Experimental studies on the annual cycles of thyroid and adrenocortical functions in relation to the reproductive cycle of drakes. The annual variations in the basal plasma contents of testosterone, thyroxine and corticosterone have been measured in Peking drakes living outdoors, in Southern France. 10 The plasma testosterone titer underwent a more than 20-fold increase during the vernal reproductive period (March-April). In early June the circulating testosterone fell to near autumnal values, and the testosterone MCR was augmented. These were the first manifestations of the cessation of the vernal reproductive period. 20 The plasma thyroxine levels were minimal in autumn, moderately augmented (40%) in winter (January-March), but exhibited a 3-fold increase in early June. The resulting steep (13-fold) increase of the plasma thyroxine/testosterone ratio preceded the onset of the post-nuptial moult. 30 Modifications of testosterone secretion and clearance rate similar to those occurring in June were initiated in spring by i.m. injections of thyroxine at a dosage (1 mg/d) that induced June-July thyroxine plasma levels. On the other hand, an experimentally induced steep decrease of testosterone (castration) induced enhanced plasma thyroxine concentrations similar to the June values, while an induced (10 mg/d testosterone i.m.) hypertestosteronemia corresponding to the reproductive period depressed the plasma thyroxine levels. Strong reciprocal negative interactions between testis and thyroid might therefore afford a partial explanation of the peculiar thyroxine/testosterone imbalance that occurred in June immediately prior to the moult. 40 Cold-exposed "short-day" (December) ducks exhibited a marked increase in plasma thyroxine levels, while exposure of December ducks to "long days" (18L-6D) at 25 degrees C depressed the thyroxine titers. The inhibitory effect of "long days" on the blood level of thyroxine was further evident in castrated ducks. Exposure of "short day" ducks (December) to a combined treatment by "long days" (18L-6D) and cold (4 degrees C) produced an endocrine picture similar to the January-March pattern, i.e. highly increased testosterone plasma levels, but unaffected testosterone MCR, together with a moderate increase in plasma thyroxine concentration. 50 Corticosterone plasma concentrations increased during the reproductive season, as a result of a seasonally augmented binding-capacity of the CBG. Exogenous testosterone (10 mg/d) which induced spring-like circulating levels of male hormones, caused a similar increase in CBG-bound and total corticosterone levels. 60 In June the MCR of both corticosterone and aldosterone were elevated (as was the testosterone MCR). Similarly enhanced MCR of both corticosteroids were brought on in spring by an exogenous thyroxine treatment, leading to a June-like state of hyperthyroxinemia.


[Regulation of luteal activity by light and temperature in two delayed implantation mammals, the european badger and the pine marten (author's transl)]. Reactivation of the corpus luteum, resumption of embryonic development and ovoimplantation can be obtained experimentally and precociously with corrected manipulation of light and temperature.


[An experimental study of the influence of external factors on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis of Nectophrynoides occidentalis Angel (author's transl)]. We have studied the influence of external factors of the natural habitat on spermatogenesis and metabolisation of testosterone by the testis of N. occidentalis. The factors chosen were: frequency of feeding, atmospheric humidity and day-light ratio. The temperature was constant at 20 degrees C +/- 2. 10 During normal underground life testicular activity was low, but forced feeding and saturated atmospheric humidity induced spermatogenetic activity. The rate of metabolized testosterone was not altered by any factor. 20 During the active period of this species the feeding factor introduced significant modifications to active spermatogenesis and testosterone metabolism. Spermatogenesis of half-starved males was greatly disturbed and the rate of transformed testosterone decreased.


[Reproductive cycle of trout and tench: effect of experimental variations of the temperature (author's transl)]. 10 In the rainbow trout and the tench, at the time of spermatogonia divisions a rise in the plasma gonadotropin levels was observed. Just before or during the spawning period, E217 beta and plasma gonadotropin reach their maximum levels. 20 When the effects of raising the natural cycle temperature of the tench were studied (deltat + 3 degrees C and + 6 degrees C), in conditions where nycthemeral and seasonal rythmicity were maintained, a significant increase in fertility was observed with the increase in temperature (the first spawning period was earlier and there was a rise in the number of spawnings). This effect of temperature seems to act at the level of the hypothalamo-pituitary system.


[Spawning induced by injection of progesterone into the teleost crenimugil labrosus (risso, 1826) in a brackish milieu (author's transl)]. 10 In the euryhaline fish Crenimugil labrosus, complete oocyte maturation does not occur in a brackish milieu. 20 The injection of progesterone induces complete maturation in 30% and 14% salinities, allowing larvae to be formed after artificial fertilization of the eggs. 30 The same result is obtained with hypophysectomized animals: thus the pituitary is not involved in this maturation.


[PaO2 changes during rapid PwO2 changes in 2 teleosts with different biotopes: Salmo gairdnerii and Ictalurus melas (author's transl)]. PaO2 and ventilation measurements in Salmo gairdnerii and Ictalurus melas (brown bullhead) were performed during progressive or step changes of PwO2. 10 In Salmo, out of stress conditions at 15 degrees C, the PaO2--PwO2 curve shows a plateau related to the PwO2 values above adaptation (155 torr). The PaO2 value corresponds to the O2 maximum saturation of the arterial blood. In contrast, in Salmo under stress conditions, PaO2 increases linearly with PwO2. During a hypoxic step change, PaO2 displays a biphasic modification, with a rapid decrease followed by a progressive increase up to the PwO2 value. During an hyperoxic step change, the PaO2 increase is of small amplitude. 20 When Ictalurus is under stress conditions the PaO2-PwO2 curve is almost linear. When out of stress conditions at 15 degrees C and below, the PaO2 oscillates between zero and values close to PwO2 in relation to successive periods of apnoea. During a hypoxic step change, the amplitude of the PaO2 oscillations decreases, the lower values being higher than under normoxic conditions. 30 These experiments show that PaO2 is an important parameter of ventilatory regulation in Salmo, but probably not in Ictalurus.


[Adaptation of trout to seawater. Effects on sodium plasma concentration, gill exchange and intestinal transport]. 10. Trout Salmo irideus are adapted to sea water (S W) within four weeks by submitting them to a stepwise increase in external salinity (successively: 1/3 SW, 1/2 SW, 3/4 SW, full SW). 20. In completely adapted individuals mean plasma electrolyte concentrations vary only slightly (by a few %) from one medium to another. Thus, the trout may be regarded as a euryhaline, eventually homeosmotic species. 30. With increasing outside salinity there is a progressive diminution in the overall gill permeability to ions which is suggested by saturation curves obtained for sodium fluxes (maximum at about 500 muEq/h. 100 g at 15 degrees C, for unshocked fish). 40. Disturbance of the animals provokes a striking elevation and desequilibrium in these exchanges and this in turn induces an abnormal rise in plasma concentrations and a subsequent failure to adapt to hypertonic media. 50. In vitro absorption of water and sodium by intestinal everted-sacs increases only after transfer to full sea water. Mucosal entry of ions into intestinal epithelial cells measured by the technique of Schultz et al. (1967), is diminished in sea water-adapted animal (by 42% in the case of sodium). 60. These results demonstrate that Salmo irideus possesses efficient osmoregulatory mechanisms which operate with minimal energy expenditure in hypertonic media.


