Localization of primate calls by old world monkeys. Monkeys (Macaca) were trained by operant conditioning techniques to report the minimum detectable change in location of a sound in space, and were tested with a series of recorded coo or clear call vocalizations. Acuity of localization varied from approximately 4 degrees to 15 degrees and was a function of the magnitude of the change in pitch (frequency modulation) of the different clear calls.


Gentamicin-resistant gram-negative bacilli in hospital patients. Part I. Preliminary epidemiological assessment. Gentamicin-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (GRNB) have been isolated from specimens received from 23 hospitals in and around Johannesburg. Most isolates are fermentative in nature. A pilot survey among inpatients at the Johannesburg Hospital revealed an intestinal carriage prevalence of 14,3%. A prospective study of intestinal acquisition showed that GRNB are acquired in hospital, and that colonization is associated with prior antibacterial therapy. Analysis of clinical specimens received from the Johannesburg Hospital from 1 July to 30 September 1976 has indicated that intensive care and urology units are worst affected. An assessment of the overall prevalence of GRNB in October 1976 revealed that 16,1% of all Gram-negative bacilli were resistant to gentamicin. Major contributing factors are the widespread use of systemic aminoglycoside antibiotics, and a high rate of cross-contamination. Measures aimed at minimizing these factors have been introduced by the Johannesburg Hospital administration.


Bacillus cereus endocarditis. A case report. Bacillus cereus may cause infective problems in compromised patients. No previous record of infective endocarditis due to this organism could be found. A 51-year-old White woman with B. cereus endocarditis after prosthetic mitral valve replacement is described. The problems of interpreting the significance of B. cereus bacteraemia, delayed diagnosis, and the inherent resistance of the organism are discussed.


Immunohistochemical characterization of Burkitt's lymphoma. Cytoplasmic immunoglobulins and muramidase (lysozyme) were demonstrated in formalin-fixed tissues by an immunoperoxidase procedure in 3 cases of Burkitt's lymphoma. The Burkitt cells were strongly positive with the full panel of monospecific antisera against human immunoglobulin components (kappa and lambda light chains, gamma, alpha and micron heavy chains). The 'starry-sky' macrophages were weakly positive with antimuramidase antiserum and strongly positive with the antisera against immunoglobulins, thus demonstrating their phagocytic and histiocytic nature. The reasons for the polyclonal increase in immunoglobulins are discussed.


[Results of the postoperative treatment of breast cancer by bienergetic electron pendulous therapy (author's transl)]. The data of 456 patients with breast cancer are reported and the results of the postoperative treatment by bienergetic electron pendulous therapy are discussed. Besides the favourable survival rate, the little side effects and the relatively low rate of recurrences are stressed.


[Changes of the depth dose curve in case of 42 MeV photon irradiation through a plexiglass plate of 3 cm (author's transl)]. The authors give curves for the photon radiation of a 42 MeV betatron valid for different field sizes with a distance focus-surface of 120 cm. These curves allow to calculate the dose of the central ray for an irradiation in the compression chamber "Oxyfulm".


[The problem of malignant degeneration in case of multiple neurofibromatosis (author's transl)]. Within less than one year, our hospital received three cases of malignant manifestation in case of multiple neurofibromatosis. If the histological findings and the neurogenic origin of the malignant tumor are evaluated very critically, the malignant suppression of the differentiation of one or more neurofibromas in case of multiple neurofibromatosis must be considered as occuring very rarely. If in case of a neurofibromatosis a malignant manifestation is found, it has to be examined very carefully by tissue specimens of numerous spots (Loehr and Willebrand), furthermore the neurogenic origin must be ensured (Zuelch). There are three clinical possibilities: 1. Sarcomatous degeneration of a neurofibroma with demonstrable neurogenic origin. 2. Histological appearence of a malignant suppression of the differntiation of a neurofibroma with benign clinical course. 3. Independent sarcoma as second disease without original connection to an existing multiple neurofibromatosis.--A critical evaluation of our cases showed that there was only one case of malignant tumor with neurogenic origin, namely a neurofibrosarcoma originating from a multiple neurofibromatosis.


Androgen metabolism in the rhesus monkey. A mixture of 3H-testosteron (T) and 14C-4-androstene-3, 17-dione (A) was injected intravenously into 2 (I and II) rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). A third monkey (III) was injected with 3H-T only. Urine and bile samples were collected at intervals for 6 hours following the injection. The excretion, conjugation and aglycone metabolites of the steroids injected were studied using these samples. Of the injected dose, animal I (male) excreted 32% 3H and 23% 14C in the bile and 30% 3H and 21% 14C in the urine in 6 hours. Animal II (female), however, had a comparatively higher biliary excretion (66% 3H, 40% 14 C), but a urinary excretion (18% 3H, 13% 14C) comparable to that of animals I and III. The averages in the bile of the 3 animals were: unconjugated compounds 3%, glucosiduronates 78%, sulfates 9%, sulfoglucosiduronates 5% and disulfates 3%; and in urine, 5% unconjugated, 92% glucosiduronates and 3% sulfates. The aglycones obtained following hydrolysis were separated gy chromatography on Lipidex 5000, further purified by thin layer and paper chromatography and identified by co-crystallization. The major matabolites from 3H-T were androsterone and 5beta-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, whereas that from 14C-A was androsterone. Other metabolites identified were: etiocholanolone (3beta-hydroxy-5-beta-androstan-17-one); T, epitestosterone (epi-T), (17alpha-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one); epiandrosterone (3-beta-hydroxy-5alpha-androstan-17-one) and 5alpha-androstane-3alpha, 17beta-diol. The results indicate that while androgen metabolism in the rhesus monkey is similar to that of the baboon and human in conjugate and metabolite formation, the rate of excretion was significantly different, resembline more closely that of the baboon than the human.


Post partum patterns of circulating FSH, LH, prolactin, estradiol, and progesterone in nonsuckling cynomolgus monkeys. Circulating levels of FSH, LH, prolactin (Prl), estradiol (E), and progesterone (P) were determined by RIA in four intact and four monkeys luteectomized (CLX) at parturition in order to a) characterize the patterns of these hormones during the puerperium, and b) examine a possible inhibitory role of the "rejuvenated" corpus luteum (CL) on the resumption of follicle growth post partum. In both groups during the first four weeks, FSH and LH were at tonic levels typical of ovulatory cycles. Recurrent puerperal "surges" of FSH, but not LH, unaccompanied by increments in serum E, were observed in both intact and CLX monkeys. No consistent pattern of serum Prl  was apparent. CLX was followed by a prompt fall in serum P levels, which were elevated above typical follicular phase levels into the second week post partum in intact monkeys. Menstrual cycles resumed 2-4 months after delivery. Hormonal patterns during the first menstrual cycle post partum were indistinguishable from those observed in pregravidic ovulatory cycles. The findings indicate that in nonsuckling cynomolgus monkeys a) although it secretes progesterone, the puerperal CL does not inhibit the resumption of the ovarian cycle post partum, b) the puerperal ovary is not absolutely refractory to gonadotropins, since initial trials with Pergonal + hCG stimulated ovarian function, and c) ovarian activity during the puerperium may be limited by factors other than the tonic supply of gonadotropins.


Comparative responses of the carotid and vertebral arterial systems of rhesus monkeys to betahistine. A newly developed photoelectric method was used in 5 rhesus monkeys to measure the mean transit time of blood through the carotid and vertebral arteries, together with measurement of the blood flow through the tissues of the fronto-parietal area supplied by the carotid artery and of the cerebellar tonsil supplied by the vertebral artery. Following intravenous administration of betahistine mesylate, a histamine analog, the mean transit times of blood through the 2 arteries were equally shortened by 10%, despite a 20% decrease in the mean arterial blood pressure (P less than 0.05). The cerebral tissue and cerebellar tissue blood flow was increased by betahistine, from 70.4 to 81.4 ml/100g/min and from 73.2 to 84.0 ml/100g/min, respectively. Since histamine has been reported to produce a decrease in cardiac output, the increase in cerebral blood flow confirmed that betahistine is a selective cerebral vasodilating agent. However, by comparing the hemodynamic data for the two cerebral arterial systems, it can be concluded that the responses of the carotid and vertebral arterial systems to the vasodilating action of betahistine were essentially the same in extent.


