the concentration of digoxin in the blood during treatment of patients with cardiac insufficiency]. Digoxin concentrations were studied in the blood serum of 128 patients with cardiac insufficiency of different etiology (acute myocardial infarction, postinfarction cardiosclerosis, mitral valve disease). Radioimmunoassay with standard kits was employed, the kits containing 125 I-labelled Digoxin. Mean concentrations of Digoxin were determined in the blood serum corresponding to different maintenance doses of the drug. It was found that signs of overdosage usually appear with concentrations exceeding 2.5 ng/ml. Disorders in the renal excretory function in patients with severe edematous syndrome help a prompt cumulation of Digoxin and the development of glucoside intoxication. Some patients demonstrated a reduced Digoxin tolerance in the acute period of their myocardial infarction. The advantages of the radioimmunoassay, especially in severely ill patients with cardiac pathology are emphasized.


[Circulatory disorders in rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease]. Proceeding from many years of observations of rheumatic heart diseases patients the authors analyse the peculiarities of circulatory disorders in them. The problems of diagnosis of an active rheumatic process that is often masked by decompensation signs are reflected. On the basis of 337 clinical and morphological comparisons and the examination of 145 patients recommendations were developed as to the diagnosis of several symptoms and the arrangement of a set of immunological tests (humoral and cellular factors of the body's natural resistance and immunopathological reactions). Electroradiokymography (213 patients) revealed the peculiarities of the disorders in the contractile function of the heart in early stages of circulatory disorders.


[Renal filtration function indices and their correction in myocardial infarct]. Glomerular filtration was examined by way of a radioisotope technique using Yb169-labelled ethylenediaminetetracetic acid. The method permits to conduct the examinations without radio-isotope equipment at the bedside of myocardial infarction patients, which is of great practical convenience. The study was conducted in 65 myocardial infarction patients and in 14 control individuals. Glomerular filtration was studied dynamically in different age-groups, in patients with acute and recurrent myocardial infarction with due regard of concomitant hypertension and complications. A correlation of the disorders in glomerular filtration and the age of the patients was revealed. The lowest figures of glomerular filtration were received in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by circulatory insufficiency and, especially, cardiogenic shock. The indices of glomerular filtration correlated with the circulating blood volume and venous pressure not in all patients.


[Use of the bicycle ergometric test as a method of identifying functional cardiac insufficiency in ischemic heart disease]. A total of 146 patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease and 90 normal persons were subjected to step-wise bicycle ergometry tests with an analysis of ECG, pulse rate, spiroergometry, cardiac volumes, and ultrasonic location of the posterior wall of the left ventricle. It was demonstrated that the pulse-pressure index that results in ischaemic manifestations can be determined in every patient, i.e. this index reflects the limit of oxygen consumption by the myocardium. Considerable limitations of the cardiac reserve result in early initiation of extracardiac mechanisms of homeostasis preservation--arterial pressure elevation, increasing dynamic viscosity of the blood, relatively moderate pulse rate increase. The noneconomic nature of such a response to the additional load predisposes the development of ischaemic disorders, acidosis and reduction of total oxygen consumption. The obtained data illustrate the importance of the test for the selection of optimum levels of training exercises.


[Use of pyridoxylate for treating chronic coronary insufficiency]. A total of 49 patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease (38 of whom had previously survived myoca dial infarction) were treated with Piridoxylate administered intramuscularly and orally. The treatment resulted in an improvement of the state of 2/3 of the patients, positive ECG shifts, improvements of cardio- and haemodynamics at rest and under physical exercises. In half of the patients an increased tolerance of physical exercises was noted. No side-effects of Piridoxylate therapy were observed.


[Effect of strophanthin on the metabolism, electrolyte content, myocardial ultrastructure and contractile function of the heart in the peri-infarction zones in experimental infarct]. The results of a complex study are presented dealing with the effect of Strophantin on metabolism, electrolytes content, myocardial ultrastructure and contractile function of various portions of the heart in dogs with experimentally induced infarction. Under the effect of Strophantin the destructive alterations of the myocardial ultrastructure, the electrolytes shifts and disorders in the contractile function of the myocardium in the zone of impaired circulation (25 min.) were less severe than in non-treated dogs. A more distinct beneficial effect of Strophantin upon the structural-functional state of the myocardium was revealed in the parainfarction zones after 2 days and 2 weeks following the ligation of the coronary artery. A reduction of potassium and sodium content in the paranecrotic zone of the myocardium in early postinfarction periods in treated animals must be largely due to the more active ion diffusion in this zone of the infarction caused by improved microcirculation.


[Digoxin concentration in the blood during the treatment of cardiac insufficiency]. Blood concentrations of Digoxin were determined by radioimmuno-assay in 80 patients with different stages of circulatory insufficiency receiving maintenance therapy with Digoxin, 0.25-0.75 mg/day. The range of Digoxin concentration fluctuations is very wide--from 0.25 to 2.4 ng/ml. Some elevation of Digoxin concentration in blood was observed when the dose of the drug was increased, both in different groups of patients, and in the same patients when the maintenance dose was altered. Studies conducted during digitalis intoxication in 4 patients demonstrated different levels of Digoxin concentration in blood--from 0.8 to 2.6 ng/ml. The obtained results permitted to conclude that the concentration of Digoxin in blood has no significance in choosing the optimum therapeutic dose, unless the clinical data are taken into account.


["Digitalis" arrhythmias and their treatment]. The observation was conducted in 92 patients with rhythm and conductivity disorders induced by cardiac glycosides. Most of the patients had ischaemic heart disease, 60 of them having had acute myocardial infarction. All patients were prescribed cardiac glycosides (usually Strophantin and digitalis preparations) due to the appearance of cardiac insufficiency. The most frequently observed rhythm disorder consisted in ventricular extrasystole (69.5% of the cases), bigeminy, polytopic or group extrasystole being observed in many cases. Often arrhythmias consisted in atrial extrasystole, atrial fibrillation, atrial and ventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular block. "Digitalis" arrhythmias were treated with beta-adrenergic blockers: Inderal, Viskene, Eraldin, Trasicor and Aptin. These drugs proved effective in most cases with atrial arrhythmias and in some--with ventricular arrhythmias. Lidocain was more effective in cases of ventricular arrhythmias. Effective drugs of a broad spectrum are also Aimalin, Pulsenorma and Ritmodan.


[Treatment of refractory chronic circulatory insufficiency]. An analysis of archives material (1,500 case reports of patients with circulatory insufficiency) revealed that 200 patients (13%) had persistent, refractory circulatory failure. The revealed factors providing for the development of the refractoriness were: relapsing rheumocarditis, pneumonias, pulmonary infarctions in patients with rheumatic heart diseases, extended cicatrical changes in the myocardium of patients with atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis, or the underlying pathological process in cases of idiopathic myocardial lesions. These factors were taken into account, along with individualization of the therapeutic regimens of cardiac glycosides.


[Hormonal disturbances and the treatment of refractory forms of congestive circulatory insufficiency]. In 109 patients with congestive circulatory insufficiency daily aldosterone excretion was examined by thin-layer chromatography, and in 50 patients aldosteronuria was compared with the excretion of electrolytes and haemodynamic parameters. The daily excretion of aldosterone under the effect of Prednisolone and other saluretics was studied along with the daily excretion of glucocorticoids under the effect of Prednisolone. The efficacy of a combination of drugs (Aldactone, Furosemid, Prednisolone) was studied in patients with refractory forms of circulatory insufficiency. The obtained data revealed an increase of the mineralocorticoid function and a decrease of the glucocorticoid function of the adrenals, a close correlation existing between the level of aldosteronuria, central haemodynamics pattern and electrolytes excretion. Therapy with Prednisolone results in a reduction of aldosteronuria, without causing any inhibition of the glucocorticoid function. The best therapeutic effect was obtained with a combination of Prednisolone, Aldactone, Furosemid, that caused distinct diuresis, natriuresis, increased blood plasma potassium levels, reduction of total dody fluid and body weight.


[Clinical use of pterofen as a diuretic agent in circulatory insufficiency]. Clinical and laboratory observations were conducted using a new Soviet-made drug Pterophene as a diuretic in 30 patients with circulatory insufficiency. Stage IIB and III. Pterophene was found to produce a distinct natriuretuc and diuretic effect. With its daily intake, the effect has a prompt onset, it increases by the 3rd-4th day of therapy, persists for a long period, slightly decreasing in its potency by the 7th-10th day of its continuous administration. A valuable property of Pterophene is its potassium-retaining effect. The drug is well tolerated by the patients, and it can be combined with other diuretics. Pherophene potentiates the diuretic and natriuretic effect of Hypothiaside, Furosemide and Nuvorite, and decreases potassium excretion that was enhanced by these drugs.