[Water balance in the european eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Role of the oesophagus in the utilisation of drinking water and a study of the osmotic permeability of the gills (author's transl)]. 10 New experimental devices are described which allow chonic measurements of drinking rate and osmotic gill permeability in the eel. 20 The oesophagus of the seawater (SW) silver eel plays a role in osmoregulation. It decreases the concentration of Cl- and Na+ of the ingested SW without losing water in the serosal to mucosal direction. This allows for immediate water absorption in the intestine and decreases the quantity of ions actively absorbed by the intestine. In the freshwater (FW) silver eel, the oesophagus is impermeable to water, Cl- and Na+. The ionic impermeability exists only in the serosal to mucosal direction. A mucosal to serosal permeability to Cl- and Na+ exists in the FW oesophagus receiving hypertonic drinking water, this promotes seawater adaptation. 30 The osmotic gill permeability, measured in vivo in the silver eel, is very low in FW and decreases slightly in SW. Thus, the silver eel has an osmotic gill permeability preadapted to SW life. The kinetics of FW to SW adaptation are described.


[Seasonal fluctuations of food intake and bodyweight in the dormouse Glis glis (author's transl)]. Cycles of body weight lasting a few weeks occurred in dormice fed ad libitum, throughout the year with the same food. The pattern of the fluctuations suggests an oscillation between an upper and a lower limit. When the lower limit is reached, compensatory mechanisms acting on the food intake are induced which cause an increase in body weight to the upper one; when this upper limit is reached, other mechanisms cause the body weight to decrease to the lower one. Thus, body weight and variations in food intake may well be controlled by the difference between the body weight and the limit it will reach. In a warm environment (23-25 degrees C) these fluctuations are smaller than in the cold (5-6 degrees C). They are also smaller during summer than during winter in animals placed in natural climatic conditions. In summer, the body weight stays near the upper limit; in this season, as in the warm environment, the lower limit approaches the upper one. Thus, the main circannual variation of body weight regulation in dormice may be the elevation during summer of the lower body weight limit.


[Effect of two rearing conditions on growth and body composition in carp (Cyprinus carpio L) (author's transl)]. A comparative study was made of the growth and of the influence of seasonal changes on nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism of carp kept in batches in natural ponds. 10 Growth is active only in natural ponds. In batches where only industrial dried foods are used, no growth can be measured. 20 Activity of ribonucleic and protein metabolism is correlated with seasonal variations of water temperature in both conditions.


Matched controls in surveys of the use of general practice. Another use for research practice age-sex registers. This paper describes how an age-sex register may be used as a sampling frame for the selection of matched controls in studies of the use of general practice. It discusses both the analysis of data collected in this way and the advantages and limitations of the method itself. The application of the method to a case-study suggests that patients who use hospital accident departments are also high users of general practice. Although care is needed in the interpretation of such results, it is concluded that matched controls can be used to ameliorate some of the problems of research in general practice.


Preventing tetanus in adults in general practice. Tetanus statistics in England and Wales are quoted to show the desirability of widening the population to whom tetanus immunisation is offered. Yhr inclusion of a health educationalist in the general-practitioner team to achieve this is advocated. Methods of obtaining an increased acceptance of immunisation by waiting-room education alone, by waiting-room education with general-practitioner involvement, and by general-practitioner involvement alone were explored and are discussed.


Going to the doctor--attendances by members of 100 families in their first year in a new town. A study of 100 families' first year in a new town has shown that consulting rates are high, especially for psychiatric illness. Some reasons for this are discussed. If mobility has an effect on the health of individuals, with a consequent increase in the workload of general practitioners, then this must be taken into account in planning primary medical care services.


Staff and student perceptions of a student health service. Results of a survey at one English university suggest that, of the various student personnel services provided by that institution, the Student Health Service was the best known and most used by the students. Both students and academic staff attributed greater importance to that particular service than to any other. Ways in which these two groups of university members justified such special provision are presented and discussed.


Some simple improvements in record-keeping in general practice. A method of keeping records in general practice is described which can be easily used on National Health Service forms. The method consists of two tiers i.e. of emphasising diagnoses made by boxing them and by organising the layout of other data.


Revaccination against measles--a pilot study. (1) During the first ten years after primary vaccination with live measles virus vaccine, a slow decline in the level of HAI antibody titres has been demonstrated. The decline after more attenuated vaccines was at the same gradient, but at lower titres.(2) During the same period after primary vaccination by inactivated (; killed ') followed by live - K + L - measles vaccine, a much steeper decline in the level of HAI antibody titres was demonstrated.(3) The GMT may not reach the lowest standard titres for over 40 years after the least attenuated vaccine, and 20-25 years after more attenuated vaccines. After K + L vaccine the GMT may be negative after 15 years or less, but this will depend on the frequency of natural boosting.(4) On revaccination after five to ten years, one out of 20 children (five per cent) who had received live vaccine alone for primary vaccination showed a fourfold or greater rise in titre of HAI antibody, whereas 17 out of 41 children (41%) who had received K + L vaccine showed a significant rise in titre.(5) With either regime, the age at primary vaccination did not appear to influence the rate of boosting after revaccination except perhaps in children under two years.(6) Among those who originally received K + L Vaccine, The Lower The Hai Antibody Titre Before Revaccination And The Longer The Time Since Primary Vaccination, The More Likely Was A Significant Rise In Titre To Occur After Revaccination. All Should Be Revaccinated Within 10-15 Years Of Primary Immunisation.(7) Children whose primary vaccination was by live ;further attenuated' vaccine before the age of two years may need to be revaccinated before they leave school, but this requires further study.(8) A case can be made for using a less attenuated strain of measles virus for revaccination than for primary vaccination.(9) The eventual need for and timing of revaccination against measles should be examined in a larger group of children.


The poor-communicating two-year-old and his family. Two groups of children have been studied. Each group consisted of 21 two-year-olds, who had been matched individually for age, sex and social class, but who had widely differing abilities in both comprehension and expression of language.High-risk families were defined as those in which there was evidence of significant social or emotional deprivation. There was a statistically significant correlation between delayed language development in a two-year-old and evidence of psychosocial deprivation in his family.


Clinical and administrative review in general practice. Clinical and administrative review in primary medical care can be an enjoyable and creative part of group-practice life. A series of such reviews are described which improve internal or external communication for the primary care team.


Telephone messages received by seven general practices. Telephone calls were recorded in seven general practices in Aylesbury in a study of communications received from the hospitals, local health authority (L.H.A.), social services department, and other sources, but excluding calls from patients.Analysis of 855 telephone calls revealed patterns of communication with the staff of the practices which have not previously been recorded. The general practitioners were central in communications from all sources except the local health authority, while calls to health visitors came overwhelmingly from the local health authority. Community nurses received only 36 (four per cent) of all the calls despite the interests expressed by hospital nursing staff in their responses to a postal questionnaire. A hypothesis is advanced to explain this discrepancy between interest and action.