Experimental regional cerebral ischemia in the middle cerebral artery territory in primates. Part 3: effects on brain water and electrolytes in the late phase of acute MCA stroke. Experimental regional cerebral ischemia was produced in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory in primates (M. mulatta) by macrosphere embolization. Determinations of percentage tissue dry weight and tissue sodium and potassium concentrations were obtained in samples from the ischemic and non-ischemic hemispheres at various time from 12 to 48 hours after the onset of cerebral ischemia. Samples from the cortex normally supplied by the occluded MCA showed maximal accumulation of edema fluid with fluxes in sodium and potassium in reciprocal directions at 12 hours and similar edematous changes in putamen at 24 hours after embolization By 48 hours after MCA occlusion and despite the presence of infarction, partial reversal was observed in the redistribution of water and electrolytes in these gray matter structures. In contrast to cerebral cortex and putamen, the adjacent subcortical white matter showed progressive increases in water content from 12 to 48 hours and definite increases in tissue sodium with decreases in potassium were not observed until 48 hours after MCA occlusion. This late severe white matter edema associated with cerebral infarction appears to be a major factor responsible for the hemispheric swelling observed at this state.


Detection of antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus arc 5 antigens by double diffusion test. This report deals with an evaluation of a double diffusion (DD5) test which employs a control antiserum against Echinococcus granulosus arc 5 antigens to recognize arc 5-positive sera by a reaction of identity. The DD5 test was more sensitive than the immuno-electrophoresis (IEP5) test based on the same positivity criterion and was equally specific for the immunodiagnosis of human hydatidosis. Its greater simplicity suggest its application as a substitute for the IEP5 test in diagnosis, particularly areas. The application of both DD5 and latex agglutination tests is recommended for hydatid immunodiagnosis on the basis of the present findings.


Response of Erythrocebus patas monkeys to experimental infection with the orbivirus Orungo virus. The response of Erythrocebus patas monkeys experimentally inoculated by the intravenous and subcutaneous routes with Orungo virus (family Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus) was studied with reference to development of clinical signs, circulation of virus and antibody response. None of the animals showed clinical disease nor did they circulate virus. However, all the animals developed complement fixing (CF), neutralizing (N) and agar gel (AG) precipitating antibodies between day seven and day 14 post infection (p.i.). The CF antibodies appeared earlier and lasted for a longer period than did the N antibodies. The presence of transient 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) sensitive CF antibodies was demonstrated in sera collected between day seven and day 14 p.i. The significance of these findings in the interpretation of serological surveys in man for Orungo virus antibody is discussed.


Water supply and nutritional status in rural northern Nigeria. A high incidence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) was found in a community survey of preschool children in rural northern Nigeria among whom gastro-enteritis is common. Wasting (less than 80% Weight/Height) was more common (37.9%) among those with scanty, unprotected water supplies than in those with copious protected water (10.2%) whereas the incidence of stunting (less than 90% Height/Age)) was similar. Severe coliform contaminatin of all water sources was demonstrable. Even higher numbers of coliforms in foods sampled suggests that other factors related to water supply may be more important than water purity in the genesis of the PEM/gastro-enteritis complex.


Post-mortem diagnosis of chronic Chagas's disease comparative evaluation of three serological tests on pericardial fluid. In an attempt to improve the post-mortem diagnosis of Chagas's disease the authors performed haemagglutination tests (HAT), fluorescent Trypanosoma cruzi antibody tests (FAT), and complement fixation tests (CFT) on the pericardial fluid obtained at autopsy of 50 individuals with Chagas's heart disease, and 93 patients in whom this disease was not thought to be present. The results demonstrate that all three tests are efficient for the post-mortem diagnosis of Chagas's disease but suggest that their combined use would detect more cases than would one isolated reaction only.


Congenital Chagas's disease in an urban population: investigation of infected twins. In the Nordeste de Amaralina suburb of Salvador Bahia, Brazil, 47 of 285 pregnant women surveyed had complement fixing antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi. At delivery T. cruzi was detected in one of 17 placentas from the sero-positive women. The offspring of this case were premature twins and T. cruzi was detected in the peripheral blood of each before death. At autopsy the gastro-intestinal tract and urinary bladder of both were severely affected. Immunofluorescence tests on cord sera, including the single case with T. cruzi in the placenta, were negative for IgM antibodies to T. cruzi. The mother of the infected twins and three of her living children, who were born and have resided in the city, were also infected with T. cruzi. Although the children had visited an area endemic for Chagas's disease for short periods, the mode of transmission in this family may have been transplacental. The value of the immunofluorescence test in the diagnosis of congenital Chagas's disease is discussed.


Schistosoma mansoni in the Kenyan baboon (Papio anubis): the development and predictability of resistance to homologous challenge. Groups of baboons were exposed to primary infections of either 500 or 2,000 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae per baboon (c.p.b.). Five from each infection level and five uninfected baboons were challenged with 2,500 c.p.b. at one of four intervals of time after primary infection and killed ten weeks later, together with unchallenged appropriate primary infection controls. Primary faecal egg excretion was related to the cercarial dose, showing some systematic fluctuations during the 78 weeks of the experiment. Challenge infections increased faecal egg excretion in certain cases only. Faecal and tissue egg production were usually suppressed in the challenge worms. In contrast to less heavily infected, challenge-control baboons bearing primary infections, the challenged baboons had minimal gross pathology and there were no deaths due to acute schistosomiasis from the challenge infection. Over-all resistance to reinfection was low and unrelated to the age or intensity of the primary infections. However, seven baboons yielded less than 50% of the expected challenge worms. An in vitro assay, measuring anti-schistosomula antibody and peripheral leucocyte cytotoxic activity, successfully identified the in vivo immune status at thetime of challenge of 14/18 baboons tested. The in vivo significance of the immunological mechanism upon which the test is based is discussed in relation to possible future baboon and human studies.


Breath hydrogen concentrations after oral lactose and lactulose in tropical malabsorption and adult hypolactasia. Thirty-six hospital in-patients in London had breath-hydrogen concentrations measured after 50 g lactose were given orally; in 23 or them serial blood glucose concentrations were also estimated. Eight had tropical malabsorption (TM), 14 were Europeans with no detectable disease (normal group) and 14 who also had no detectable disease, were from ethnic groups known to have a very high incidence of genetically determined adult hypolactasia (hl). In 21 of them breath-hydrogen concentrations were also measured after 33.5 g of lactulose were given orally. There was a good inverse correlation between breath-hydrogen production and blood-glucose rise after lactose. Correlations between the first appearance of hydrogen (T) and the area under the hydrogen curve between 0 and 120 min (A) were inversely significant both for lactose and lactulose. Mean T was earlier and mean A greater for lactose compared with lactulose. Correlation between individual values for A after lactase and after lactulose was significant. Indirect measurements of lactase are of no value in either detecting or assessing the severity of TM; that is largely due to the very high incidence of HL in individuals exposed to that disease.


Antibodies to Sarcocystis in Malaysians. Sera from 243 donors belonging to the four main ethnic groups in West Malaysia (Orang Asli, Malays, Chinese and Indians) were tested, using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique for the prevalence of antibodies to Sarcocystis. Almost 20% reacted positively at dilutions of 1:64 or higher and eight among the Orang Asli and Malays gave the highest titres of 1:256. Prevalence was highest in the Orang Asli and lowest in Chinese. 22 sera also reacted positively to Toxoplasma, whether due to polyparasitism or cross-reaction is, as yet, unknown.


Evaluation of endomyocardial biopsy in the diagnosis of cardiac rejection. A study using bioptome samples of formalin-fixed tissue. The reliability of endomyocardial bioptome samples in detecting cardiac rejection was assessed in 26 formalin-fixed previously transplanted hearts. Thirteen human donor hearts (mean postoperative survival 128 days) and 13 baboon donor hearts (mean survival 16.5 days) were studied. Twenty samples were taken under direct vision from the endomyocardium of each heart with an Olympus bioptome catheter. A total of 397 tissue samples was examined "blindly" histologically (177 human and 220 baboon). The bioptome samples were assigned a histological rejection score and then compared with the score accorded multiple tissue sections from the same heart. Sample scores agreed with tissue section scores as follows: humans 86% (samples showed more severe alterations in 5% and less severe in 9%) and baboons 57% (samples more severe in 40% and less severe in 3%). Only 2 false-negative samples were encountered among 285 tissue samples from hearts showing rejection. Changes of rejection were equally distributed between the left and right ventricles. Endomyocardial sampling proved an accurate means of detecting the presence of rejection. In the baboon hearts the endomyocardium tended to show more severe changes than the rest of the myocardium.