[Characteristics of sodium and water elimination in chronic cardiac insufficiency]. The peculiarities of water and electrolytes elimination prior to and following therapy with diuretics were studied in 92 patients with Stage II-III cardiac insufficiency. The control group was comprised of 23 patients with Stage 0-I insufficiency and 12 normal volunteers. A progressing cardiac insufficiency was found to be accompanied by a reduction in sodium and water excretion. The results of the study permit to suggest the localization of enhanced reabsorption of sodium in cases of cardiac insufficiency, to evaluate the proportion of the participation of the antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone in the pathogenesis of sodium retention in the kidney, and to assess the diuretics as means of pathogenetic treatment of cardiac insufficiency, which proves rational on early stages of the disease without accompanying severe circulatory disorders.


[Acute cardiac insufficiency and water-electrolyte metabolism in the postoperative period in congenital heart defects]. The study was conducted in 58 patients with congenital heart diseases. Preoperative cardiac insufficiency in patients with congenital heart diseases was shown to favour a complicated postoperative course which, in turn, is accompanied by alterations in the water-electrolyte metabolism. The development of cellular hyperhydration in patients with congenital heart diseases depends on the severity of the postoperative course and is its characteristic reflection. Distinct changes in the content of the electrolytes develop at this stage: potassium concentration reduction in the cells and sodium concentration increase in them.


[State of water-electrolyte metabolism in ischemic heart disease]. The state of the water-electrolyte metabolism was studied by the radio-isotope dilution technique in 115 patients with different forms of ischaemic heart disease and in 25 normal persons. It was established that all forms of ischaemic heart disease are accompanied by a significant potassium deficit imperceptible for blood and urine examinations of their electrolyte composition. The potassium deficit is most clearly expressed in patients with cardiosclerosis, especially in congestive heart failure. In a considerable part of the patients with acute myocardial infarction, including those without clinical signs of congestive heart failure, the rate of sodium and water metabolism is decreased, and the total body content of metabolizing sodium is increased. Sodium retention in the body is especially severe in patients with cardiosclerosis complicated by congestive circulatory insufficiency. The administration of diuretics in adequate doses was shown to result in normalization of the indices of sodium and water metabolism.


[Thrombocyte and erythrocyte aggregation in congestive circulatory insufficiency]. In 58 patients with Stage II-III congestive circulatory insufficiency photometric techniques permitted to reveal an increased aggregation of platelets and erythrocytes. The increased erythrocytes aggregation in congestive circulatory insufficiency correlated with an increased sodium content in the erythrocytes (r = +0,82) and total body content of water (r = +0,62). The mechanisms of increased platelets and erythrocytes aggregation are discussed, as well as their role in microcirculation disorders observed in circulatory insufficiency.


[Importance of myocardial asynergy zones in the development of cardiac insufficiency]. The paper presents the results of an examination of 62 patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis by means of echocardiography and ultrasonic scanning. The impact of the asynergy zone on the development of cardiac insufficiency was studied with reference to the area of myocardial lesion. Myocardial hyperkinesia is characterized, its compensatory effect in postinfarction cardiosclerosis and arterial hypertension is discussed. The effect of Inderal and Ildomen on both the zones of hyperkinesia, and on the indices of cardiac haemodynamics as a whole is described.


[Mitral valve prolapse syndrome].

[Mitral valve prolapse syndrome]. Among 2485 patients with cardiovascular pathology observed by the authors in the course of 3 years, 8 patients displayed the mitral valve prolapsus syndrome due to the presence of a late systolic murmur or extratone (nonejection systolic click). In 5 patients the diagnosis was supported by echocardiography. In 3 patients, aged 58 to 77 years different forms of the ischaemic heart disease were diagnosed. In the remaining 5 younger patients (24 to 35 years) the etiology of the mitral valve prolapsus syndrome was not established. Their clinical manifestations consisted in complaints of cardiac pains not connected with physical exercises, extrasystole, fatigue, neurotic behaviour.


[X-ray study of the function of a "preserved" myocardium in chronic cardiac aneurysm compared to intracardiac hemodynamic data]. The data of X-ray, radiokymography and of intracardiac haemodynamic studies were compared in 45 cases of chronic cardiac aneurysms and varying degrees of circulatory insufficiency. Special attention was paid to the study of the functional state of the myocardium beyond the zone of the aneurysm that was conducted with the aid of radiokymography. A certain correlation was established between the amplitude of the radiokymographic curve along the left ventricular margin beyond the aneurysmal zone and the severity of the haemodynamic disorders. An unfavourable effect of a decreasing amplitude of the curve towards the cardiac apex was revealed.


[Study of solubility rate of polysaccharide carriers for prolonlonging the effect of drugs in chronic experiment]. To study the process of dissolving polysaccharide carriers in the body used to prolong the action of drugs microspheric preparations of aldehyde-sephadexes of different degrees of oxidation containing I131-labelled covalently bound human serum albumin were synthesized. A radioisotope study of the rate of solution of the mentioned preparations injected by way of catheterization into the myocardial capillary network was conducted. The obtained carriers were shown to be harmless capable of prolonged retention of the bound protein at the site of injection, the rate of their solution in vivo and in vitro being nearly equal.


[Negative chrono- and inotropic effect of acetylcholine after its local administration to different parts of the heart]. The application of acetylcholine to the atria of an isolated heart of a frog produces a specific negative chronotropic effect without decreasing its amplitude, while its application to the ventricle -- a specific negative inotropic effect without decelerating the heart contractions rate. The application of atropine to the atria and ventricles eliminates the specific negative chrono- and inotropic effects of acetylcholine. The various ganglion-blocking agents do not eliminate these effects. The existence of a new membrane mechanism of perception of the specific effects of acetylcholine and of their synchronous transmission to the venous-atrial node and the ventricular myocardium is proved to be found in the atria and ventricles.


[Quantatitative evaluation of food consumption in epidemiological studies of cardiovascular diseases]. On the basis of a brief calculation technique for foodstuffs a chart of the chemical composition of food was compiled, in which the most popular foodstuffs were averaged and classified according to their chemical similarity into 12 groups and 162 items. To check the correctness of the selection of the averaged units 21 males, aged 40 to 59 years, were questioned. The obtained data on the whole food consumed on the preceeding day were calculated in two variants: with the brief variant of calculations the averaged foodstuffs were used in accordance with the devised chart, with the long-term method the used data were retrieved from the available tables of the chemical composition of each product individually. A comparison of the results of calculations of the 21 daily rations obtained with the aid of the above two methods has demonstrated that the differences were absolutely negligible for total lipids, saturated, mono- and polynonsaturated fatty acids, total carbohydrates, refined and nonrefined sugar, compound carbohydrates, alcohol and the total caloric content of the food. The difference was meaningful for the total protein and cholesterol.


[Changes of intracardiac hemodynamics in patients with secondary atrial septal defects before and after surgery]. Investigation of the central and intracardial hemodynamics was conducted in 60 patients with secondary defects of the interatrial septum. Using the method of long cardiac catheterization it was established that the systolic pressure in the right ventricle decreased and the final diastolic pressure increased which was an indication of functional insufficiency of the ventricle. This was confirmed by the reduction of work and potency of the right ventricle. Changes in the myocardial contractility in the nearest days after the operation were accompanied by a reduction in the maximum rate of the intraventricular pressure growth in the medium rate of ejaculation.


[Arterioral sphygmography in complex study of hemodynamics in myocardial infarct]. The methods of polycardiography, sphygmography and arteriolosphygmography developed by the authors were used to examine 39 normal individuals, aged 22 to 42 years. A mathematical comparison of the phases of the left ventricular systole and of the complex parameters with the phase parameters of the peripheral flow on the level of the digital arteries and arterioles has demonstrated an insignificant correlation between them, thus indicating an autonomous nature of the peripheral flow on the mentioned level. A dynamic observation of the same parameters of the central and peripheral circulation in the acute, subacute and chronic periods of myocardial infarction in 50 patients revealed some disturbances in the indices of the contractile function of the heart and more distinct, progressive changes in the indices of the peripheral circulation down to the level of small caliber vessels.