Intra-uterine contraception in general practice. The experience of two general practitioners with 1,041 women attending clinics for intra-uterine contraception is analysed retrospectively. Patients were mainly Health Service patients of the doctors, but some were referred by other general practitioners, by the local authority, and a consultant. Some patients travelled considerable distances. Age varied from 15 to 52 and parity from 0 to 11. The fitting of various devices was usually easy, but patients often complained of symptoms, mostly bleeding, pain, or discharge, the majority of which were amenable to treatment and often were not due to the intra-uterine contraceptive device itself. There was evidence of lowered haemoglobin levels in women using this method for some years.The retrospective analysis shows follow up, always difficult in contraceptive clinics, to be less than desirable. In planning contraceptive programmes more attention should be given to this subject. Pregnancy occurred in 51 cases and there were four cases of cancer of which one died. There was a further unrelated death from subarachnoid haemorrhage.


Vulvovaginitis and vaginal discharge in general practice. Ninety-four patients with vulvovaginitis and vaginal discharge were assessed clinically and had vaginal swabs taken in an effort to establish a definite diagnosis. A high incidence of fungous infection was found while there was a surprisingly low incidence of Trichomonal vaginitis. These findings vary markedly from recent surveys in other countries (Delaha et al. (1964); Gray and Barnes, 1965; Desai et al., 1966).


The effect of different dietary levels of Ca and P on the plasma Ca, inorganic P and Mg as well as the ash, Ca, P and Mg content of cervical vertebrae and total body of sheep. Six 14 month old rams were divided equally into three groups and received either a high Ca (1,102% Ca : 0,192% P : 0,128% Mg), control (0,322% Ca : 0,311=P : 0,128% Mg) or high P (0,127% Ca : 1,043% P: 0,130% Mg) diet in pellected form for 150 days. 2. Dry mass and ash % of the third cervical vertebra decreased as Ca intake decreased while fat % increased. There was a highly significant negative correlation (= -0,992) between bone ash% and bone fat %. Bone P and Mg showed no particular trends. 3. Total body Ca and P as well as % body Ca and P all decreased with a decrease in dietary Ca and increase in dietary P intake. Body Mg showed no particular trend. 4. The results suggest that while plasma values may be useful in assessing the P intake of sheep on natural pastures, bone and total body P may not be.


Pentastomiasis (Armillifer and Linguatula Sp.) infestations of wild animals in the Kruger National Park. Armillifer armillatus, Linguatula serrata and L. nuttalli have each been isolated from nine different mammalian species in the Kruger National Park: lion, Panthera Leo; Leopard, P. pardus; buffalo, Syncerus caffer: blue wildebeest, Connechaetes taurinus; giraffe, Girraffa camelopardalis; kudu, Tragelophus strepsiceros; waterbuck, Kobus ellipsyprymnus; tsessebe, Damaliscus iunatus and impala, Aepyceros melampus. Successful transmission of L. serrata from the lion to a domestic ox and impala is recorded for the first time. Pentastomiasis is also a disease of man and these findings are possibly of epidemiological significance.


Resistance of the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina to insecticides in the Republic of South Africa. Laboratory tests on larvae of nine strains of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, and one of the hairy blowfly, Chrysomia albiceps, taken from the field are reported. Results indicate resistance to arsenic in one strain and to diazinon in the remainder and in Chrysomia albiceps. Field evidence corroborates the presence of resistance in the blowfly maggots to current flystrike insecticides with reduced protection resulting in more frequent treatment.


Arsenic resistance in species of multi-host ticks in the Republic of South Africa and Swaziland. A survey was made in the Republic of South Africa and Swaziland to determine the incidence of arsenic resistance in multi-host ixodid ticks. Arsenic resistant strains were found in the following species:- Rihipicephalus appendiculatus, Rhipicephalus evertsi, Rhipicephalus capensis, Amblyomma hebraeum and a species of Hyalomma, tentatively identified as Hyalomma rufipes. Strains of Haemaphysalis Leachi, Haemaphysalis silacea and Ixodes pilosus were also tested.


Reproductive capacity and longevity of stable flies maintained on different kinds of blood. An investigation was made into some lesser known aspects of the biology of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, in order to find a basis for possible means of natural control of the pest on dairy farms. The reaction of adults to different kinds of blood was tested. Diets investigated were bovine blood alternated with ovine blood, bovine blood alternated with pig's blood, bovine blood alternated with manure filtrate, bovine blood alone, ovine blood alone, pig's blood alone and manure filtrate alone. Adults could not servive on manure filtrate alone. Flies in the other treatments exhibited no marked differences as regards duration of pre-mating-, pre-oviposition- and oviposition periods. There were, however, differences in the number of eggs laid. Females maintained on bovine blood alone produced most eggs i.e. 2,3 times as many as those laid by females fed on pig's blood alone. The latter were the poorest producers. Viability and incubation period of eggs did not appear to be affected by the kind of blood fed to the adults. Flies, however, lived longer when supplied with bovine blood and died sooner when maintained on pig's blood.


Effectivity of Rev 1 vaccine in rams against brucella ovis infection. Vaccination with Rev 1 at four months of age protected rams against experimental infection with Brucella ovis. A double vaccination did not improve immunity whereas rams vaccinated later in life showed a decreased immunity to the infection. Lesions and complement fixation reactions were found to be inadequate criteria for the diagnosis of the disease in the individual ram.


Aspects of forced exercise and the therapy thereof in sheep. Sixteen Merino sheep were subjected to forced exercise after which half were treated with sodium bicarbonate, vitamin B complex, antibiotics and a glucocorticoid. Cardiac rate, rectal temperature and blood were taken from all the animals before, immediately after and again two and five hours after exercise. Exercise resulted in increased cardiac cardiac rate, rectal temperature, plasma levels of glucose, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, potassium, and decreased levels of blood pH, buffer base, bicarbonate, base excess and CO2. Compared with the controls, the therapy increased plasma glucose and blood pH, buffer base, bicarbonate and base excess, while there was a significant decrease in plasma potassium. This latter effect may be important in the therapy of capture myopathy in wild animals as hyperkalaemia may be one of the causes of death in the syndrome.