Radiotherapy of seminoma of the testis. Report on 129 patients. From 1958 to 1974, 129 patients with pure seminoma of the testis were admitted to the Institute of Radiology, University of Florence. Sixty-two were in Stage I, 36 in Stage II A, 23 in Stage II B, 3 in Stage III, and 5 in Stage IV, Para-aortic and ipsilateral iliac nodes were treated in all cases with doses ranging from 3000 to 4200 rads. In the treatment of the supradiaphragmatic area, uniform criteria were not adopted. Out of 124 cases in Stage I, II A and B, and III, 17 suffered a replase; aall relapsed cases died except for one. Site and cause of the failures were analyzed. Prophylactic irradiation of the mediastinum and supraclavicular area appears to lower the probability of recurrence in Stage II. Doses over 3500 rads may be necessary to destroy large metastases. The presence of nonseminomatous areas in the seminoma showing inadequate regression after radiotherapy must be suspected; an exploratory laparotomy should be indicated in such a case.


Interactions of helium, oxygen, and nitrous oxide affecting bacterial growth. Helium at pressures of 20 to 70 atm in the presence of air found to stimulate growth of Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, mainly by increasing the rate of exponential growth. However, at these same pressures, helium potentiated the growth-inhibitory actions of oxygen and nitrous oxide (N2O). Oxygen was found to act essentially as an anesthetic gas in inhibiting growth of S. faecalis; its potency was approximately the same as that of N2O, and it acted additively in combination with N2O to inhibit the streptococcus. Oxygen proved to be more potent than N2O in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, and each gas potentiated the action of the other. Oxygen sensitivity was correlated with N2O sensitivity. Overall, our findings indicate that bacterial growth inhibition by anesthetic gases does not accurately reflect narcotic action.


Congenital bladder diverticula in adult twins. We present two cases of apparent congenital bladder diverticula in adult twins associated with progressive hearing loss.


[Mechanical jaundice in extrahepatic portal hypertension]. The authors consider the tactics of the treatment of mechanical jaundice in 9 patients suffering from an extrahepatic form of portal hypertension. The analysis of the results of the treatment proved that in case of pronounced bilirubinemia with colangitis manifestations and hepatic insufficiency it is indicated to use external controlled drainage of the thoracic lymphatic duct and transhepatic external drainage of the intrahepatic duct. The applied tactics allows to avoid carrying out emergent surgical interventions on extrahepatic bile passages, which is extremely dangerous, and to perform such operations when necessary only, under more favourable conditions after an adequate preparation of patients.


[Choledochotomy in emergency surgery on the extrahepatic biliary tracts]. Choledochotomy in urgent operations for acute cholecystitis has been carried out upon 255 patients. Indications for the dissection of the common bile duct in acute cholecystitis are considered. Methods of completion of choledochotomy are discussed. According to the authors' data in the most of the patients the external drainage of the common bile duct was done. Immediate and late results of this operation happened to be worse than those following choledochal blind suture or biliodigestive anastomosis (choledochoduodenostomy). On this basis it is recommended to restrict the use of the external drainage.


[Helminthiases in newly established large-capacity breeding stations for cattle]. Invasions of gastrointestinal nematodes proved to be the most frequent helminthiases in new-established large-capacity herds of cattle according to the results of parasitary examinations of cattle in one locality in the Tachov district. The nematodes, especially Oesophagostomum spp., Haemonchus contortus, Cooperia spp., Trichostrongylus spp., occurred in animals of all age categories. The Ostertagia spp., Chabertia ovina, Nematodirus spp., Bunostomum phlebotomum and Trishuris spp. participated in the invasions to a smaller extent. The first eggs can already be found in three months old calves. Strongyloidosis can be diagnosed in the first month of age in calves [5%], the incidence rate increasing up to the age of five months, then it begins to decrease. Taenasis was found out in six months old calves [4.4% and11.6%]. Reclamations of pastures reduced the incidence of fasciolosis to the minimum rate; its invasions were heavy before establishing the large-capacity herds of cattle. Dictyocaulosis was not found in the large-capacity herds of cattle at all, due to the same reasons. Not only were nematode eggs proved, but also larvae to develop to the stages capable of invasion [Chabertia ovina, Haemonchus contortus, Oesophagostomum spp., Strongyloides papillosus] in dry excrements on railings of pens,  on slatted floors and walls of the calf-sheds that were investigated.


[Passage of endogenous urea into a jejunum of sheep]. The quantitative passage of urea-N and ammonia N into an isolated jejunum of the merino sheep was studied within one hour before, and 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours after feeding. The total amount of ammonia-N  that passes to the isolated jejunum [to both proximal and distal part] within an hour is small [0.28-0.35 mg h-1],  without any significant differences in passage prior to and after feeding. However, urea-N secretion is high, especially secretion to the fore part of the jejunum [ 3.35-3.62 mg h-1]. The passage of urea-N to the rear part of the jejunum is about 1/3 lower than passage to the fore part. Urea solution of higher concentration than in peripheral blood was incubated in the isolated jejunum to study an adverse phenomenon: absorption of urea from intestinal lumen to the blood. The levels of urea in peripheralblood and in incubate reached a balance state within one hour after administration. The data obtained testify to the permeability of the wall of the gut for urea in both directions.


[Absorption of amino acids from the perfused ovine rumen]. The experiments with extracoroporeal perfusion of sheep rumen were performed [Leng et al., 1977]. Bovine plasma, diluted in a 1:1ratio with an isotonic solution of sodium chloride, was used for four perfusions, and autologous blood was used for two perfusions in the course of 150 minutes. After 60 minutes perfusion 20 g enzymatic casein hydrolyzate were applied to the rumen. The levels of free amino acids in the perfusate were recorded after 60 minutes' perfusion [the first phase of perfusion] and at the end of the experiment [the second phase]. The levels of lysine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid increased after perfusions with bovine plasma during the first phase, the levels of glutamic acid, phenylalanine, and in one case of alanine, increased after perfusions with autologus blood. Simultaneously the level of valine decreased after perfusions with bovine plasma, and after perfusions with blood the levels of arginine and valine, and/or lysine, dropped. During the second phase of perfusion, the levels of all the observed amino acids except methionine [bovine plasma], and/or orginine and methionine [blood] rose in the perfusate. The experiments showed that the level of amino acids in the rumen content presented a decisive factor affecting amino acid absorption from the rumen into the blood. Transformation of the amino acids during their  passage through the remen wall may be assumed, and glutamic acid is one of the chief products of this process.


[Utilization of the halothane test in the detection of the malignant hypertension syndrome [MHS] in pigs]. By the halothane test we determined the development of the syndrome of malignant hyperthermia in pigs of the Belgian Landrace breed with body weight of 20 kg. We found that from 27 animals that were subjected to the test 12 positively reacted to Narcotan - Spofa anaesthesis. Pigs with the syndrome of malignant hyperthermia had considerably higher rectal temperature after anaesthesis, lower PH of venose blood, higher concentration of lactic acid and glucosis in the blood plasma. Halothane-negative animals did not produce and conspicuous changes of these indices. Most differences were statisticaly highly significant.


[Comparison of the sensitivity of the passive, indirect hemagglutination reaction and the latex fixation test in the demonstration of the migratory phase of experimental ascariasis (Ascaris suum) in swine]. The authoresses verified diagnostic sensitivity of two serological tests -passive indirect hemagglutination [IHA] reaction modified by the authoresses and latex-fixation test [LFT] when proving the post-invasion migratory phase of ascariasis [Ascaris suum] in experimentally infected swine. The IHA reaction was found to be more sensitive than the LFT in most cases [62.2%] by two to three values of the geometric series. The invasion can be detected by the IHA reaction from 7th to 120th day and by the LFT from 7th to 49th day after invasion.