[Compensation of disorders of coronary circulation by means of collaterals (according to coronarographic data]. On the basis of an analysis of about 1000 coronary angiogrammes it is established that collaterals develop in stenosis of the coronary arteries in 52.3% of the patients surviving myocardial infarction, and in 20% of those free of myocardial infarction. Coronary angiogrammes of 100 patients with coronary collaterals were examined. Twenty different ways of collateral circulation were revealed. Certain regularities were noted in the development of collaterals depending on the lesions of different coronaries or combined lesions of several arteries. Intersystemic collaterals are most typical for the occlusions of the anterior interventricular branch. In cases of occlusions of the right coronary artery either intersystemic, or intrasystemic collaterals develop, depending on the localization of the occlusion. A study of the collaterals in cases of multiple coronary lesions has demonstrated that under such conditions a complicated system of anastomoses develops, and the flow in them is multidirectional.


[Adaptation to physical exertion at early stages of hypertension]. A total of 230 patients with essential hypertension without signs of circulatory insufficiency were subjected to ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange studies under dosaged physical exercises, and 140 patients were reexamined following a therapeutic course. Disturbances in the patients' adaptation to physical exercises were noted even at early stages of the disease, their therapy being found effective.


[Study of the adaptation to physical exertion in patients with mitral valve defects]. The study was conducted in 80 patients with moderate compensatid mitral valve diseases without any signs of active rheumatic disease and preserved sinus rhythm. On the basis of a clinical examination two groups of patients were singled out: those without clinical manifestations of circulatory insufficiency, and those with Stage 1 circulatory insufficiency. In both groups of patients, at rest and following exercises, a reduced tolerance of physical exercises was observed, as well as a reduction of the minute and stroke indices. Better tolerance of exercises and improved haemodynamic parameters were noted in both groups following Digoxin therapy. The results of the study prompt the presence of a latent cardiac insufficiency in patients without clinical manifestations of the latter, and permit to recommend its therapy with cardiotonic doses of cardiac glycosides.


[Tolerance to physical exertion in patients with mitral valve defect]. The tolerance of physical exercises was studied in 75 females: 64 mitral cases, and 11 normal individuals. Certain regularities were revealed concerning the ability for physical labour of mitral patients. A special chart was used for determining the ability for physical labour according to the PWC170 test with reference to the sex and age of the examined.


[Adaptive reactions of the erythrocytes in the evaluation of physical work capacity in patients with tetralogy of Fallot]. One of the leading factors affecting the functional state of the red blood system is arterial hypoxemia. Under such conditions signs of polycythemia are known to appear. At the same time, changes in the quality characteristics of the blood develop in patients with congenital heart diseases (tetralogy of Fallot including). Therefore a study of the physical rehabilitation as a total functional index may describe the adaptation of the body to hypoxemia, the variants and stages of its development. For this purpose the red blood parameters were examined (the content of hemoglobin, the erythrocyte count and their diameter) and the tolerance of physical exercises was tested by ergometry. The data were analyzed with due regard of the age of the patients and the reduction of their capacity for work, as compared to the due level. Stage 1 reduction of the capacity for work was found in patients with high red blood parameters. In groups of patients with Stage 2, 3 and especially 4 reduction of working capacity the red blood indices were significantly reduced. A distinct correlation was revealed between the erythrocyte count and their diameter, on the one hand, and the capacity for work, on the other.


[State of the circulatory system in sailors as an indicator of adaptation to long sea voyage]. The peculiarities of the circulatory functions were examined in sailors following nautical voyages of varying duration and directly on board during a 6-month cruise. Over 1200 persons were subjected to the examination. The overall morbidity was analyzed in a contingent of about 6000 persons. The whole material was statistically processed. The sailors were found to develop hypotensive reactions during the voyage that persisted following its termination. Cruises lasting over 2-3 months cause a significant tension of the adaptation mechanisms in the sailors, thus favouring the formation of persistent hypotensive states, inadequate reactions of the arterial pressure and heart rate, ECG changes that reflect the impairment of the functional state of the myocardium, etc. A lack of adaptation to cruises exceeding 2-3 months was established. The functional state of the cardiovascular system of sailors is considered to be one of the leading criteria for substantiating physiologically permissible duration of cruises.


[Cardiodynamic changes in young sportsmen under the effect of systematic training (problem of development of "sportsman's heart" in children)]. In 53 hockey players the myocardial contractility was studied by the method of phasic analysis of the cardiac cycle. The volume of the heart was determined with the help of biplane teleroentgenography. Physical performance capacity was also estimated and for this veloergometric test PWC170 was used. The phasic analysis of the cardiac contraction revealed in most of the testees the presence of the syndrome of functionally controlled hypodynamics with all the symptoms common to it. Teleroentgenometric findings showed the youthful hockey players to have an enlarged heart as compared to untrained youths of the same age and to children of senior age. The physical performance capacity of 10-12 year old hockey players proved sufficiently high and in the majority of the examined it was more than twice as great as the PWC170 level registered in untrained children of the same age. Morphological-functional changes in the heart found in youthful hockey players are typical of the "sportsman's heart" and bear evidence to a highly proficient regulation and control over the operation of the circulatory system that finds its expression in the efficient work of the heart and in raising its reserve possibilities under various extreme conditions.


[Method of recording the diagnostic value of the electrocardiograph of the bundle of His]. A method of cardiac microcatheterization introduced by the authors and effected by puncturing the left subclavian vein with a microcatheter of their original design permits recording the bundle of His electrogramme in a functional diagnosis study or in an intensive care ward. The bundle of His electrogramme was recorded in 107 patients, 72 of them having ischaemic heart disease, and 35 -- other cardiac lesions. The obtained data support the high diagnostic value of the bundle of His electrogramme, especially in determining the level of the atrioventricular block, of the reentry phenomenon, in differentiating abberant QRS complexes from ventricular extrasystoles, in diagnosing ectopic rhythms from different parts of the conductive system of the heart, and other complicated arrhythmias. The bundle of His electrogramme can be also used for the study of the effect of drugs on the conductivity function.


[Mechanism of regulation of themitochondrial creatine phosphokinase reaction by magnewium ions]. The method of mathematical modelling and kynetic analysis was used to study the mechanism of the regulatory effect of magnesium ions on the creatinephosphokinase reaction in cardiac mitochondria. The regulatory effect of magnesium was shown to originate from the competition between ATP and ADP and the magnesium-complex-formation reaction, and the actual regulator proves to be MgADP. On the basis of the data obtained it is postulated that creatinephosphokinase in cardiac mitochondria is functionally connected with ATP-ADP-translocase. The obtained data permit to believe that the mitochondrial cratinephosphokinase is one of the key links in the process of energy transport in the cardiac cells.


[Oxidative phosphorylation in the myocardium of patients with mitral valve stenosis during surgery]. In 135 patients with mitral stenosis of the III and IV stages oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria of the left cardiac auricle was studied by the polarographic method. A uniform lowering of the mitochondrial respiration at different metabolic states with IV stage of the affection and in patiens of a more advanced age (36-52 years) was demonstrable. In some instances the conjugation of oxidation and phosphorylation was on a decline too. A nitrous oxide anesthesia (by comparison with the ether-oxygen one) produced a substantial depression of the mitochondrial respiration, especially when alpha-ketoglutarate was used. The sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of nitrous oxide in the elderly was higher. Respiration with succinate as a substrate in the young (20-35 years) patients proved little sensitive to the suppressing action of this type of anesthesia.


[Energy metabolism and myocardial function in myocardiodystrophy]. A total of 92 patients with chronic tonsilitis and cardiovascular changes were subjected to clinical observations, ECG analysis, potassium and nitroglycerine tests, and studies of the lactic acid level and creatinekinase activity as indces of myocardial metabolism. The examinations were conducted prior to and following tonsillectomy. In a majority of patients a correlation was revealed between the degree of ECG changes and the serum lactic acid level, as well as between the ECG improvement and a reduction of the lactic acid level following tonsillectomy. Three stages of tonsillogenic myocardiodystrophy were distinguished. The obtained data indicate the rationale of the used tests for the evaluation of the myocardial meabolism alterations and of the efficacy of treatment of chronic tonsillitis patients.


Filtration of protein in the anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritic rat: a micropuncture study. Production on an anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) nephritis in the rat results in a 30-fold increase in glomerular membrane permeability to albumin. The concentration of albumin in glomerular filtrate, estimated from proximal tubular fluid samples, is ten times the normal value. Tubular reabsorption of albumin is not enhanced so that essentially the filtered load is excreted. A nephrotic syndrome develops rapidly. Total kidney glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is reduced to 40% of normal with a proportional reduction in filtration fraction. Glomerulo-tubular balance is maintained since proximal fractional reabsorption remains constant near control levels. Calculated efferent arteriolar plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP) is about one-third normal. Sodium excretion, sharply curtailed in the first days of anti-GBM nephritis, returns to control values after the fourth postinjection day. Restoration of sodium balance despite reduced filtered load and constant proximal fractional reabsorption must be accomplished by adjustments at a distal site in the nephron.