The capture and translocation of gemsbok Oryx gazella gazella in the Nambi Desert with the aid of fentanyl, etorphine and tranquillizers. Twenty-three gemsbok in the Namib Desert were captured with combinations of fentanyl or etorphine hydrochloride, hyoscine hydrobromide and tranquilizers such as azaperone, SU - 9064, triflupromazine hydrochloride and acetylpromazine maleate. Fentanyl, a New immobilizing compound, proved to be a safe and effective immobilizing drug for capturing gemsbok. The gemsbok were chased on the interdune plains and darted from a Land Rover with the Palmer powder-charge Cap-Chur gun. A six-seater helicopter was used on a trial basis to dart a gemsbok, but it is suggested that a smaller, more manoeuvrable helicopter be used for further operations. All the gemsbok were transported under narcosis from the capture area to an enclosure. Chlorpromazine hydrochloride was injected into the captured gemsbok to sedate them in their new confined environment. Tranquillizers such as chlorpromazine hydrochloride, acetylpromazine maleate and a new tranquillizer SU - 9064 were used to sedate the animals during long distance transportation in crates. This prevented the animals from injuring themselves and damagin the crates. For the first time in South West Africa wild animals were transported by air. A journey by road which under normal circumstances would have taken over 40 hours, was completed in less than 9 hours by utilizing aerial transportation. There were no losses during transportation and only two gemsbok were injured during the translocation operation.


[Activity of serum gonadotropins in pregnant zebras and mares]. Blood was collected from 28 zebra mare (Equus burchellia antiquorum) immediately after being shot in the Kruger National Park. The serum was separated within two hours after collection and then stored at -15 degrees C for later assay. Of these, thirteen selected samples were tested for gonadotrophic activity. The stage of pregnancy was determined from a foetal growth curve. Blood samples from pregnant horse mares were collected by venipuncture. Nine mares were sampled. Seven blood samples at different stages of pregnancy were collected from one mare, four from another and only one sample each from the other seven mares. The stage of pregnancy was calculated from the date of last service. The levels of gonadotrophic activity of the serum samples were estimated through its effect on the weight of mouse ovaries. Five groups of five virgin female white mice were injected subcutaneously with zero, 0,025 ml, 0,075 ml and 0,1 ml of serum per mouse on two successive days and killed by ether inhalation 48 hours after the last injection. The mean weight per overy was determined for each level of every sample injected and a dose: response curve drawn from which the percentage increase in ovarian weight caused by the 2 X 0,05 ml dosage level of each serum sample was estimated. The curves obtained by plotting gonadotrophic activity at various stages of pregnancy for horse and zebra mares are generally similar but differ in certain details. PMS obtained from horses has a greater activity and appears to be secreted over a shorter period of time i.e. it disappeared by the 160th to 180th day of pregnancy. In zebra mares, on the other hand, a relatively lower activity was found during the peak period (65th to 80th days) but it was maintained loger and was still detectable at 229 days but absent at 365 days after conception.


The resistance of a field strain of Haemonchus contortus to five benzimidazole anthelmintics in current use. Using artificially infected sheep, the response of a laboratory strain of Haemonchus contortus, which had not been subjected to anthelmintics for three years, was compared with that exhibited by a parbendazole resistant field strain following treatment with each of seven anthelmintics, the laboratory strain proved fully susceptable to thiabendazole, parbendazole, cambendazole, mebendazole, fenbandazole, levamisole and haloxon, in contrast to the field strain which showed a moderate to marked resistance to all five benzimidazoles, but was fully susceptible to levamisole and haloxon.


Sex therapy and mastectomy.

Sex therapy and mastectomy. Because the emotional trauma associated with a mastectomy exceeds the physical trauma, the recovery of the woman is greatly affected by the response of her husband or lover. Sex therapy, therefore, involves the couple. The approach described here is aimed at assisting the couple to confront and intergrate the mastectomy experience. The use of a prosthesis is discouraged during intercourse because it delays such confrontation; certain sex therapy exercises (body imagery and sensate focus) are usually recommended because they facilitate confrontation and acceptance. These, modified for the circumstances, are described. It is suggested that intercourse be attempted as early as possible, and that if physical weakness or psychological trepidation intervenes, the physical desire and caring of the husband be expressed nonetheless. The "professional" attitudes that psychotherapy is always indicated for mastectomy patients and that the proper role of the husband is matter-of-fact denial are rejected; emphasis is placed on the beneficial consequences of sharing of all emotions.


Sexual counseling with spinal cord-injured clients. Spinal cord-injured clients have many fears and misapprehension about their sexual functioning. Common beliefs include: (a) disabled men cannot sexually satisfy able-bodied women; and (b) cord-injured persons cannot have sexual intercourse. Such misapprehensions can be helped by the counselor's willingness to discuss sexual issues openly. Clients need a clear and accurate picture of the facts, as well as encouragement and support to help them rediscover their sexuality. Spinal cord injury does not mean sexual incapacity. Given a knowing and patient partner, most clients can enjoy a satisfying sex life.


The sexual information examination.

The sexual information examination. A physical examination utilized as part of a program designed for the short-term treatment of couples with sexual dysfunction is described. This technique is known as the "Sexual Information Examination." Its usefulness in the treatment of sexual dysfunction and education of couples as a part of sexual counseling is discussed.


Cellular compartmentation of brain metabolism and its functional significance. This paper reviews work from our laboratory on the metabolism and interrelations of isolated neuronal and neuropil fractions. The cell preparations are evaluated according to criteria of yield, purity, and integrity. Differences in the levels of activity of six groups of enzymes, of glucose metabolism, amino-acid metabolism, transmitter metabolism, acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, and carbonic anhydrase have been followed, and neuronal and glial marker enzymes are proposed. Lysosomes and their enzymes are concentrated in neuronal perikarya. Metabolically, although no major differences in glucose oxidation have been found, there is considerable evidence of compartmentation of amino acids and their metabolism. At short times after injection of 3H-lysine as precursor in vivo, neuronal incorporation is high as compared with neuropil; at longer times the ratio is reversed, and we interpret this as evidence for the presence of a rapidly labeling protein fraction present in the neuromal perikarya but subsequently transported out. Neuronal protein incorporation is suppressed in the visual but not the motor cortex of dark-reared rats and is switched on following exposure to light; there is evidence that the suppressed fraction of neuronal protein synthesis includes the rapidly labeling component. A model for neuronal-glial metabolic interaction and its state-dependence in response to changes in the organism's environment and behavior is sketched out.


Localization and response of the 14-3-2 brain protein. The 14-3-2 acidic protein specific for nerve tissue has been localized to bands 4 and 5 counted from the anodal front band in a polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretic pattern. The material consisted of cut-out layers of pyramidal nerve cells of the CA3 hippocampal region of the rat. Extracted protein samples were subjected to immunoprecipitation, Coons' double-layer immunofluorescence, microcomplement fixation, and a localization experiment using microdensitometry on a 400 muphi gel electrophoresis pattern with and without extra added 14-3-2 protein. The protein fractions 4 and 5, now shown to contain 14-3-2 protein, have recently been found to incorporate increased precursors at training as compared to controls.