[Microbiological examination of fresh and stored procusts of cold cuisine]. In four out of five investigated kinds of products it was proved that most fresh samples met the microbiological requirements of Czechoslovak State Standard CSN 58 3601 and it is even feasible to consider a stricter approach to the evaluation of the total number of microbes [CPM] to 10(5) per g and in the number of coliform microbes to 10(3) per g. On contrary the amount of yeast in most fresh samples [62%-100%] exceeded the permitted limit and reached the value of about 10(4) per g. The comparison of the results of the investigation of fresh and stored samples indicates that from the eight groups or kinds of microorganisms under study the highest rate of reproduction was in yeast. In the other microorganisms the increase was not so great nor did it occur. No pathogenous microorganisms of salmonella were determined by the orientation method, and staphylococci was proved by direct cultivation in just one kind of product.


[Distribution of the rabies virus in the central nervous system of naturally infected foxes]. Quantitative distribution of rabies virus and the character of immunofluorescence in various parts of the central nervous system [CNS] and salivary glands were investigated in 21 naturally infected foxes. A mean death period was recorded in mice infected with the virus obtained from various parts of the CNS and salivary glands of the investigated foxes. The highest average titer of the virus was found out in the salivary glands - 4.46 log MLD50 per 0.03 ml i. c. The average titer was 2.30 log in the cornu ammonis, 1.99 log in the lobus olifactorius, 1.80 log in the spinal cord of the sacro-lumbar region, 1.73 log in the cortex, 1.71 log in the medulla oblongata, and 1.64 log in the cerebellum. The highest intensity of specific fluorscence was recorded in the thalamus, lobus piriformis, and cornu ammonis. In these regions, numerous round fluorescent inclusion bodies similar to Babes-Negri bodies occurred. Babes-Negri bodies in the cornu ammonis of foxes were proved in 81% of cases. Mice infected with the virus obtained from the salivary glands showed the shortest mean death period - 12.2 days and from the  cornu ammonis it was 14.6 days. In virus infection from the other parts of the CNS the mean death period ranged from 16.0 to 17.4 days.


[Dermatomycosis of the nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) caused by the dermatophyte trichophyton mentagrophytes]. The authors described a dermal lesion in seven antelopes of the species Boselaphus tragocamelus (Pallas 1776), kept in a zoo-park. Mycological examination revealed the dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes (Robin) Blanchard 1896 as the causative agent of the lesion. The clinical picture of the dermatophytosis was manifested by a non-inflammatory desquamation of the epidermis with focal hair shedding. The lesions, mostly localized on the heads of the animals affected, were successfully treated with local antimycotics and by oral administration of griseofulvin. The authors present a list of the species of Artiodactyla in which Trichophyton mentagrophytes has been found until the present time. They draw attention to the fact that in wild animals the dermatophyte mostly causes symptomless disease.


[The levels of various mineral substances in the blood plasma of bovine fetuses and their mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy]. The levels of total calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and chlorides in the blood plasma, and the osmolality of the plasma, were determined in bovine foetuses (n = 20) and the dams (n = 20) in the third trimester of gravidity. The cows of the Bohemian Spotted breed were 2.5 to 7 years old. The foetuses were taken from the uterus by the Caesarean section with local anaesthesia. The foetuses were of both sexes (nfemale = 12, n male = 8). Only the level of total calcium and inorganic phosphorus in the blood plasma was much higher in the foetuses than in the dams and this difference was highly significant. The levels of other minerals showed no statistically significant differences in the two categories of animals tested. The osmolality of the blood plasma of the foetuses was almost the same as in the cows. The higher calcaemia and phosphoraemia of the foetuses ensues from the function of osteotrophic minerals in the process of quick growth and ossification in the third trimester of intrauterine life. The closeness of the levels of sodium, potassium and chlorides as well as the very similar osmolality of the blood plasma in the foetuses and the dams prove the "stability" of the dynamic balance of these parameters between the foetus and the dam in the internal environment of the womb.


[Occurrence of coccidiosis in calves at one to six months of age, which are housed in a large capacity barn]. One- to six-month-old calves, housed in the large-capacity calf house of the Nová Bystrice state farm in the district of Jindrichův Hradec were studied for the occurrence of coccidia in the period from January 1974 to April 1975. The coccidia found in these animals included nine species of the genus Eimeria: E. zuernii, E. bovis, E. ellipsoidalis, E. subspherica, E. auburnensis. The species E. alabamensis, E. cylindrica, E. wyomingensis and E. bukidnonensis occurred just sporadically. Further, the findings included oocysts of Isopora spp. The oocysts of the coccidia E. wyomingensis and Isopora spp. were found for the first time in Czechoslovakia. The overall extensity of invasion (EI) and intensity of invasion (II) grow with age as follows: (chart: see text) The results suggest that even modern large-capacity calf houses are not free from invasion by coccidia; the calves in the house under study were invaded by ten species. Transition to vegetable feeding is accompanied by a marked rise of the EI of all the species of coccidia found in the animals.


[Isolation of ochratoxin A in fodder barley]. The authors describe the finding and identification of ochratoxin A in fodder barley of Czechoslovak produce. The fungus Penicillium verrucosum var. verrucosum, which is an ample producer of ochratoxin A, was isolated from a sample of barley. The isolated fungus was cultivated on several substrates at different temperatures and the production of ochratoxin A was studied during cultivation. The authors believe that the ochratoxicoses of farm animals may also occur in Czechoslovakia and that it would be useful to study this mycotoxin in selected feeds.


[Occurrence of aflatoxins in pig feed].

[Occurrence of aflatoxins in pig feed]. Sixty-seven pig feed samples were examined for the presence of aflatoxins by the method after Velasco, with simultaneous qualitative determination by the thin-layer chromatographic method. All samples were collected at about the same time (June 1977) from central stores, feed preparing plants, storage containers and feeding lines on farms. On the whole, the feeds formed a representative sample of the conditions of pig feed storage and treatment. The presence of aflatoxins was proved in 18 samples (26.8%). One sample (1.4%) showed just traces of aflatoxin, six samples (8.4%) contained 0.014 to 0.45 mg aflatoxins, eight samples (11.2%) contained 0.10 to 0.30 mg aflatoxins, and three samples (4.2%) had 2.7 to 3.5 mg aflatoxins per 1 kg of feed. The samples with the highest aflatoxin concentrations came from metallic storage containers for complete feed mixtures in front of the pigsties.


Ultrastructural changes in beta-cells of pancreatic islets in alpha-amanitin-poisoned mice. In mice poisoned by alpha-amanitin nuclear changes typical of this toxin were observed in beta-cells of pancreatic islets. The lesions became progressively more severe and at 48 h after toxin injection some cells were necrotic. The damage to these cells could have implications in the changes in glycogen metabolism which occur after alpha-aminitin poisoning.


Alterations of intercellular junctions in acinic cell carcinoma of the canine pancreas. Intercellular junctions in spontaneous canine pancreatic acinic cell adenocarcinomas were compared to those in control canine pancreas. The neoplastic cells displayed proliferation and fragmentation of tight junctions and reduction in size and number of gap junctions. Marked decrease in desmosomal density was observed only in the poorly differentiated carcinoma. In the well differentiated carcinomas a few of the desmosomes were characteristic of those found in squamous cells. No quantatitive or qualitative differences in cell junctions were noted between primary and metastatic tumor.


Long term effects of myochrysine in articular cartilage. Intra-articularly administered sodium aurothiomalate (Myochrysine) produced aurosomes containing characteristic electron dense contents (indicating the presence of gold), in the chondrocytes of rabbit articular cartilage. At first the aurosomes were bounded by a membrane but later the electron dense contents were seen lying free in the cytoplasmic matrix. Such deposits were detectable up to 14 months after injection of Myochrysine but none were found at later time intervals (18 months and 2 years). There was a reduction in the population of superficial chondrocytes (Zone I) while those in deeper zones (Zones II and III) showed an increased content of intracytoplasmic filaments. It is thought that these are regressive or degenerative changes produced by gold.


Electron microscopic morphometric analysis of human T and B peripheral blood lymphocytes. Using the system of morphometric analysis described in this paper, human peripheral blood T and B lymphocytes, labeled with specific surface markers, can be compared on different analytical levels. They show differences in their surface and the eccentricity of cells, in the relative surfaces occupied by peripheral and central condensed chromatin, in the average surface of the central chromatin clumps and in the number of perichromatin granules per nuclear surface. The morphometric analysis reveals the importance of examining the nuclear and the surface parameters in the characterization of lymphocytes, confirming that a detailed analysis of the nuclear characteristics can contribute to the identification of T and B lymphocytes by transmission electron microscopy.