Persistence of sisomicin and gentamicin in renal cortex and medulla compared with other organs and serum of rats. Aminoglycoside antibiotics seem to accumulate and persist in the kidney. For a better understanding of this problem, groups of six rats received a single 4 mg/kg i.p. injection of sisomicin and were sacrificed repeatedly from 30 min to 28 days later. Sisomicin concentrations (bioassay) decreased rapidly in the serum, lung and other tissues. There was only a trace at six hours. The situation was totally different for the kidney. Concentrations in the cortex increased up to six hours with a maximum of 99 mug/g, 11 times higher than the peak value in the serum then decreased very slowly to 56, 18, and 7 mug/g, 2, 14 and 28 days, respecitvely, after injection. The concentrations in the medulla were lower than in the cortex but also showed an accumulation and persistence. Similar results were observed with gentamicin. In another experiment, daily injections of sisomicin or gentamicin during seven days demonstrated that the concentrations of both antibiotics six hours after the last injection were nearly three times higher in the cortex and twice as high in the medulla than after a single injection. These data explain why the nephrotoxicity of sisomicin or gentamicin involves chiefly the cortex, increases with the length of the treatment and can persist for several weeks after the last injection. Therapeutic implications need further studies.


Effects of nephrectomy on renal salt and water transport in the remaining kidney. Fluid, sodium, and potassium transport was studied in proximal and distal tubules in rats in which one kidney had been removed two weeks after a suprarenal aortic clamp had been placed to prevent adaptive changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the experimental kidney. Free-flow micropuncture techniques were used and tubular fluid (TF) samples analyzed for inulin, sodium and potassium. In addition, peritubular total protein concentrations and luminal and peritubular hydrostatic pressures were measured. The following changes were observed 15 hr after unilateral nephrectomy: (1) a significant increase in single nephron GFR; (2) unchanged absolute proximal tubular reabsorption rates of fluid and sodium; (3) increased delivery of fluid into distal tubules; (4) increased distal tubular reabsorption of sodium, but of insufficient magnitude to prevent natriuresis; and (5) an augmentation of distal tubular potassium secretion. Reduction of single nephron GRF to control levels by aortic clamping abolished the natriuresis following nephrectomy.


A clinical study of anti-NDP in the sera of patients in a large repetitive hemodialysis program. Anti-NDP has been detected in the sera of 38 of 430 patients on regular hemodialysis at the Regional Kidney Disease Program in Minneapolis. It developed in these patients from 7 to 58 months after commencement of dialysis. Bacterial infection appeared temporally related to the development of anti-NDP in 12 patients. Hemolytic episodes, possibly related to anti-NDP, occurred in 11. Fifty-five percent of the patients never reused dialyzers. The antibody preceded the insertion of a bovine graft in seven. We postulate that anti-NDP is recognizing an antigenic site similar to that recognized by Vicia graminea lectin, and that this site might become immunogenic by alteration of M and N antigens on red blood cell surfaces. Though formaldehyde might be involved in this alteration, dialysis membrane reuse does not seem to be required for the formation of anti-NDP.


Plasma amino acids in children and adolescents on hemodialysis. Fasting plasma amino acid concentrations were measured in 16 children on regular hemodialysis for renal failure. Reductions compared to normal were found in valine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, histidine, tyrosine, and serine; and increases were found in glycine, citruline, proline, and 1- and 3-methylhistidine. Acute reductions in amino acid concentrations occurred in response to i.v. glucose, similar to those reported in normal adults, but plasma alanine, which was raised only in those with poor glucose tolerance, fell to normal and did not vary in those with normal glucose tolerance. No correlations were found with growth, but the plasma glycine concentration was highest in those patients with poorest energy intakes. Plasma alanine concentrations correlated with raised triglyceride concentrations. It is suggested that many of the abnormalities are due to the excessive utilization of protein for energy because of impaired availability of conventional energy sources in uremia.


[Cardiovascular system during hypokinesia of varying duration and intensity]. The paper gives and compares data on the orthostatic tolerance of man exposed to different hypokinetic conditions of varying duration -- water immersion (10 days), supine position in the chair close to the mean physiological rest posture (7-20 days), bed rest (10-120 days) and altitude chambers (3-70 days). The tolerance to orthostatic tests decreased to a larger extent after experiments in which the motor activity was significantly lowered: water immersion, supine position in the chair and 120-day bed rest; orthostatic tolerance reduced to a lesser extent after altitude chamber experiments. The level of decline of the motor activity was more important than the time of hypokinetic exposure. The most noticeable reduction of adaptive capabilities of the cardiovascular system developed during the first 30 days of bed rest.


[Effect of prolonged hypokinesia on PO2 dynamics in the brain tissues of rats in orthostatic and antiorthostatic tests]. Variations of PO2 in rat brain tissues were assessed polarographically during orthostatic tests. Prolonged hypokinesia (up to 100 days) did not induce significant changes of PO2 in rats at rest. During orthostatic tests PO2 of control rats changed insignificantly. Prolonged hypokinesia led to more marked changes of PO2 in rats exposed to an orthostatic test. Changes in the cerebral oxygenation of hypokinetic rats were varying and inadequate, differing appreciably from the cerebral oxygenation of control animals.


[Some problems of space medicine].

[Some problems of space medicine]. The paper discusses the problems to be resolved by space medicine and the main stages in the development of this branch of science, beginning with the vertical launches of rockets and ending with the flights of orbital stations. On the basis of ground-based simulation experiments and real space flights it presents a classification of the major symptomocomplexes that may occur inflight. The paper describes the main stages of adaptation to weightlessness and physiological changes in the weightless state. The paper also outlines further pathways in the development of space medicine.


[Effect of a course of electric stimulation of the muscles on human orthostatic resistance]. The effect of muscle electrostimulation on orthostatic tolerance was assessed in two experimental runs. In the first run 6 healthy test subjects took part and in the second run 12 test subjects (three groups of 4 persons each) participated. In the first run electrostimulation applied for 1 month (30 min a day) on an out-of-clinic basis affected favorably orthostatic tolerance. In the second run electrostimulation applied during a 45-day bed rest experiment (30 min twice a day) yielded different results. The 1st group subjects who were stimulated with 20 electrodes showed a favorable effect. The 2nd group subjects who were stimulated with 12 electrodes exhibited a limited effect. The 3rd group subjects (controls) who were not stimulated during bed rest displayed a marked decrease of orthostatic tolerance.


[Changes in the central and peripheral circulation and in the acid-base equilibrium of the blood in dogs during a passive orthostatic test]. Integral changes in circulation and acid-base equilibrium of blood were studied on urethane-chloralose anesthesized dogs during a 20 min tilt test. Against the background of a relatively stable mean pressure in the aorta, the blood flow  in the aorta and carotid artery diminished, pressure in the right atrium decreased and the heart rate increased. The phase of isometric contraction of the left ventricle increased, ejection time, mechanical systole and intrasystolic index decreased whereas the myocardial contractility increased. The blood flow in the liver, spleen and hind limb skin reduced and in hind limb muscles remained unaltered. In the arterial blood metabolic acidosis and hyperventilation developed.


[Functional state of the human hearing analyzer exposed to +Gx acceleration]. The functional state of the acoustic analyzer of man was investigated during an exposure to +Gx acceleration of 4-14 g applied at an angle of 78 degrees to the long axis of the body. During an exposure to 8-10 g the hearing state began to deteriorate. This included an increase in the tonic thresholds of hearing sensitivity with respect to the aerial and bone conduction, and an increase in the differential thresholds of hearing with respect to the strength and pitch. With an increase of the acceleration value these changes grew, reaching maximum at 14 g. It is suggested that possible mechanisms of changes in the hearing sensitivity are associated with disorders in the systems of sound conveyance and perception.


[Relationship of the biological effect of radiation to the area of irradiated body surface]. The dependece of radiation injury of piglets on the area of irradiated body surface (v 40 kv, Eeff 17 key, 1 10 mA per tube, additional filter 0.1 mm A1, delta 1/2 0.08 mm A1, source--skin distance 30 cm, R 504 r/min, radiattion dose 200 r) was studied. The biological effect was evaluated with respect to the clinical, hematological and biochemical changes in the animal body. The data were obtained that indicated burn disease in the irradiated piglets, severity of which increased with an increased with an increase of the area of irradiated skin surface.