The lipid composition of isolated brain cells and axons. The current status of the published work on the lipid composition of isolated brain cells is reviewed and some new work on the sphingolipids of these cells is presented. In spite of considerable differences in isolation techniques between different groups, the lipid analyses of different cell preparations are similar enough to permit several generalizations. This fact is an encouraging sign that cell separation methods have considerable usefulness in defining the composition of normal brain cells. It is a general finding that astrocytes have more lipid than neuronal perikarya but that the gross lipid composition of these two cell types is surprisingly similar. Oligodendroglial lipids are quite different from those of the other two cell types and are characterized by a high galactolipid content. Although such a lipid pattern might be expected in oligodendroglia, which are myelin-forming cells, axonal lipids have an even higher galactolipid content. In an effort to find more cell-specific patterns, the glycosphingolipids were examined in more detail. Differences were seen in the distribution and fatty-acid patterns of these minor lipids in neurons and astrocytes, although it may be premature to conclude that these differences will prove to be cell-specific. All of the isolated cells were found to contain galactosylceramide, sulfatide, glucosylceramide, dihexosylceramide, and gangliosides. The distribution of these lipids in the normal cells was found to differ considerably from that reported in cultured neuroblastoma cells or astrocytoma cells. Not only were gangliosides present in all cells but the ganglioside patterns of neurons and astrocytes were nearly identical. The fatty-acid patterns of the neuronal and astroglial sphingolipids generally do not resemble each other, and both are quite different from those found in oligodendroglia and axons. However, the fatty-acid composition of the sphingolipids from bovine oligodendroglia and from axons are similar and resemble those of myelin lipids. The fatty acids of glucosylceramide and dihexosylceramide are similar in all three cell types. They have rather large amounts of 16:0 and acids longer than C18; thus they are considerably different from the ganglioside fatty acids (which have mostly 15:0) isolated from the same fractions.


Alterations of central nervous system protein synthesis in response to spinal cord hemisection. This investigation explores the central nervous system protein-synthetic responses to hemisection of the spinal cord. Adult male rats hemisected at mid T2 were given intravenous injections of 14C-leucine at 0.7, 30, or 70 days postoperative. Four hours later the T1, T2, T3, and C6 segments of the spinal cord and right and left samples of somatomotor and occipital cortex were removed, weighed, and frozen. These samples were later homogenized and subjected to trichloroacetic acid (TCA) separations. Protein-synthetic activity was expressed as the ratio of the specific activity of the TCA precipitable proteins to the specific activity of the TCA free amino acid pool. In the spinal cord samples protein-synthetic activity was greater than in controls at 7 and 30 days postoperative in the T2 segment and at 30 days postoperative in the C6 and T3 segments. In the cortical samples protein-synthetic activity was greater than in controls in the right and left somatomotor cortex at 30 days postoperative, while it was less than in controls in the left somatomotor cortex at 70 days postoperative. Thus, T2 hemisection leads to initial increases and subsequent decreases in protein-synthetic activity in both spinal cord and somatomotor cortex. These results are discussed in terms of possible regenerative neural reactions occurring in the central nervous system following spinal cord injury.


The effect of the chronic administration of D-amphetamine upon circadian changes in amino acids in the pineal and pituitary glands of the rat. The formation of dansyl derivatives of amino acids, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and histamine, and their separation on polyamide plates provided a reliable and sensitive method for studying circadian changes in single pineal and pituitary glands of the rat. There appears to be no correlation between the circadian changes in concentrations of these substances in the pineal and pituitary glands. Chronically administered D-amphetamine altered the circadian rhythms of five amino acids in the pituitary, including the putative transmitters taurine, glycine, and glutamate; in the pineal gland only the rhythmical changes of lysine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were affected.


Differences in occipital cortical synapses from environmentally enriched, impoverished, and standard colony rats. Initial and replication experiments were studied with littermate, S1, male rats 25-55 days of age placed in enriched (EC), standard colony (SC), and impoverished (IC) environments. Measurements of the length of postsynaptic thickenings were taken from asymmetrical axodendritic synapses in layer IV of the dorsal medial occipital cortex. This experiment differed from others of this nature, for animals from both experimental conditions were compared with the standard colony animals. The 8% (p less than 0.01) difference in postsynaptic thickening length between 675 synapses from EC and 680 synapses from IC was primarily due to the IC, as can be seen by comparing both with the SC. The number of synapses per unit area of neuropil was 15% (p less than 0.01) more in the IC than in the EC and this difference was primarily due to impoverishment. Both the original and the replication experiment verified this direction of change. Thus, environmental experience does significantly affect synaptic length and number, although the large magnitude previously reported by Mphillgaard et al. (1971) was not confirmed in the present experiments. The 7% cortical depth difference between the enriched and impoverished animals was seen to be attributed to both conditions when each was compared with the standard colony rats. The plasticity of synaptic dimensions is discussed in relation to our previous work and to work of others.


Somatic evoked response components and recovery functions in subjects with mu and alpha rhythms. Subjects with prominent rolandic mu and alpha rhythms showed similar late somatic evoked response (SER) components but different SER recovery functions. A late P5x component was present when SER were superimposed on mu and alpha rhythms spontaneously recorded from the rolandic region of inattentive individuals. Since P5x was not present in other inattentive subjects unless SER were superimposed on a rhythmic rolandic activity evoked by an attentive situation, it seems reasonable to assume that the P5x component is partially due to spontaneous or evoked rolandic EEG rhythmicity. In addition, single propioceptive stimuli produced blocking of mu rhythm and a flat recovery function of the P5a component. In contrast, similar stimuli produced an enhancement of alpha rhythm and a periodic amplitude modulation curve of the P5a component. These results suggest that the P5a component is mediated by the same neurophysiological mechanisms which block or modulate the spontaneous rolandic EEG rhythms.


Six-month follow-up in weanling rats with ventromedial and dorsomedial hypothalamic lesions: somatic, endocrine, and metabolic changes. Thus far both the weanling rat ventromedial and dorsomedial syndrome have been investigated in only two and three-week studies. The present data are derived from a six-month study. Food intake and body weight and length changes were recorded weekly or bi-weekly and endocrine and metabolic parameters were assessed at sacrifice. Rats that had received ventromedial hypothalamic lesions shortly after weaning showed all the changes noted in previous short-term studies, i.e. normal body weight gains and food intake but increased carcass fat content. In addition, they manifested a slight hyperglycemia, normal free fatty acid levels and slowingdown of lipogenesis. Rats that had received dorsomedial lesions shortly after weaning also showed changes previously reported in short-term experiments. These include reduced ponderal and linear growth and food intake, but normal carcass composition and growth hormone levels. In addition, they showed a slight improvement of hypophagia with time, and at sacrifice hypoglycemia and low free fatty acid levels. Incorporation of glucose into fat pad glycogen and CO2 was decreased. In diaphragm, glucose incorporation was increased in both total lipid and fatty acids. The data demonstrate that both hypothalamic syndromes change with time, but not necessarily in a progressive manner. They also show that destruction of two so closely appositioned hypothalamic structures brings about entirely different and, in some parameters, opposite changes.