Intermediate-sized filaments in leukemia cells. Electron microscopic studies on human acute leukemias have shown that leukemic populations contain spherical and polarized cells in various proportions. As recorded by time-lapse cinematography, the two cell configurations represent different functional states: resting cells are completely spherical, locomotive cells are polarized with a conspicuous extension posteriorly. In 9 out of 12 cases of acute myeloid leukemia the two cell configurations were found to coincide with a different pattern of intermediate-sized filaments (ISF). Most spherical myeloblasts possessed large bundles of ISF (a minority had small bundles), whereas polarized myeloblasts showed small groups or single filaments. A similar correlation between cell shape and arrangement of ISF was observed in a transplantable undifferentiated rat leukemia. Two concepts can be distinguished with regard to the role of fibrillar structures in leukemic myeloblasts: thick bundles of ISF either represent a pathological state or have a functional significance. A tentative interpretation of our own results provides some arguments in favor of a disaggregation-reaggregation cycle of thick ISF bundles, whereas a pathological ("end stage") nature of these structures appears less likely.


Scanning electron microscopy of cloned astrocytic lines derived from ethylnitrosourea-induced rat gliomas. Six cloned astrocytoma cell lines derived from four ethylnitrosourea-induced F-344 rat gliomas were viewed by scanning electron microscopy in vitro, and two were examined in vivo after transplantation to the intracerebral site. All clones consisted of stellate cells that were reasonably homogeneous within individual glioma lines. Cell membrane features common to all tumor lines included microvilli, blebs, ruffles, and miniridges, mainly confined to perikarya, and filopodia emanating chiefly from cell processes. One cell line demonstrated a profuse, and another cell line a moderate, degree of microvillous development and cell surface roughening, which in one tumor correlated with rapid in vitro cell doubling time. Both cell lines maintained these topographical appearances when transplanted into brain. These results extend the SEM observations of astrocytomas, particularly in cloned ethylnitrosourea-induced tumors in rats. The confirm that distinct variations in cell membrane topography do occur among tumors of this type, probably irrespective of their origin in humans or rats, and irrespective of their mode of genesis as spontaneous, chemically-induced, or virally-induced tumors.


Epidermal cell kinetics in the nude mouse. The epidermal cell kinetics in nude mice is investigated by determining the mitotic rate and the mitotic count, the H3Tdr labelling index, and the proportion of basal cells in the different cell cycle phases by flow cytometry. The mitotic duration was calculated. The parameter values of the epidermal cell kinetics of the nude mouse are largely similar to those of the hairless mouse.


Pitfalls in the sensitivity of HBsAg detection. A number of 1800 serum samples from apparently healthy subjects were tested by immunodiffusion (ID) and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) with a view to confirming the presence of HBsAg; results were uncertain in 21% of the cases. The enzyme immunoassay (ELISA kits) used to elucidate these uncertain reactions showed half of them to be negative. About 3% of the remaining sera, HBsAg-positive by ELISA, were positive by ID, but constantly negative by repeated CIE tests. Some possible explanations are suggested and the implications of such pitfalls in the interpretation of sero-epidemiological analyses are discussed.


Further data on the Pta antigen.

Further data on the Pta antigen. The second Pt(a+) family is described. Pta is shown to segregate independently from several genetic markers.


[Treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis by continuous venous infusion of small insulin doses]. The authors treated 60 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis by continuous venous drop insulin infusion with 8 U every hour during the first six hours and after the sixth hour--20 U every three hours. Rehydration was performed with physiological serum in case of glycemia over 200 mg% and with 5% glucose serum in glycemia under 200 mg%. The patients were led out of ketoacidosis in approximately 9 hours and 36 minutes, the blood sugar diminution being slow and gradual, without hypoglycemic incidence. The average total insulin dose used was 72 U. The authors recommend that method for the practice with a view to its simplicity, safety and high effectiveness.


Type-specific and non-type-specific reactions of purified M protein preparations. M proteins of type 1 and type 12 Streptococcus pyogenes were extracted by means of phage-associated lysin and purified by ion-exchange chromatography on CM and DEAE cellulose. Molecular weight distributions were studied by gel chromatography on Biogel A 0.5 m in a 6 molar urea solution and by SDS electrophresis. Serological activities were studied by the complement-fixation reaction and immunodiffusion and were compared with the estimated molecular weights. Type-specific and non-specific activity was found to be located on the same polypeptide chain of a size of 2 X 10(4) daltons (type 1) and 1.5 X 10(4) daltons (type 12). These serologically active chains are in preparations purified by chromatographic methods accompanied by polypeptides of different sizes which are held together by noncovalent bonds thus forming molecules above 4 X 10(4) daltons.


The pattern of sporulation in Anabaena circinalis and comments on the role of heterocysts in sporulation in blue-green algae. Cells between two intercalary heterocysts differentiate at random into spores in A. circinalis. One or more cells, which fail to transform into spores, are present between the two adjacent spores, and these cells disorganize later. A critical C:N ratio regulates sporulation and heterocyst formation. During sporulation the reductive ability of the heterocyst gradually diminishes. It is concluded on the basis of this and other evidence that sporulation is regulated by interactions between heterocysts and vegative cells which are manifested in diverse patterns in different species of blue-green algae.


Genetics of the idiotype of strain AKR antibodies to group A streptococcal carbohydrate; further evidence for a low degree of homology in the VH chromosomal region. A new VH gene is described which governs the expression of idiotypes associated with the antibody response of strain AKR mice to Group A streptococcal carbohydrate (A-CHO). This VH gene, termed ACHd, is identified using guinea pig antisera to a pool of strain AKR antibodies to A-CHO. The genetic polymorphism  is revealed by quantitative differences in idiotype expression between different inbred strains. In recombinant inbred strains linkage to the Ig-1d allotype allele of strain AKR is demonstrated. In a putative recombinant strain it appears that ACHd maps at a locus different from that of A5A+, another VH gene controlling idiotypes of anti-A-CHO antibodies. This represents a further example of pseudoallelism between related VH genes and lack of homology in the VH chromosomal region. Expression of the ACHd gene was independent of the Ly-2, 3 locus which is associated with kappa chain variants.


[Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in food. The situation in the Federal Republic of Germany (author's transl)]. In a coordinated research program of the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT), a screening study was carried out with representative samples. In spite of rather large ranges of PCB concentrations, the most important food-stuffs show clearly defined clusters with mean values of approx. 0.005 microgram/g in low fat food components of plant origin such as cereals or potatoes, approx. 0.05 microgram/g in vegetable fats, approx. 0.3 microgram/g in fat from milk, butter and cheese, approx. 0.15 microgram/g in animal fat, approx. 0.03 in chicken eggs and approx. 10 microgram/g in fish fat. Considering the mean diet in the FRG, a daily PCB intake of about 29 microgram from animal fat and of 6 microgram from the other food-stuffs results. The total intake of about 35 microgram per day and capita is almost the same as the figure conditionally suggested by the WHO as the acceptable daily HCB (hexachlorobenzene) intake.


Uptake of [14C]-aflatoxin B1 by liver and kidney slices of different animal species. Uptake of aflatoxin [14C]-B1 by the liver and kidney slices of different animal species clearly indicates that the transport of the toxin to different organs of the respective species is not the major cause for the reported variation in the species susceptibility to aflatoxin.


[Total protein and immunoglobulin levels in the body fluids of healthy and Rh-incompatible pregnant women]. The content of total protein and immunoglobulins in blood serum, saliva and breast-milk of healthy pregnant women and of pregnant women with anti-D-antibodies has been determined by the biuret-method and radial immunodiffusion. The values of immunoglobulins in every body fluid are typical and they respond to pregnancy. The investigations vindicate theory of local antibody synthesis. The differences of immunoglobulins from healthy pregnant women and from patients with antibodies were discussed.