[Importance of the nonverbal characteristics of the speech signal for evaluating the mental and physical state of a pilot]. An analysis of the frequency, time and dynamics characteristics of the acoustic signal is one of the useful and reliable methods of objective assessment of the psychophysiological state of a pilot. The information conveyed through the nonverbal channel is nonspecific. The pattern of the stressor that causes a change in the pitch can be often identified only tentatively, if there is no additional information. The intensity of the stressor cannot be well correlated with the degree of the pitch change. The voice alters most seriously in response to psychic stressors and factors that affect adversely the normal merchanics of respiration (breathing at increased pressure, acceleration). The voice remains unaltered during an exposure to hypoxia and high ambient temperatures.


The use of a tissue tonometer as a diagnostic aid in extremity lymphoedema: a determination of its conservative treatment with benzo-pyrones. With the aid of a tissue tonometer, we have been able to gain an estimate of the rate at which the lymphoedematous tissue loses its compressability and regains it upon treatment with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: the benzo-pyrones. The values obtained by tonometry, unlike other objective methods of measurement of the effectiveness of a therapy, approximate closely to the patients subjective claims.


Conservative treatment of acute and chronic lymphoedema with benzo-pyrones. Generally, the success of conservative therapy is only limited to a transient reduction in oedema. Concomitant with this, subjective improvements such as a reduced feeling of heaviness, a lessening of pain and of the bursting feeling of the affected limb are frequently reported. Once the oedema is reduced, the reduction must be maintained by elevation, elastic compression bandages, and by careful attention to infection. A failure to observe these points results in a very rapid reformation of the oedema. Experimental results have shown the benzopyrones to be very useful in reducing high protein oedemas, particularly those of lymph and thermal oedema. They do this by enhancing the lysis and removal of the abnormal accumulated protein from the affected part. They also enhance glucose uptake by the various cells, thus allowing them to survive in a viable state in severe conditions such as those of metabolic acidosis characteristic of stagnant tissue fluids. Since the benzopyrones remove the excess protein, the tendency for further fibrotic tissue formation is reduced. In addition, like some other anti-inflammatory drugs, the benzopyrones may be able to enhance the removal of existing fibrotic tissue by causing its lysis. The cells involved in this action seem to be the macrophages. The remarkable reductions of lymph and thermal oedemas obtained in animal experiments with the benzopyrones have not been reported in many clinical trials. There seem to be two main reasons for this. Firstly  much lower doses are used than have been shown to be optimal. Secondly, the follow up periods of observations have usually only been short. Some clinical trials even with these lower doses have however been very promising, and this is especially enlightening when it is considered that such doses in animals only result in minimal changes in the oedema volume. This may be the reason for the high proportion of "subjective improvement only" reports in clinical trials.


Spontaneous alterations in the size of lymph nodes after lymphography. A total of 124 normal nodes in 20 patients with Hodgkin's disease were measured in lymphograms by means of planimetry with point counting. Anteroposterior views were used both in the lymphography (24h) and at subsequent check-up studies. A statistically significant reduction (p is less than 0.05) of 3.5 per cent in the area of the lymph nodes was observed in the period after lymphography (range, 4-189 days; average, 26.8 days) during which no irradiation or chemotherapy had been given. Correction for technical factors and an evaluation of errors of measurement were made.


The relationship between tissue fluid and lymph. Protein concentration in the fluid aspirated from subcutaneously implanted capsules is higher both in dogs and in rabbits than in the lymph collected from the same area. Besides the quantitative differences there are also qualitative differences in the composition of the two fluids. It is concluded, that the capsular fluid is not identical with normal tissue and that from its composition no informations can be gained about the origin of lymph or the mechanism of its formation.


Lymphocyte locomotion III. ultrastructural studies of the lymphocyte traffic over the postcapillary venules of rat lymph nodes. The direction of lymphocytes with amoeboid movement configuration (AMC) was evaluated by means of electron microscopy of ultrathin sections of post-capillary high-endothelium venules (HE-venules) from rat lymph nodes. Out of 104 lymphocytes, 68 lymphocytes appeared to be on their way towards the lumen of the HE-venule and 36 lymphocytes appeared to be moving away from the venular lumen at the moment of fixation. This difference, which was statistically significant (p=0.0024), is thought to reflect the relative size of the migration stream of lymphocytes at the moment of fixation.


The microcirculation of the mammalian lymph node. Flow alterations to give complete filling of the lymphatic sinusoidal system and saccular lymph spaces around the germinal centers were demonstrated during a primary immune reaction. By contrast, in delayed hypersensitivity, saccules were not seen although there was marked enlargement of individual follicular units.


[Surgical aspects of secondary hyperparathyroidism (author's transl)]. Between 1969 and April 1975 24 patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) clinically presenting with uremic osteopathy required either total (n=5) or subtotal (n=18) parathyroidectomies, 17 patients were already supported by maintenance hemodialysis, 6 patients suffered from terminal renal insufficiency. The leading clinical symptoms consisted of general osteoporosis, spontaneous fractures, extraosseous calcifications and histologically proven dissecting fibroosteoclasia. After operation 18 patients experienced complete relief from their complaints and repair of their skeletal lesions, 2 patients required reexploration for an undetected hyperfunctioning 4th parathyroid gland, regretfully with no success. In 4 patients with subtotal parathyoidectomy a recurrence of varying intensity with increased PTH-secretion from the remnant had to be registered after months and years.-The indication for surgical treatment of sHPT due to chronic renal failure has to be based on two sets of findings: 1) inadequate longterm suppression of increased PTH secretion by conservative measures like high dialysate calcium concentration or oral calcium intake, serum phosphorus depletion by oral intake of aluminium hydroxyde and possibly also by Vit. D; 2) persistent hypercalcemia, progressive osteodystrophy and severe complaints like bone pain and pruritus.


[Treatment of primary chronic fissure-in-ano by anal dilatation versus sphincterotomy (author's transl)]. A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in the treatment of primary chronic fissure-in-ano by digital stretching of the anal canal or by a modified lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy is reported. Whereas there was no difference in the postoperative course of both groups, by checking 65 of 66 patients 6 months postoperatively, we found significantly more lacks of continence after stretching. There was no difference regarding recurrence rate. Pressure monitoring of the anal canal showed significantly higher values at rest in both groups before operation. No correlation between results of monitoring anal pressure and defects of anal continence has been seen. These results point out that in treatment of primary chronic fissure-in-ano the lateral subcutaneous sphincterotomy is superior to anal dilatation regarding postoperative defects of anal continence. The recurrence rate in the present study does not force to prefer one of these two methods. Manometric investigations show that the resting pressure in anal canal seems to be elevated in primary chronic fissure-in-ano.


[Endarterectomy versus vein bypass grafts in femoropopliteal occlusions (author's transl)]. On the basis of our experience with 1827 femoropopliteal arterial reconstructions performed from 1959 through 1974 we have worked up a system of strict guidelines for the choice of procedure. The vein bypass is the method of choice in all cases at stages III/IV (i.e. resting pain or gangrene), in lengthy occlusions of the femoral arteries continuing into the distal popliteal arteries or in stenotic lesions or occlusions of the tibial arteries, in all recurrent occlusions, and in cases with calcification or dilatation of the arterial wall. The indication for endarterectomy is restricted to stage II (i.e. intermittent claudication) and to segmental occlusions of the femoral or popliteal arteries as well as transitional or lengthy occlusions of the femoral artery continuing to the proximal popliteal artery. Under these guidelines a total group of 645 patients underwent 721 femoropopliteal reconstructions-307 endarterectomies and 414 vein grafts-from 1971 through 1974. The average age of the patients was 60 years. In 50% of all cases operations were carried out for advanced ischemia treatening the extremity. For all the series the patency rate of vein bypass was 79% and of endarterectomy 71%. Accumulative patency rates by the life table method according to the preoperative degree of arterial insufficiency and the postoperative follow up period of 4 years do not show statistically significant differences between both procedures under the given guidelines.


[Spontaneous rupture of the oesophagus. Report of two cases]. Case report of two so-called spontaneous ruptures of the oesophagus. The early diagnosis saved one of the patients, in the other the sequelae of the oesophagus rupture were treated successfully by intensive care. He died one month later from stress ulcers in the stomach and duodenum.


[Environmental lead pollution. An epidemiologic study in road gasoline station workers (author's transl)]. Erythrocyte ALA-D and urinary coproporphyrins were investigated in 29 road gasoline station workers in order to detect a possible abnormal lead absorption. The ALA-D test represents the most sensitive laboratory device to detect both abnormal lead absorption and possible initial lesions due to lead poisoning. Using the above mentioned laboratory tests evidence of abnormal lead absorption was found in five of the examined subjects. Some remarks on prevention of possible lead intoxication are done.