Disseminated histoplasmosis due to histoplasma capsulatum in two Nigerian children. Two cases of disseminated histoplasmosis caused by H. capsulatum in Nigerian children are reported. This is a rare infection in this part of the world. The main clinical features were fever, weight loss, lassitude, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly and severe anaemia, features indistinguishable from those of tuberculosis, Hodgkins and other reticuloses. Recognition of this infection in this environment is possible if it is considered in the differential diagnosis of pyrexia of undetermined origin and appropriate laboratory tests carried out on suitable specimens such as bone marrow, splenic aspirate or biopsy material. Treatment of choice is amphotericin B given intravenously, starting with 0-25 mg/kg. and increasing slowly to 1 mg/kg. Other useful drugs are Septrin and rifampicin which can be given concurrently. Subcutaneous abscesses and multiple bone lesions occurred in both our cases presumably as a result of blood stream infection, or embolisation from endocarditis.


Changes in the tissues of the immune system in dengue haemorrhagic fever. A total of 100 post-mortems were done on patients clinically diagnosed as dengue haemorrhagic fever from Rangoon Children's Hospital. Histopathological changes in bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and other associated tissues of the immune system were  analysed and correlated with the clinical picture and serology results. The major changes in cases with a positive serology result for secondary dengue infection consist of hypoplasia of the bone marrow, acute atrophy and wasting of the thymus, atrophy and depletion of cells in the periarterial lymphatic sheaths of the spleen and the paracortical areas of the lymph nodes. The tissues affected are the thymus-dependent areas of the spleen and lymph nodes, and the thymus itself. Thymus-independent areas of the secondary lymphatic tissues are also affected but to a lesser extent. The pathological observations suggest that immunodepression may be an integral part of the pathophysiology of dengue haemorrhagic fever.


Electrocardiographic abnormalities in leptospirosis. Electrocardiographic abnormalities occurred in 46 per cent of cases uith leptospirosis. Although the individual changes noted do not appear to be of importance, they indicate that sub-clinical cardiac involvement does occur in a significant proportion of the patients. The abnormalities observed include disorders in cardiac rhythm and changes in the P-QRS-T complexes, probably resulting from direct myocardial involvement or from a  changing milieu interior. While serial tracings are indicated in patients with acute renal failure of the oliguric variety, repeated tracings may detect more definitely changing patterns which indicate the presence of cardiac involvement in patients with other presentations of the disease.


A simple method for the cultivation of rat liver cells. A simple method to culture rat liver parenchymal cells is described. Minced liver tissues were dissociated with no pre-perfusion by a newly developed enzyme, bacterial neutral proteinase, and cultured in the medium consisting of 10% fetal calf serum and 90% of a new synthetic medium, DM-153. By the adequate technique of primary dissociation and first subcultivation, parenchymal cells were selected. Cultivation in arginine-free medium was also useful in selecting them. The cultured cells exhibited activities of certain enzymes similar to those of liver cells in vivo. Cell strains have been successively established from liver tissues of embryo, suckling and adult rats. Liver cells, however, cultured in this way, can also be used for experiments in the early stage of serial cultivation.


Evaluation of the circumoval precipitin test using dried blood on filter paper as a diagnostic tool in epidemiological survey for schistosomiasis. The suitability of the circumoval precipitin (COP) test in a field survey for schistosomiasis in the rural area using dried blood samples on filter paper was evaluated with reference to the stool examination by the merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde concentration (MIFC) technique. Both blood and stool samples were collected simultaneously among over 600 inhabitants of two schistosomiasis endemic communities (barrios) of Palo, Leyte, Philippines. The method of collecting blood samples on filter paper, the procedure for COP test and its sensitivity in detecting schistosomiasis cases are described. Blood sampling from finger prick was acceptable to both adults and children so that blood samples were readily obtained while the collection of stool samples required repeated visits to the homes. A significantly higher percentage of schistosomiasis positives were obtained by COP test than by stool examination. The COP test results were comparable to the stool examination results on the following aspects: 1) highest infection rate in the 10-19 age group and lowest infection rate in the 60 years old and above; 2) positive rates for schistosomiasis did not differ significantly between the two barrios and 3) no family accumulation of the disease in the two communities was observed in this survey in 1972. The stability of the antibody in filter paper, the reliability of the test and the simple and rapid procedures involved make this filter paper method of COP test very practical and suitable for schistosomiasis survey in rural areas.


Action of bacterial neutral protease on the dispersion of mammalian cells in tissue culture. The effect of a bacterial neutral protease on cultured cells was examined with special reference to its activity on the detachment of cells from glass surface, dissociation into single cells and to the inhibitory effect on cell proliferation. Fibroblasts of strains L-929 and CHO-K1, and epithelial cells of strains HeLa-S3, JTC-16 and RLC-10(2) were employed. Fibroblasts were detached and dissociated when this protease was added to MEM supplemented with fetal bovine serum. The epithelial cells were detached but were scarcely dissociated. Kinetic data were obtained concerning the dispersing characteristics of this bacterial neutral protease together with a few aspects on the difference between epithelial cells and fibroblasts in the nature of cell to cell, and cell to substrate interactions.


Effect of carbon tetrachloride on experimental Tyzzer's disease of mice. Experimental Tyzzer's disease in weanling mice was enhanced by CCl4 treatment made 1 hr after intravenous infection at doses more than 0.5 ml/kg body weight. Such effect of CCl4 was demonstrated also when the drug was given 4 days before but not when given 2 days after infection. Later than 4 days of infection significant difference was seen between CCl4-treated and non-treated groups in body weight loss, production of hepatic lesions and bacterial growth in the liver. In mice infected after CCl4 administration, necrotic foci and intracellular organisms appeared mostly at the intermediate rather than the central zone of hepatic acini, while CCl4 is known to damage selectively the latter. The results suggested that enhanced bacterial growth might depend upon activated and proliferating hepatocytes at the intermediate acinar zone during a restoration process occurring after CCl4 damage at the centrilobular zone.


Some clinical and immunological aspects on contracted kidney in cats. With four clinical cases of contracted kidney in cats, granular to linear depositions of IgG and beta1C were demonstrated mainly in the capillary walls and mesangium of the glomeruli by means of immunofluorescence technique. The tubular basement membrane was also positive for cat IgG. These findings indicated that some immunological mechanisms might have been involved in the feline advanced renal lesions, as suggested in human cases. However, attempts were failed to detect some pathogenic agents for cats by immunofluorescence studies.


Drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Induction of macrolide resistance by erythromycin, oleandomycin and their derivatives. Antibacterial and inducer activities concerning inducible macrolide resistance in Staphylococcus aureus were investigated using 32 erythromycin, oleandomycin and other macrolide antibiotic derivatives and analogues. The macrolides were classified into five groups from very high to none according to their inducer activity.


Effect of light on nonphotosynthetic microorganisms. II. Photochromogenicity in genus Streptomyces. The effect of light on the pigmentation of various strains belonging to the genus Streptomyces was investigated. It was revealed that six species of streptomycetes, S. massaporeus, S. phaeopurpureus, S. chibaensis, S. salmonicida, S. fluvissimus and S. longispororuber, were photochromogenic, i.e., these strains can be photoinduced to synthesize pigments. On the basis of these results, pigmentation in Streptomyces is discussed.