[Effect of mammillary body ablation on extinctive inhibition in cats]. Chronic extinction of chain closed conditioned reflex in intact rabbits took five to six days. The order of extinction of the reflex links was as follows: the nearer to reinforcement the link of the chain, the sooner it was inhibited. In the course of extinction different "compensatory" movements appeared with a high frequency. Unlike the conditioned movements they were not fully extinguished: in the rest periods (lying for 4 to 10 min.), running and sniffing took place 4 to 8 times in the session. After the ablation of the mammilary bodies, extinctive inhibition was developing slower (9 to 13 days) than in the norm. The order of extinction became reverse: the nearer the link of the chain to reinforcement, the greater the difficulty of inhibition. The appearance of "compensatory" movements sharply differed from the norm. The general behaviour of the operated rabbits was peculiar in that during extinction of conditioned movements the short periods of rest (1 to 3 min.) alternated with running, sitting, scratching, washing, etc.


[The effect of various antibiotics on the formation of typhus antibodies following immunization with typhus vaccine]. It was shown that administration in the course of one week, before or after a single use of killed or chemical typhoid vaccine of dibiomycin, biomycin, or biomycin in combination with erythromycin in comparatively high doses produced no negative effect of the production of typhus antibodies and the intensity of antitoxic immunity in albino mice. The same antibiotics failed to influence the antibody formation in guinea pigs if they produced no toxic effect on the animals; but in case of development of toxic phenomena connected with the administration of the mentioned antibiotics a strong depression of antibody production was observed in guinea pigs.


[Immunological study of cellular components of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. IV. Fractionation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mucus by diafiltration and biological properties of isolated fractions]. In fractionation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa mucus (strains No. 8 and 1463) by means of diafiltration on the system of membranes Diaflo XM-300, XM-100A, PM-30, and PM-10 there was obtained a successive series of fractions differing by the molecular weight and chemical composition. According to the results of gel chromatography fractions with the mol wt of 100000 dalton and over apparently represented protein-polysaccharide components of mucus in the form of complexes; fractions with the mol wt of 30000 dalton and lower contained a considerable amount of free protein along with the protein-polysaccharide complex. The fractions obtained differed by biological properties: fractions with the mol wt of 100000 dalton and over were toxic for mice and possessed weak antigenic properties in the precipitation in agar test and immunoelectrophoresis; fractions with the mol wt lower than 30000 dalton expressed in the mentioned test distinct antigenic properties and proved to be practically nontoxic for mice. Thus the use of diafiltration method permitted to separate the antigenic, weakly toxic component of Ps. aeruginosa mucus from the toxic factor with weak antigenic properties.


[Study of molecular heterogeneity and chemical nature of polymeric components of the Meningococcus cell wall]. The high-molecular fraction of substances of the cell wall of meningococci, groups A and B, isolated in free volume in gel filtration through sepharose 4B and containing both group and intergroup antigens proved to be consisting of 2 subfractions in gel-filtration through Bio-Gel A-150m. Molecular weight of the first was within the range of 100--150 million dalton, and of the second--of 3 to 100 million dalton. In dissociation in sodium deoxycholate the high molecular fraction complex compound of the cell wall of meningococcus strain, group A, isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient suffering from meningitis broke down into 5 fragments differing in chemical nature and mol wt. There were revealed protein and protein-lipopolysaccharide components with a relatively high mol wt. polypeptide components and low molecular residues of the initial lipopolysaccharide.


[An index of blood neutrophil injury in man and animals immunized with live anthrax vaccine]. The authors present the results of study of the blood neutrophil injury in guinea pigs, rabbits, monkeys, and also humans inoculated subcutaneously with live anthrax vaccine. Along with intradermal test with anthraxin, the mentioned test is suggested to assess the immunological status of persons immunized with anthrax vaccine.


[Prospects for the use of blood substitutes made in the USSR with the expired date of validity]. As revealed, blood substitutes--aminopeptide, caseine hydrolysate, and hydrolysine with the expired date of validity could be used as the basis of nutrient media for the cultivation of bacteria. Bacterial growth proved to be the optimum in addition to the blood substitutes of a 0.25--0.5% of yeast extract.


The biology of ethics or the ethics of biology? The biologist's quest for meaning. The biologist's involvement in value issues concerning the metholology of biological sciences, in establishing the biological basis of ethics and in creating a value system based on biological knowledge is examined. It is proposed that the roots of this involvement are in the conflict of the knowledge-ethic with the established system of values and in the need for metaphysical explanation.


A human studying the sensing of chemicals by bacteria. A new frame of reference, which in its fundamental structuring differs radically from the structuring of the familiar western Indo-European viewpoints (logical, mathematical, scientific, philosophical, etc.), already exists. Recently, by the strategem of systematically disallowing a previously unnoticed untenable assumption encoded in the traditional Western symbolic logics, set theories, etc., in particular and in the Western 'World-View' in general, this frame of reference has generated its own, entirely non-traditional, formalized language. The Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic has accepted for publication a first paper presenting this non-standard formalized language (Hilgartner, 1975). As one of its accomplishments, this new frame of reference delivers a general theory of living. This theory purports to span the entire domain of what we call living systems, human or non-human. The author did not originally devise this new frame of reference to account for the observable 'doings' of one-celled organisms. Consequently, any effort to illustrate the generalizations of this already-existing abstract theory in terms of humanly observable bacterial behavior has the effect of experimentally testing these generalizations. In the second portion of this paper, the author shows that the new viewpoint neatly accounts, with no 'loose ends,' for the published observations concerning the sensing of chemicals by bacteria; and also proposes two new experiments. Meanwhile, there exists a special dilemma which arises whenever its adepts attempt to discuss this non-standard frame of reference with persons versed in the standard Western one. By delineating the structuring of this dilemma, in the context of a human studying the sensing of chemicals by bacteria, the author demonstrates that the untenable assumption mentioned above does underlie the traditional Western viewpoints; and this demonstration suffices to show the traditional Western 'World-View' as fundamentally flawed.


The epidemic in a closed population with all susceptibles equally vulnerable; some results for large susceptible populations and small initial infections. Kendall's (1956) approach to the 'general' epidemic is generalized by dropping the assumptions of constant infectivity and random recovery or death of ill individuals. A great deal of attention is paid to the biological background and the heuristics of the model formulation. Some new results are: (1) the derivation of Kermack's and McKendrick's integral equation from what seems to be the most general set of assumptions in section 2.2, (2) the use of Kermack's and McKendrick's final value equation to arrive at a finite time version of the threshold theorem for the general case, comparable to the for the case of only one Markovian state of illness in section 2.5, (3) the analysis of the behaviour of the solutions of the integral equation when the starting infection approaches zero in section 2.7, (4) the derivation of the probability structure of a general branching process, after conditioning on extinction in section 3.6, (5) the statement of the generalized versions of Kendall's ideas in the form of precise limit conjectures in section 4, (6) the derivation of a closed expression for the limit epidemic resulting from (3) in appendix 4.


Double test of spontaneous rosettes with sheep and mouse erythrocytes. Statistical studies and usefulness in malignant evolutive and nonevolutive lymphoproliferative diseases. We have demonstrated the log normality of the distribution of sheep rosette-forming cells and mouse rosette-forming cells' values obtained with lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood of 135 healthy human beings and 57 patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia and well differentiated lymphocytic lymphosarcoma with bone marrow infiltration either in evolution or in remission. In evolutive cases, the absolute numbers of mouse rosette-forming cells rose as well as the lymphocytosis, whereas the absolute numbers of sheep rosette-forming cells were normal or even increased in spite of an impressive drop of their percentage. In nonevolutive cases, the absolute numbers of sheep rosette-forming cells and mouse rosette-forming cells were lowered to half of the normal values as a consequence of the lymphopenia induced by chemotherapeutic agents.


Heterozygous beta-thalassaemia with normal haemoglobin pattern. Haematologic, haemoglobin and biosynthesis study of 4 families. Thalassaemia with normal levels of Hb A2 and Hb F and with an alpha/beta ratio higher than 1 is described in 4 families. 3 of these families show direct or indirect signs of the presence of the delta-thalassaemia gene along with the beta-thalassaemia gene. The fourth family leaves the question as to whether there is a single mutation of the deltabeta tract or a beta + delta-thalassaemia in coupling unanswered. The necessity of knowing of the existence of this thalassaemia which conceals the presence of a beta-thalassaemia gene, is stressed, above all in view of the danger that mating between a carrier of this thalassaemia and a carrier of classical beta-thalassaemia could result in the birth of children with Cooley's disease.