[A study of arterial pressure, pulse rate and capnogram during exhaustive muscular work performed by healthy subjects while breathing air or 100% oxygen (author's transl)]. Eight untrained healthy young men were submitted to exhaustive physical exercise, performed on a bicycle ergometer while breathing either air or 100% oxygen, Arterial pressures, pulse rate and, in some instances, capnogram too were recorded during exercise and at the end of it. In the majority of subjects, 100% oxygen breathing was found to improve in some way work performance, in comparison with air breathing. However, the differences in the parameters examined appeared to be subjective and inconstant and to change according to work load levels.


[Lead detection and measurement in biological fluids by means of anodic stripping voltammetry (author's transl)]. The authors deal with the anodic stripping voltammetry method for detecting and measuring lead in biological fluids. A comparison was made with the more widely used dithizone method. The mercury-graphite electrode was also checked in respect of both the plating time and the amount of analyses performed. From the results obtained the authors conclude that the anodic stripping voltammetry technique appears to be simpler and more rapid and sensitive than the dithizone method for lead detection and measurement in biological fluids. The former is therefore particularly suitable for laboratories where routine repetitive analyses are performed.


Relationships between base-exchange reaction and the microsomal phospholipid pool in the rat brain in vitro. The calcium-stimulated incorporation of ethanolamine, choline and L-serine into rat brain microsomal phospholipids has been investigated. The membranes were prelabeled in vitro in their choline or serine phosphoglycerides by base-exchange and then chasing experiments were done by displacing the lipid-bound base by ethanolamine, choline, or L-serine labeled with a different isotope. The results indicate that membrane phosphatidylcholine is presumably a substrate for the exchange with all the three bases, whereas phosphatidylserine exchanges only with ethanolamine and L-serine but not with choline. A small phospholipid pool (3-7% of the total available pool) is active in the calcium-dependent exchange with choline, ethanolamine, and L-serine. When the microsomal membranes are prelabeled in vitro in their phosphatidylcholine moiety through the cytidine-dependent pathway and then chasing experiments are performed with the three nitrogenous bases, as above, the small phospholipid pool is hardly detectable. In view of these and other results (Gaiti et al., FEBS Letters 49:361 1975), it is suggested that at least two different pools of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and phosphatidylcholine might exist in rat brain microsomes.


Lecithin inhibits fatty acid and bile salt absorption from rat small intestine in vivo. During digestion of a fatty meal, long chain free fatty acids (FFA) and lecithin are among the lipids solubilized in intestinal contents as mixed micelles with bile salts. We hypothesized that if lecithin were not hydrolyzed, the mixed micelles would be abnormal, and absorption of FFA and bile salts would be depressed. To test this hypothesis, isolated segments of rat small intestine were infused in vivo with micellar solutions of 2 mMolar linoleic acid and 10 mMolar taurocholate to which was added 3 mMolar 1-palmitoyl, 2-oleoyl lecithin (a common lecithin in bile and food), or 1-palmitoyl lysolecithin (the hydrolytic product of lecithin). Absorption of FFA and bile salt was measured under steady state conditions using a single-pass technique. Lecithin depressed the rate of FFA absorption by 40% (p less than 0.025) in jejunal and ileal segments whereas lysolecithin was associated with normal rates of FFA absorption. Lecithin also reduced taurocholate absorption from the ileum by 30% (p less than 0.05). These data support the idea that lecithin may depress FFA and bile salt absorption from the small intestine in pancreatic insufficiency.


Lipid composition of 30 species of yeast. The detailed composition of cellular lipid of more than 23 species of yeast has been determined quantitatively by thinchrography on quartz rods, a method previously used for estimating cellular lipids of seven species of yeast. That data was fortified by neutral and phospholipid quantitations on 30 species of yeast cells. Most of the test organisms contained 7-15% total lipid and 3-6% total phospholipid per dry cell weight, except for the extremely high accumulation of triglycerides in two species of Lipomyces. Qualitatively, 30 species of yeast cells contained similar neutral lipid constituents (triglyceride, sterol ester, free fatty acid, and free sterol) and polar lipid components (phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ehtanolamine, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inositol, cardiolipin, and ceramide monohexoside) without minor constituents. Based on the quantitative composition of neutral lipids, the 30 species of yeast were divided into two groups , the triglyceride predominant group and the sterol derivative group. These groupings were fairly well overlapped from the standpoint of the distribution characteristics of fatty acid. The relative polar lipid compositions also grossly resembled each other. Only one exception of polar lipid composition in yeast cells was found in Rhodotorula rubra species which contained phosphatidyl ethanolamine as the most abundant phospholipid. Fatty acid distribution patterns in yeast cells consistently coincided with other reports concerning fatty acid composition of yeast cells. Correlation of lipid composition and classification of yeasts are suggested and discussed.


Metabolism of chenodeoxycholic acid in hamsters. The study on the metabolism after oral administration of chenodeoxycholic acid-24-14C was performed by analysis of radioactivity that had appeared in bile and feces of male hamsters. The radioactive bile acids were analyzed by thin layer chromatography and identified by the isotope dilution method. In the bile of the hamsters with bile fistula, radioactivity was originated from unchanged chenodeoxycholic acid for the most part, and 7-ketolithocholic acid, lithocholic acid, and beta-muricholic acid for the remainder. In the feces lithocholic acid, dehydrolithocholic acid, isolithocholic acid, and unchanged form were identified. After the multiple dosing of chenodeoxycholic acid-24-14C for 6 days, beta-muricholic acid was also identified in the feces.


Relative autoxidative and photolytic stabilities of tocols and tocotrienols. The relative stabilities of selected individual tocols and tocotrienols and of equimolar mixtures of either alpha- plus gamma- or alpha- plus delta- tocopherols were determined in methyl myristate and methyl linoleate during autoxidation and photolysis. Solutions containing 0.05% of the appropriate tocopherol(s) or tocotrienols were subjected to UV light (254 nm) or to a flow of 4.3 ml/min of oxygen, both at 70 C. Tocopherols (T) and tocotrienols (T-3) were determined by gas chromatography without preliminary separation or purification. Under photolytic conditions, stabilities in increasing order in methyl myristate were gamma-T-3 less than alpha-T-3 less than delta-T less than alpha-T less than gamma-T less than 5,7-T less than beta-T and in methyl linoleate were alpha-T less than alpha-T-3 less than or equal to gamma-T-3 less than or equal to beta-T less than or equal to 5,7-T less than gamma-T less than delta-T. A solvent effect on the initial rate of photolysis was observed for 5-methyl substituted tocols but not for the tocols with an unsubstituted 5-position or for the tocotrienols. Under autoxidative conditions, stabilities in increasing order in methyl myristate were alpha-T = alpha-T-3 less than beta-T-3 less than gamma-T-3 less than delta-T-3 less than gamma-T less than delta-T = beta-T and in methyl linoleate were alpha-T less than alpha-T-3 less than gamma-T-3 less than beta-T less than gamma-T less than delta-T. Tocopherols were much more stable during autoxidation in methyl myristate than they were in methyl linoleate. In mixtures, there was no significant protection of alpha-tocopherol by either gamma- or delta-tocopherol under any of the conditions used. However, alpha-tocopherol was highly effective in protecting gamma- and delta-tocopherols in methyl myristate during both photolysis and autoxidation and in methyl linoleate during photolysis. During autoxidation in methyl linoleate, alpha-tocopherol protection of gamma- and delta-tocopherols after 24 hr was slight tough measurable.


Effect of acute ethanol ingestion on fat absorption. A test meal (300 mg casein, 600 mg sucrose, 100 mg corn oil, tracer dose of 9.10(3)H oleic acid) was given to fasting adult rats with intestinal lymph fistulas. One group received an acute oral dose of ethanol (3.2 g/kg body weight) simultaneously with the test meal. Controls received 2.5 ml of water instead of ethanol. Ingestion of ethanol temporarily delayed the removal of lipid radioactivity from the stomachs. More than 25% of radioactivity fed remained 8 hr after feeding whereas with control rats less than 10% of lipid radioactivity fed remained 6 hr after feeding. In controls and ethanol-treated rats, the amounts of exogenous lipids in the intestinal lumen and mucosa were low and similar enough. Quantities of endogenous and exogenous lipids found in the lymph collected during 24 hr after feeding were similar in the two groups, but the fat absorption peak was found after 6 hr in alcoholic rats and before 6 hr in controls. This delay was probably due to the retention of lipids in the stomach. More of the exogenous lipid was always transported by small particles moving in the region of alpha1 globulins in cellulose acetate electrophoresis than by larger particles remaining at the origin. This proportion was enhanced in the ethanol-treated animals. The larger fat particles were richer in endogenous fatty acids in alcohol-treated rats than in controls.