Obstructive jaundice secondary to pancreatic pseudocyst. A case of obstructive jaundice resulting from the compression of the common bile duct by a pancreatic pseudocyst is reported, which is of rare occurrence. Total excision of the cyst and choledochojejunostomy were performed. Postoperative course was uneventful with rapid disappearance of jaundice. Nine out of ten cases of pancreatic pseudocyst were treated by total excision with one death during 1951 through 1974.


Carcinoma of the cystic duct: case report. A case of carcinoma of the cystic duct is presented and comprehensive review of the literature was provided. Since no characteristic clinical signs are present, the diagnosis can only be made incidentally at the time of laparotomy for non-visualizing gallbladder. Even then histological study of the resected specimen is mandatory. In our present case after the confirmation of the diagnosis the second look exploration was done. However, careful examination of the bile duct system failed to find evidence of carcinomatous involvement suggesting that carcinoma found in the cystic duct was of a primary and not a secondary invasion. The present case constitutes the nineteenth case which meets completely the criteria proposed by Farrar. Since the only hope or cure lies with the early diagnosis of the disease, early exploratory laparotomy and prophylactic removal of nonfunctioning or calculous gallbladder are recommended.


Prediction of prognosis in open-heart-surgery by regional difference in leg surface temperature. Change of the surface temperature of the leg during open-heart-surgery was determined in five patients, in whom either side of the femoral artery was ligated for cannulation. While the surface temperature at the patella was least influenced, that at the ankle paralleled closely the changes in the core body temperature and blood supply to the leg. Their difference (P-A difference) was studied to see if they can be used to predict prognosis of patients undergoing open-heart surgery. The P-A difference was followed for several hours after the open-heart surgery. It was marked positive when the surface temperature at the patella was higher than that at the ankle. Total of 54 patients were studied. Only one out of 29 patients with negative P-A difference succumbed. This is in sharp contrast to the 25 remaining patients with positive P-A difference, from whom as many as 12 died. In addition, the postoperative course of the 13 survivors from the latter group was more eventful. Since P-A difference seemed to indicate accurately cardiac output by reflecting the state of the peripheral circulation, it can be used as a useful parameter in prediction of the prognosis in open-heart surgery.


Modified radical mastectomy with preservation of the pectoralis major muscle. A new technique of modified radical mastectomy for early breast cancer was devised with an express purpose of preserving pectoralis major muscle but still enabling radical removal of the regional lymphnodes. The pectoralis major muscle was transected at its midportion to expose the thoracic wall for radical dissection of axillar and subclavicular lymphnodes followed by resuturing of the muscle to preserve its continuity. The parasternal nodes can also be dissected if necessary. The pectoralis minor muscle is either resected or preserved. This procedure should be applied mainly in T1N0 and T1N1a (Stage I in the TNM staging system) which seems recently to be increasing rapidly in number and for which the radical mastectomy with resection of pectoralis major muscle is thought to be too excessive. The procedure proposed in the present communication offers advantage not only in functional but also cosmetic aspect by preserving the pectoralis major muscle while the radicality of the operation is retained. Although the number of cases thus treated is limited and the long-term follow up with survival rate is not yet available, the procedure seems to be of considerable value in selected patients.


Metabolic changes in surface-induced deep hypothermia combined with cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery. Surface induced deep hypothermia combined with cardiopulmonary bypass (combined method) is excellent in open heart surgery of infants which combines each advantage of cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia. The present study was performed to investigate pathophysiological changes, especially metabolic changes, in combined method induced by two stressors such as cardiopulmonary bypass and hypothermia. In general, metabolic changes during hypothermia are temporarily enhanced immediately after the start of cardiopulmonary bypass. Lactacidemia and metabolic acidosis are rapidly improved after the start of perfusion rewarming, but abnormality of ceruloplasmin and cholesterol metabolism in the liver and hypopotassemia are not rapidly improved. Therefore, the treatment for these metabolic abnormalities seems to be necessary during and after the procedure.


Use of revascularized jejunum as a free graft for cervical esophagus. The recent advent of the small vessel suturing apparatus made possible the use of free intestinal segment for reconstruction of the resected cervical esophagus which has been one of the most difficult procedures. In the present communication, successful use of revascularized jejunal segment with Inokuchi's vascular stapler in 13 cases of upper esophageal cancer was reported. Histological examination of the 10 resected specimens revealed that cancer invasion beyond the esophageal adventitia as well as risky cancer remnant at the resected margins were more frequently present when the tumor extended more than 5 cm longitudinally. Therefore esophageal cancer localized within the neck and extending less than 5 cm may well be indicated for the free intestinal transplantation. Details of the operative technique are described.


[Effect of phentanyl on the hemodynamics]. The effect of Fentanyl upon the main haemodynamic parameters was studied in 10 patients free of any concomitant cardiac or pulmonary pathology. The drug was administered in a dosage of 0.001 mg/kg with a stable ventilational and circulatory level. A decrease of all indices of arterial pressure was observed (as a result of decreasing minute cardiac output and total peripheral resistance), as well as a slowing down of the cardiac rhythm, and reduction of the work of the heart. Fentanyl produces a multidirectional effect on the leading mechanisms of cardiac contractility.


[Combination of the Valsalva's maneuver with rheography for the evaluation of contactility of the right section of the heart in lung diseases]. The authors modified the Valsalva test by employing a strictly staged dosed loading with the help of a water manometer for recording rheopneumogrammes in normal individuals and in pulmonary patients. In the absence of clinical signs of cardiac pathology this method permitted to reveal latent disorders in the contractility of the right heart and its reserve capacity. The shifts in the rheographic data of the patients differed significantly from those obtained in the normals. The obtained data indicate that the intrathoracic pressure plays a certain role in the development of pulmonary hypertension. The authors recommend the staged dose Valsalva test as a technically simple and easily available method not only for revealing the latent weakness of the right ventricle, but also for a study of the central and pulmonary hemodynamics during this excercise test.


[Surgical treatment of aneurysm of the abdominal aorta and its branches]. A total of 168 patients with aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and of its branches were examined, 117 of them were operated on. The leading method of surgery for abdominal aorta aneurysms consists in a resection of the aneurysm and its subsequent prosthetic repair. The choice of the operative technique for the aneurysms of the visceral branches and renal arteries depends on the localization and size of the aneurysm, on the importance of the diseased vessel in the blood supply to the digestive organs, as well as the organ which blood supply is impaired. The improvement of the operative technique and of the postoperative care of patients with abdominal aorta aneurysms helped to decrease the number of postoperative complications and the mortality in the recent years. Further improvement of the results of surgery for aneurysms of the abdominal aorta and its branches requires timely hospitalization of such patients in specialized vascular departments and further perfection of the operative technique.


[Physiopathological shifts in the blood coagulation system in embolism of major arteries of the limbs]. An examination of 51 patients with embolism of the major arteries of the extremities demonstrated that embolism accompanied by an ascending or descending thrombosis was characterized by a more significant increase of blood coagulation, fibrinase and antiplasmin level, and an enhancement of erythrocytes aggregation, than embolism without protracted thrombosis. A correlation was observed between the nature of the pathologic process (presence of protracted thrombosis, increased erythrocytes aggregation) and the degree of ischaemia in the diseased extremity. At the same time, no correlation was found between the pathologic process and the duration of the disease history.