Interaction of Hb A2 Indonesia trait with beta-thalassaemia trait and with Hb E trait. The haematological findings resulting from the interaction of Hb A2 Indonesia trait with beta-thalassaemia trait and HbA2 Ind trait with Hb E trait are discussed. A person doubly heterozygous for Hb A2 Ind and beta-thalassaemia had mild haematological abnormalities essentially similar to those found in persons with beta-thalassaemia trait alone. A carrier for both Hb A2 Ind trait and Hb E trait had essentially normal haematological findings.


Congenital methemoglobin-reductase (cytochrome b5 reductase) deficiency associated with mental retardation in a Spanish girl. Methemoglobinemia and mental retardation associated with NADH-diaphorase deficiency was found in a 2-year-old girl of Spanish origin. She showed no NADH-diaphorase activity in either erythrocytes or leukocytes, but electrophoretic studies of the hemolysate showed traces of an enzyme with normal mobility. Cytochrome b5 reductase activity was also found to be absent in the leukocytes of the propostius. Intermediate NADH-diaphorase activity was found in erythrocytes and leukocytes in her parents and her sister in accordance with the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance of this enzymopathy. The relationship between a generalized cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency and the progressive neurological involvement in our patient is discussed briefly.


Specimen fixation in urinary cytology.

Specimen fixation in urinary cytology. Several solutions were evaluated with regard to the preservation and preparation of urine for cytologic evaluation, using a Millipore filtration method. An adequate quantitative yield and good cellular morphology were obtained with formaldehyde-based mixtures as well as with several commercially available solutions. A pure transport medium inhibiting bacterial growth and enzymatic activity preserved cell samples equally well.


A 13-years remission in chronic myelocytic leukemia after a single course of busulfan. A patient with chronic myelocytic leukemia in whom a clinical and hematological remission occurred after a single course of busulfan is described. The remission lasted for a period of 13 years and during that lapse of time, she gave birth to a healthy child. Afterwards, acute myeloblastic leukemia was diagnosed. Following treatment with rubidomycin and arabinoside C another remission was achieved, lasting already for 18 months.


Interaction between iron deficiency and alpha-thalassaemia: the in vitro effect of haemin on alpha-chain synthesis. Two conditions are liable to lower the alpha:beta globin biosynthesis ratio in reticulocytes: iron deficiency and alpha-thalassaemia. The present paper studies the effect of haemin on reticulocytes from 12 patients who have alpha-thalassaemia and/or are iron deficient. The alpha:beta globin biosynthesis ratio was improved in all these cases. 4 showed initially an alpha:beta synthesis ratio usually associated with alpha-thalassaemia type-1; on the addition of haemin the ratio rose to that associated with alpha-thalassaemia type-2. In the other 8 patients the ratio was initially typical for alpha-thalassaemia type-2, and on addition of haemin the ratio became normal. It is suggested that in iron deficient patients a diagnosis of alpha-thalassaemia type-1 or type-2 cannot be made unless haemin has been added to the test system. If this is not done iron deficiency alone can cause the alpha:beta globin synthesis ratio to resemble that associated with alpha-thalassaemia type-2, and iron deficiency in combination with alpha-thalassaemia type-2 can cause the ratio to resemble that typical for alpha-thalassaemia type-1. Reticulocytes from 8 alpha-thalassaemic patients without iron deficiency did not show a marked haemin effect (less than 5%), and in 1 patient with iron overload, the ratio actually fell by about 10%.


Clinical contribution to the knowledge of hemopoietic dysplasias: long-term follow-up of 13 patients with refractory anemia. Refractory anemia (RA) is an hematologic disorder at risk of developing into a malignancy (hemopoietic dysplasia). Information on hemopoietic dysplasias is useful for sharpening the appropriate diagnostic criteria and for the search of an appropriate therapy. Moreover, hemopoietic dysplasias provide an interesting opportunity, in humans, for studying a developing leukemia, or a disease situated at the boundary of leukemia. This paper reports on the evolution of RA in 13 patients followed up more than 2 years, through clinical observation, blood and marrow examination, and karyotype analysis. 4 of these 13 patients developed acute or subacute myeloid leukemia. An additional patient died because of severe thrombocytopenia. In these 5 patients, dyserythropoiesis was accompanied by thrombocytopenia, marrow myeloblastosis, and nonrandom chromosome abnormalities.


Preliminary evidence for the common origin of a lympho-myeloid complex in man. In 2 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia, the Philadelphia chromosome was demonstrated in peripheral blood lymphocytes. This finding points to the common origin of lymphocytes and other blood cells in man.


Significance of mouse red cell rosette-forming lymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Increased mouse red cell (M) rosetting lymphocytes were demonstrated in the peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia. The range was wide, and patients showed considerable variation not only in the number of M cells but also in T and B rosetting lymphocytes. Treatment reduced M rosette lymphocytes proportionately as the total white count fell, and differential removal occurred only when the patients became leucopaenic. If we assume the M rosetting cells are the abnormal 'leukaemic' cells, treatment does not preferentially remove these. The M rosetting capacity appeared to be related to the presence of an immunoglobulin factor previously demonstrated on the cells and in the serum of patients with CLL which enhances in vitro viability of the leukaemic cells.


Megakaryocyte polyploidization in May-Hegglin anomaly. Polyploidization of megakaryocytes was studied in bone marrow aspirates from 3 patients with May-Hegglin anomaly by combined application of cytophotometric determination of the DNA content and autoradiography with 3H-TdR labeling in vitro. A marked elevation of the influx of progenitor cells into the megakaryocytic cell system as well as a decreased maturation capacity from type II to type III megakaryocytes was observed possibly contributing to the pathological platelet sequestration. The polyploidization activity as assessed by 3H-TdR labeling and nuclear DNA content was normal.


Platelet aggregation in diabetic retinopathy. Platelet aggregation in diabetic retinopathy was investigated in a group of 25 patients. An enhanced activity induced by epinephrine and arachidonic acid was found in this group as compared with the controls, whereas in adenosine diphosphate (ADP) platelet aggregation no differences were observed. Spontaneous aggregation was found in 8% of the diabetic retinopathy cases.


Phosphorylated spectrins are likely constituents of major Ca2+ affinity sites. Fixation with Ca2+ -glutaraldehyde of ghosts results in opaque membrane associated deposits similar to Ca2+ binding sites of native human erythrocytes. Following brief incubation in an ATP medium the number and size of major Ca2+ affinity sites is considerably enhanced. In addition to major Ca2+ affinity sites multiple minor sites are lining either aspect of the ghost membrane. Ghosts fixed with EDTA-glutaraldehyde are devoid of major Ca2+ affinity sites and they exhibit extreme low overall opacity. Ghosts previously partially despectrinated by incubation in 0.5 mM EDTA have lost major Ca2+ affinity sites, although minor binding sites appear unimpaired. The findings provide evidence of the demonstration of phosphorylated spectrins in major Ca2+ affinity sites.


The histochemistry of mucosubstances in ferret salivary glands. The mucosubstances of the major salivary glands of the ferret were analysed using different histochemical reactions. Almost all the parotid acinar cells had sialic acid-containing mucus. There were a very few cells, the granules of which gave reactions for sulphated mucins. Submandibular gland mucus was sulphated in the major parts of the gland. There were occasional cells which gave reactions to carboxylated mucin. The sublingual and the molar glands had tubules which had 2 types of mucous cells. The central cells contained sulphated mucins and the peripheral ones had carboxylated mucins. The mucus in the tubules of the zygomatic gland was predominantly sulphated. In the sublingual, molar as well as in the zygomatic, there were granulated cells scattered among the tubules. Some of these granules were found to contain carboxylated and the others neutral mucins. No sexual dimorphism was observed in any of the glands among the 4 male and 4 female ferrets used in this study.


[Histochemistry of the ball cell in larval epidermis of Xenopus laevis Daudin]. Presented investigations of chemical composition and metabolism of ball cell in larval epidermis of Xenopus point to a regressive shape of cell corresponding to former light and electron microscopical findings. The lower requirements of energy of this cell are covered by glycolysis and possibly by pentose phosphate cycle. Our hypothesis of pressure-elastic ball of cell as structural element of larval epidermis could been further supported.