The occurrence and distribution of octadecapentaenoic acid in a natural plankton population. A possible food chain index. It is shown that marine dinoflagellates under natural conditions synthesize the unusual fatty acid octapentadecaenoic (18:5omega3). This acid is very likely a characteristic of certain groups of phytoplankters and is not an artifact from artificial culture conditions. Various species of herbivorous copepods as well as contemporary carnivorous chaetognaths living in the same environment present traces of this fatty acid. The decreasing quantity of 18:5omega3 on moving up the food chain, and its absence in certain species, makes it a possible ecological tracer.


Localization of a marine source of odd chain-length fatty acids. I. The amphipod Pontoporeia femorata (Kröyer). The amphipod Pontoporeia femorata (Kröyer) contains approximately equal amounts of odd chain length and even chain length fatty acids. Mature males of this species are released into the waters of Jeddore Harbour during winter months as the result of a regular reproductive cycle and become food for smelt Osmerus mordax moving into the harbor in preparation for spring spawning runs, thus accounting for the previously reported unusual fatty acid composition of these smelt. The exceptionally high levels of odd chain length fatty acids in P. femorata occur at all stages of maturity in both sexes of the animal and are found in P. femorata in other locations.


Localization of a source of marine odd chain-length fatty acids. II. Seasonal propagation of odd chain-length monoethylenic fatty acids in a marine food chain. The unusual occurrence of elevated levels of odd chain length fatty acids (OCFA) in smelt taken during winter months in Jeddore Harbour, Nova Scotia, is due to the dietary intake of large numbers of the amphipod Pontoporeia femorata (Kröyer). Sampling over two winters confirms that the seasonal peak period for this amphipod in stomachs is mid-December to the end of February. The distributions of monoethylenic isomers are compared to distinguish exogenous and endogenous smelt dietary features in terms of the geographically limited phenomenon of high OCFA levels and the essential absence of biological activity for these acids.


Exercise induced sodium conservation: changes in plasma renin and aldosterone. Previous studies have demonstrated a renal Na+ conservation during repeated days of exercise in the heat. The present study was intended to describe the role of plasma aldosterone (PAC) in reducing urine Na+ losses during and after 60 min of exercise (60% VO2max) in a warm environment (30 degrees C, 50-53% relative humidity). Additional measurements were made of plasma renin activity (PRA) in an effort to demonstrate the relationship between PRA and PAC. This study shows that a single bout of exercise can significantly reduce urine Na+, Cl-, and H20 excretions for up to 48 hours. Both PRA and PAC were significantly elevated during and immediately after exercise and returned to the pre-exercise level within 6-12 hours of recovery. Subsequently, ingestion of 180 mEq of Na+ each day with ad libitum water intake results in an increased NaCl storage and an expansion of the extracellular volume.


Physiological investigations of Swedish elite canoe competitors. Maximal as well as submaximal heart rate and oxygen uptake were measured during paddling and other types of arm and leg exercise in Swedish elite canoeists. Muscle fiber composition was determined in the canoeists: 4 seniors (22-28 year old) as well as 2 juniors (18 years). Vo2max during treadmill running averaged in the seniors 5.4 1 x min -1 and during arm exercise. Corresponding values for the juniors were 4.7 1 x min -1 and 4.21 x min -1 or 88%. Paddling 500 m resulted in relatively low oxygen uptake, but the highest blood lactate concentrations, whereas 1,000 m gave the highest oxygen uptake but also high blood lactate concentrations. During a 10,000 m race the heart rate was approximately 97% (range 96-98%) of the maximum measured. In nine present and former winners of World Championships or Olympic medals, fiber types were determined in the deltoid muscle. These data indicated that canoeists, who were successful in 500 m races, had a higher percentage of fast twitch (FT) muscle fibers (range 50-59%) than medalists, who competed in 10,000 m races (26-52% FT).


The effect of different intensities of exercise on the excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine. Anticipation of a potentially stressful situation can alter the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of three different intensities of exercise on epinephrine (E) and norepinephrine (NE) excretion when the work test order was randomly assigned and the subjects were not informed of the test order. Six subjects exercised at work loads which averaged 49%, 65%, and 82% Vo2max. Each subject showed an increased rate of NE excretion as the work load increased. The differences among work loads were significant (P less than 0.01). The E response was less consistent. Two subjects showed the greatest rate of excretion at the lowest work load, and one subject showed no increase above his pre-exercise resting value. While NE excretion was closely related to the work load, factors other than exercise appeared to exert considerable influence on the rate of E excretion during exercise.


The effect of the number of daily training sessions on skeletal muscle protein synthesis. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of training either once or three times/day on the principal stages of skeletal muscle. The experiments were carried out on male albino rats fed either 3 or 5 times/day a diet containing 20% protein. Experimental animals swam either once or 3 times/day, 6 days/week for 10 weeks with weights attached. The total duration of daily activity was equal for both groups and at 10 weeks each animal was swimming for 60 min/day with 3% of his body weight attached. All the animals were examined at rest after the 10-week training programs. The adequacy of the weight-loading and training schedules was estimated by body weight dynamics and such energy metabolites as creatine phosphate and glycogen. Skeletal muscle RNA and protein synthesis were studied by means of 14C-orotic acid and 14C-leucine incorporation, respectively. Quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles were used for analysis in all experiments. It was found that the increase in the number of daily training sessions resulted in an increased content and intensity of synthesis of skeletal muscle proteins as evidenced by an increase in the content of amino acids in the muscle, an increased synthesis of both microsomal and ribosomal RNA, an increased stability of (poly-A)-containing messenger RNA, and an increased synthesis of all skeletal muscle protein fractions: myofibrillar, sarcoplasmic, and myostromal.


The effects of physical training on the lung growth of infant rats. The effect of swimming exercise on the growth of the lungs was examined in 60 Charles River Outbred Albino male rats during their second and third months of life. A tw0-by-three factorial analysis of variance design was used for significant differences due to duration of exercise (swimming 5 minutes per day 5 days per week, swimming to exhaustion 5 days per week, and no exercise) and duration of training (4 weeks and 8 weeks). All rats were loaded equal to 5 percent of body weight while swimming. Measurements used to evaluate lung growth were lung blood volume, lung blood volume/body weight, alveolar density, ratio of alveolar surface area to respiratory volume, lung weight, and lung weight/body weight. It was concluded that alveolar proliferation was increased in rats exposed to swimming during the second month of postnatal growth as indicated by greater alveolar densities and surface area to respiratory volume ratios is exercised subjects. Failure to find further growth during the third month of life suggested a critical period prior to the third month for such proliferation. Nonexhaustive swimming was as effective as exhaustive swimming in promoting the proliferation. There was no interaction between duration of exercise and duration of training.


Dose-response effects of anti-inflammatory steroid injections on mechanical properties of rat tail tendons. It has been suggested that glucocorticoid drug therapy or usage may be a contributing factor in the occurrence of tendon ruptures among athletes. Our earlier findings (7) did not support this position but may have been dependent on the small quantity of drug injected. We subsequently tested selected biomechanical properties of healthy, non-traumatized tail tendons from sixty 90-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats previously injected weekly for six weeks with 0.1 ml saline (controls) or low (0.03 mg/0.1 ml), medium (0.30 mg/0.1 ml) or high doses (0.60 mg/0.1 ml) of betamethasone. Results indicate the biological effectiveness of the medium and high dose treatments through reductions in body and adrenal weights, but we found no statistically significant change in dry tendon weight, yield load or relative yield load, although there was a suggestive trend toward lessened dry tendon weights and greater relative yield loads. The hypothesis that repeated local injections of an anti-inflammatory steroid deleteriously effects mechanical properties of healthy, non-traumatized rat tendons is not supported by our data, even considering that some dosages were 10 to 20 times greater than recommended therapeutic quantities for humans.


The maximum aerobic power of the Temiars. A settlement of Temiars, an aboriginal tribe residing in the north-eastern jungles of the Malay Peninsula, was selected for a study of their cardiorespiratory fitness. A step-test was used to elicit the Vo2max, V E max and HR max in a group of 19 boys aged 12 to 18 years and 6 men aged 19 - 40 years. The mean VO2max of the boys was found to be 45.9 +/- 6.9 ml-kg-1-min-1 compared with 45.6 +/- 5.4 ml-kg-1-min-1 for the men. The mean V E max, HR max and blood lactate levels were found to be 65.5 +/- 11.31/min and 69.2 +/- 23.71/min; 194 +/- 8 beats/min and 186 +/- 10 beats/min; and 79.8 +/- 13.4 mg% and 97.7 +/- 33.4 mg% respectively. These results are comparable to those obtained in urban populations as well as those found in other primitive communities. Telemetric monitoring of the routine daily physical activity of the men revealed that these jungle dwellers rarely tax their oxygen transport systems in their daily living and their cardiorespiratory functions were similar to communities who do not specifically train for physical fitness.