[Isolated corrected transpostion of great vessels]. Isolated corrected transposition of the major vessels is a rare congenital pathology that may have an asymptomatic course. In some cases the patients develop some symptoms of cardiac pathology due to the disorders in the atrioventricular conductivity and the development of "mitral" insufficiency. The disturbances in the atrioventricular conductivity and in the cardiac rhythm may be provoked in such patients by intercurrent diseases due to intoxication, and the development of "mitral" insufficiency is brought about by the peculiarities of the structure of the arterial morphologically right ventricle working under functional tension. The diagnosis of an isolated corrected transposition of the major vessels is based on the data of electrocardiography and X-ray. The final diagnosis is made after heart catheterization and angiocardiography.


[Certain clinico-morphological aspects of microcirculation in partients with chronic nonspecific pneumonia and chronic cor pulmonale]. Clinical and morphological studies conducted in chronic non-specific pneumonias and chronic cor pulmonale have demonstrated that these lesions are accompanied by important disorders in the system of microcirculation that manifest themselves in alterations in the rheologic properites of the blood, and in a generalized deterioration of the vascular terminals in the lungs and pleura that are due to the chronic inflammatory process, hypoxia, haemodynamic disorders, and that result in a diffuse intravascular thrombosis. The disturbances in free blood circulation in the microcirculatory system entail significant metabolic shifts that determine the severity of the disease, its progressive course, and lethal result. The increasing intravascular blood clotting in the postcapillary and venular portions of the microcirculatory system, along with a partial reduction of the capillary link, results in an exclusion of a certain portion of the peripheral vascular bed from the circulation process, thus favouring the progress of pulmonary hypertension. Distinct impairment of the coagulation properties of the blood in the microcirculation system in cases of chronic nonspecific pneumonias, stage II-III, and in chronic cor pulmonale require a timely correction thereof, and support the suggestion of the authors as to the inclusion of anticoagulants into the complex of the rapeutic measures for this category of patients.


[Characteristics of the development of arteriosclerosis of the aorta and coronary arteries in patients with cancer of different organs]. A morphometric study of atherosclerotic lesions of the vessels was conducted in males dying of cancer of the stomach and lungs, and in females dying of cancer of the stomach, lungs, uterus, breast and ovaries. In total, 918 observations were studied, the age of the deceased ranging from 30 to 79 years. The severity of the atherosclerotic lesions in the vessels of those who died of malignant tumors was compared to that in normal individuals. The material was compiled and examined in accordance with the program and method developed by WHO expertpathologists (Uemura et al.). In those who died of cancer of the stomach, uterus and breast the severity of coronary atherosclerosis was much milder than in the normals; however, no important differences were revealed between these groups as to the severity of atherosclerosis of the aorta. In lung cancer in males and in ovarian cancer in females under 50 years of age a distinct enhancement of the atherosclerotic process in the aorta was observed, and less-in the coronaries. In females dying of lung cancer the severity of atherosclerosis of the aorta was the same as in the normals, and in the coronaries - even milder.


[Changes in hemodynamics in patients with chronic alcholism]. The indices of total hamodynamics were studied in 52 patients with chronic alcoholism and without any clear signs of cardiac pathology and with normal arterial pressure. When examined at rest in a supine position they exhibited normal values of the cardiac and stroke index, peripheral vascular resistance, circulating blood volume and hematocrit. Along with the increasing period of alcohol abuse the cardiac index gets somewhat decreased, indicating a decreasing contractile capacity of the myocardium. This is further supported by the changing structure of the phases of the systole: prolongation of the phase of isometric contraction, of the tension phase, the tension index, reduction of the intrasystolic index and of the speed of intraventricular pressure increase. The orthostatic test revealed certain disorders in the regulation of the cardiovascular system in an upright position which manifested themselves in a more distinct, than in normal individuals, reduction of the cardiac and stroke indices, and in a more significant growth of cardiac contractions rate and peripheral vascular resistance. The latter indicates an increased mobilization of the sympathoadrenal system in an orthostatic position.


[Effect of allergic damage on plastic metabolism of the myocardium in rabbits]. The plastic metabolism of the myocardium in rabbits was studied after varying periods of allergic damage induced by repeated injections of normal horse serum. An accelerated decompostion of the myofibril proteins was demomstrated to occur during the acute phase. During the reparation phase, an activation of the protein synthesis in the myocardium occurred. The newly synthesized myofibril proteins had a longer turnover in the tissues, than under normal conditions. The turnover time of the mitochondrial proteins did not differ from the normal one.


[Certain characteristics of myocardial metabolism in long-term experimental hypotension and the effect of administration of adenosine triphosphate and fructose 1,6-diphosphate]. Several indices of energy exchange and protein-amino acid metabolism in the myocardium were studied experimentally in dogs subjected to long-term hypotension (Wiggers' technique, arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg for 3 hours). It was established that by the end of the fixed period of hypotension the myocardial content of adenosine triphosphate, creatinephosphate, glycogen decreased significantly, while the amount of nonorganic phosphorus, lactic and pyruvic acids increased. At the same time the content of watersoluble protein fraction and of most of the 18 identified amino asids decreases in the cardiac muscle. Fractionated intravenous injections of adenosine triphosphate or 1,6-diphosphate fructose permitted to prevent the development of energy deficit, and, to a great extent, that of protein-amino acid metabolism disorders in dogs subjected to long-term hypotension.


[Changes of ECG and arterial pressure at different periods of deep hypothermia during heart surgery in young children]. The changes in ECG and arterial pressure were analysed during "simple" deep hypothermia and radical surgery in 52 children with various congenital heart diseases. A comparatively high senitivity of the myocardium to mechanical trauma under body temperatures below 28 degrees C (especially below 25 degrees C) indicates the rationale of conducting all the intrathoracic manipulations, performed prior to the exclusion of the heart from the circulation, under superficial hypothermia. The necessity of fixation of epicardial electrodes is supported by the usefulness of electric stimulation immediately prior to surgery in case the signs of atrioventricular block persist when the body temperature reaches 29 degrees C at rewarming.


[Correspondence of diastolic fall of pressure in the pulmonary artery to exponent and its use for calculation of hemodynamic resistance of the lesser]. In accordance with the principles of theoretical hemodynamics it is established that the diastolic fall of the pulmonary artery pressure corresponds to the exponent both in normals, and in patients with the main types of pathology. Having determined the time constant of the process by the duration of the diastolic fall of the pressure, it is possible to calculate the total hemodynamic resistance of the pulmonary circulation system. Such a calculation is simpler and more correct than the commonly used one - by the mean pressure gradient in the pulmonary artery and in the left atrium. The determinations of the catheterization data in 82 patients and the contol calculations of the total pulmonary resistance in 65 other patients support the correctness of these assumptions.