Heat tolerance following diuretic induced dehydration. In an effort to assess the effects of acute fluid loss on body temperature regulation during exercise, seven subjects (one female and six males) were studied on two occasions during two hours of cycling (35% Vo2max) in a hot environment (39 degrees C = DB, 35% = RH). One trial (D) was conducted following a 3% body weight reduction, achieved with 40-80 mg oral administration of a diuretic "lasix." A control exercise bout was performed with the subject normally hydrated (H). As a result of the diuresis, plasma volume (PV) decreased 15.3% (SE +/- 1.3), while heart rates during exercise increased 20-25 beats/min when compared to the H condition. Although significantly greater increases (P less than 0.05) in rectal and muscle temperatures occurred during exercise in the D trial, mean skin temperature (TS) was lower. Skin blood flow estimated from conductance values averaged 800 ml/min less during the D condition than during exercise in the H trial. Since the preliminary diuresis had no affect on sweat rate during exercise (D = 0.80 vs. H = 0.80 liters/hr), body heat dissipation appeared limited mainly by a reduction in peripheral blood flow. The diuretic induced dehydration was found to increase the sensitivity of some subjects to the exercise-heat stress, producing symptoms of heat exhaustion.


Exercise capacity of black sickle cell trait males. Aerobic capacity data were collected on matched groups of 16 black sickle cell trait males and 16 non-trait males. The subjects were matched on race, age, weight, sex, physical activity profile, skinfolds, and smoking habits. Total treadmill times, predicted and actual Vo2 max, max HR, and recovery HR were compared. The Bruce Multi-Stage Treadmill Test was administered with continuous ECG and OCC (Oxygen Consumption Computer) monitoring. The results indicated no significant difference (P greater than .05) between the trait and non-trait subjects on any of the performance variables.


Attitudes towards health and physical activity in the elderly. Effects of a physical training program. Attitudes towards physical activity, perceived health, body image, anxiety and life satisfaction have been studied in men and women 60 years of age and older, volunteering for progressive endurance training. Relative to other studies of younger volunteers, the senior citizens placed more value upon activity as "an esthetic experience" and as "a means to health and fitness" showing less interest in "the pursuit of vertigo." Many non-participants and "drop-outs" perceived their current fitness as satisfactory. Subjects who selected a low frequency and low intensity of training were obese, with high Cornell Medical Index (CMI) scores on both organic and psychological scales. After 14 weeks of conditioning, 83% of subjects reported improvements in well-being. However, CMI scores were reduced on only one of twelve organic scales and none of the behavior, mood and feeling scales. Neugarten's Life Satisfaction Index, Kenyon's Body Image scales, and McPherson's the Real Me scores remained unchanged, but there was a decrease of Manifest Anxiety (Taylor scale) and a greater regard of physical activity as "the relief of tension." When subjects were classed according to changes in aerobic power, between group differences were found for "Real Me" scores and for three of Kenyon's attitude scales. Persons who trained frequently and intensively showed improvements for body image and for five of Kenyon's attitude scales.


Attitudes towards health and physical activity in the elderly. Effects of a physical training program. Attitudes towards physical activity, perceived health, body image, anxiety and life satisfaction have been studied in men and women 60 years of age and older, volunteering for progressive endurance training. Relative to other studies of younger volunteers, the senior citizens placed more value upon activity as "an esthetic experience" and as "a means to health and fitness" showing less interest in "the pursuit of vertigo." Many non-participants and "drop-outs" perceived their current fitness as satisfactory. Subjects who selected a low frequency and low intensity of training were obese, with high Cornell Medical Index (CMI) scores on both organic and psychological scales. After 14 weeks of conditioning, 83% of subjects reported improvements in well-being. However, CMI scores were reduced on only one of twelve organic scales and none of the behavior, mood and feeling scales. Neugarten's Life Satisfaction Index, Kenyon's Body Image scales, and McPherson's the Real Me scores remained unchanged, but there was a decrease of Manifest Anxiety (Taylor scale) and a greater regard for physical activity as "the relief of tension." When subjects were classed according to changes in aerobic power, between group differences were found for "Real Me" scores and for three of Kenyon's attitude scales. Persons who trained frequently and intensively showed improvements for body image and for five of Kenyon's attitude scales.


Postcontractile motoneuronal discharge produced by muscle afferent activation. Muscle afferent activity is markedly enhanced following isometric contractions in hindlimb musculature of various vertebrates. Such increased and persistent postcontractile sensory discharge (PCSD) consists for the most part of potentiated firing of muscle spindle primary afferents. To determine if a positive feedback function is served, involving recruitment of homonymous and synergistic motor units, 62 motoneurons were isolated in L7 ventral root filaments, categorized according to their reflex response to triceps surae stretch, and monitored before and after isometric contraction for variations in spike frequency. Motoneurons found reflexly coupled to triceps surae stretch receptors significantly increased (P less than .01) their firing frequency during PCSD. Tonic motoneurons, believed to be primarily of alpha origin, accounted for most of the observations. This latter finding is consistent with known effects of spindle afferent input on motoneuronal recruitment. Functionally, this autogenetic control circuit should enhance "muscle stifness" and stabilize the muscle against minor perturbations.


Degradation of quinoline by a soil bacterium. From garden soil a bacterium was isolated which grew aerobically in mineral salts medium with quinoline as sole C source and NH4+ as N source. During growth with quinoline, 2-hydroxyquinoline accumulated in the culture fluid and later disappeared. Whole cells oxidized 2-hydroxyquinoline, 2,6-dihydroxyquinoline and 2,7,8,-trihydroxyquinoline as rapidly as quinoline and without a lag. Catechol was oxidized more slowly by meta-cleavage but at an increasing rate indicative of adaptation. A number of derivatives of benzene and pyridine were not attacked. Whole cells oxidized 2,7,8,-trihydroxyquinoline to a yellow meta-cleavage product which was not further degraded. The following pathway is proposed: quinoline leads to 2-hydroxyquinoline leads to 2,6-dihydroxyquinoline leads to a trihydroxyquinoline (probably not the 2,7,8-compound, but possibly the 2,5,6-compound).


[Studies of the primary distribution kinetics of n-alkane oxidation products according to morphological components of the yeast cell]. Incorporation of 14C into various classes of lipids localized in the cell walls, large membranes, mitochondria and microsomes of yeast cells was studied during their incubation with 1-14C-octadecane. Cell structures were found to differ considerably by the kinetics and level of accumulation of 14C-components of the lipid fraction. Waxes and triglycerides prevail during primary accumulation of 14C-lipids in the large membranes and cell walls. Synthesis of these compounds is presumed to play an important role in the course of primary transformation of n-octadecane.


[Morphofunctional changes in the mycelium of active and inactive variants of Actinomyces parvullus during growth and biosynthesis of actinomycin D]. The structure and function of the mycelium were studied with active and inactive variants of Actinomyces parvillus producing actinomycin D. Changes in the morphology were found in the hyphae of the active variant during its growth and production of the antibiotic: the cell wall became first thicker in the course of growth and then thinner with aging; the ribosomes aggregated prior to intensive synthesis of actinomycin but disintegrated later into fine-granular regions; electron-trasnparent bodies of irregular shape appeared in the cytoplasm, and their content was liberated into the medium upon lysis of the cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall. These changes were not detected in the mycelium of the inactive variant. The disintegrated mycelium of the active variant was studied by differential ultracentrifugation, and the electron-transparent bodies in the cells were presumed to be of the antibiotic nature. A capsule is formed around the hyphae at the beginning of the antibiotic synthesis, and thickens in the course of growth. Intrahyphal hyphae are very often encountered in the culture. Possible mechanisms protecting cells in unfavourable conditions are discussed.


[Biological productivity of hybrids and strains of yeast cultures of different ploidy]. Ploidy and productivity of yeast strains and hybrids obtained by crossing various industrial races were studied. Biological productivity of yeast cultures increases with ploidy as was found by comparing biological productivity (biomass accumulation) in haploids, diploids, triploids, and tetraploids. Possible factors causing an insignificant decrease in productivity of some tetraploids as compared to triploids are discussed.