[The interrelationships of hydrophobic cell models (author's transl)]. Hydrophobic constants between several solvents used as simulation models for structure and function of biomembranes with the character of a passive diffusion are compared. It was found that, although the constants depend on the electronic environment, the constants depend statistically on one another.


[The evidence of POZ on the xenogenic transplantation of skin (author's transl)]. Phenoloxidase containing cells (POZ) identified with histochemical techniques in the subcutaneous connective tissue showed a marked increase in their number in response to heteroplastic skin transplantation in the rat. The number of these cells reached a peak of the 6th day of transplantation. From this time on their number gradually decreased on the 14th as well. POZ never invaded the graft, they remained confined to the host's tissue. A similar proliferation of POZ was never observed in the vicinity of skin autografts. The possible role in immune reactions of these cells is discussed.


[The qualification of different ditetrazolium salts as indicators in the oxido-reductase histochemistry (author's transl)]. 15 ditetrazolium salts were examined to prove their qualities for histochemical techniques. The succinate dehydrogenase, the lactate dehydrogenase and the diaphorase I in hearts, muscles, livers, kidneys and brains of rats were demonstrated for it. The results show that NBT is the best allround tetrazolium salt for the histochemical demonstration of dehydrogenases. For the study of special questions it is suitable to use other tetrazolium salts, too.


[Experimental investigations on the regeneration of aortic endothelial cells. Automatic and visual evaluation of autoradiograms (author's transl)]. Autoradiographic studies on plane preparations using 3H-thymidine and pulse cytophotometric investigations on scrape preparations of aortic endothelium from 34 rabbits have brought the following results: By means of multiple 3H-thymidine-injections the number of labelled endothelial cells is higher in young growing animals than in older rabbits; pulse cytophotometrically we did not find any indication of polyploidization processes; from that we conclude a decrease of the growth fraction with advancing age. In comparison to visual counting the automatic image analysis is a highly effective method for the evaluation of autoradiograms. After multiple 3H-thymidine applications the mean blacking intensity of the labelled cell nuclei is lower in 2 months old animals than in 12 months old rabbits; that may mean an increase in the S-phase duration of the proliferating endothelial cells of the older animals. In the area with branching sites there are more 3H-thymidine-labelled endothelial cells than in the neighbouring vascular segments. The significance of these findings for the preferential incidence of arteriosclerosis in this area is discussed.


[Enzyme-histochemical behaviour of the tanycyte ependyma in the III. ventricle of the rat with thiamin deficiency (author's transl)]. The influence of experimental thiamine deficiency in rats on enzyme-histochemical parameters was carried out in the diencephalon. The degree of thiamine deficiency was measured by the activity coefficient of transketolase in the red blood cells. The alpha-ETK of thiamine deficient animals was 1,45 +/- 0,36, of equal-fed animals 1,04 +/- 0.04 and of control animals 1,08 +/- 0,04. We got the following results: Lactatdehydrogenase, acid phosphatases and thiamine pyrophosphatase did not indicate any difference in enzyme activity between the groups of control, equal-fed and thiamine deficient rats. However, the enzyme activity of nonspecific lysosome-bound esterases in the tanycyte ependyma and in the investigated nuclear regions (nucleus supraopticus, ncl. paraventricularis, ncl. ventromedialis) of the thiamine deficient animals was significantly decreased in comparison to control and equal-fed animals. The possibility of a restriction of the hypophyseal-adrenal-cortex-system is discussed, since the results are similar to those obtained with bilaterally adrenalectomized rats.


[Immune electrophoretic investigations about the interaction of different dyes with the beta-2-glycoprotein I (author's transl)]. A changed electrophoretical mobility of beta-2-glycoprotein I in presence of 24 dyes could be established by means of immuno-electrophoresis. It is seen as an expression of interaction of this protein with different small molecules.


[Enzyme histochemical and immunopathological findings in intrathoracic lymph node sarcoidosis (author's transl)]. Comparative investigations on the value of modern morphological methods (enzyme-histochemistry, immunopathology) are carried out in 40 patients with intrathoracic lymph node sarcoidosis. These studies show that by means of enzyme-histochemical and immunopathological methods additional knowledge is got in comparison with routine histology, concerning especially the floridity of the disease, humoral immunity and collagen synthesis. This information is an important factor for both the clinical assessment of the process and an effective therapy.


Determination of k/l immunoglobulin light chain ratios in CSF from patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. Using antisera against Bence-Jones protein, the concentration of light chains type k and l can be determined in CSF. The calculation of the ratio of type k to type I light chains in CSF represents a sensitive measure for the evaluation of immunological processes involving the CNS. Our results demonstrate that an increase k/l ratio is encountered in 48% of CSF specimen from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, but also in 50% from patients with other inflammatory diseases involving the CNS, in contrast to only 18% from other neurological diseases. In none of the MS or inflammatory cases is the altered k/l ratio the only indicator of a CNS inflammation, most commonly it is accompanied by an overproportional CSF-IgG elevation (increased QG ratio), an increased cell count or both. For these reasons determination of CSF k/l ratios is helpful in the differentiation of MS and other neurological diseases, but not for the differentiation of other inflammatory CNS diseases from MS.


Neuronal ischemic injury: light microscopy, ultrastructure and biochemistry. A uniform, predictable pattern of cellular abnormalities is seen after complete, irreversible ischemic injury to the central nervous system. This is in contrast to the heterogeneous, multifocal picture which characterizes incomplete ischemia. The range of abnormalities in neuronal soma after an arterial occlusion changes considerably as a function of time and site. There is no single pattern of neuronal alteration that can be ascribed exclusively to ischemia. Red neurons are a relatively late (about 18 h) indicator of ischemia and are seen only in areas where blood supply is marginal. In addition to depletion of high-energy-phosphate reserves, brain ischemia results in characteristic alterations of amino acid concentrations in the ischemic tissue. Glutamate, glutamine, and aspartate either decrease or remain constant while alanine increases. Proportional decreases in the former three amino acids may be explained by simple dilution due to edema. Increases in alanine relative to glutamate and aspartate may be utilized as a biochemical index of perfusion to various brain regions.


Alkaline phosphatase in developing teeth and bone of man and macaque monkey. The activity of nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.1) in developing teeth and bone of human fetuses and young macaque monkeys has been studied by means of histochemistry. The incubations for alkaline phosphatase were performed at pH 8.2 using naphthol-AS-MX-phosphate as substrate and Fast Blue RR salt or Fast Red Violet LB salt as couplers. By means of pretreatment with heat (56 degrees C), or addition of sodium metavanadate, ortho- or pyrophosphate, two alkaline phosphatases were demonstrated in the developing teeth. Prior to hard tissue formation all alkaline phosphatase activity was inhibited by the addition of vanadate, phosphate, or by pretreatment with heat. Pretreatment with heat or addition of vanadate or phosphate also inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity in the odontoblasts and in the pulpal connective tissue, whereas the activity in the subodontoblastic cell layer, stratum intermedium, outer enamel epithelium, and the the outer cells of the reduced enamel epithelium were much less affected. A week resistant activity was also noted in odontoblasts and pulpal connective tissue.


Ankle fractures treated by fixation of the medial malleolus alone. Late results in 29 patients. A review of 29 patients with unstable ankle fractures treated by fixation of the medial malleolus alone is presented. At follow-up the result in 16 patients was classified as unsatisfactory or a failure and all of these patients showed radiological signs of posttraumatic arthrosis deformans. The importance of the position of the lateral malleolus in order to prevent joint incongruity and subsequent arthrosis is emphasized.


Effects of pure chlorobiphenyls (2,4',5-trichlorobiphenyl and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl) on the reproductive capacity in female mice. The effects of two pure chlorobiphenyls (2,4',5-trichlorobiphenyl and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl) on the reproductive capacity in female mice have been studied. The results obtained show that females given 0.5 mg 2,5',5-trichlorobiphenyl (TCB)/day or 0.5 mg 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB)/day for six consecutive days, starting on the first day of pregnancy, have significantly lower frequencies of implanted ova than the control females, whereas the frequency of implanted ova does not differ either between females given 0.05 mg/day of TCB or HCB and the control females, or between females given TCT 0.05 mg/day or 0.5 mg/day and those given the corresponding dose of HCB. Females given 0.5 mg/day of TCB or HCB, respectively, also have significantly higher contents in the livers of cytochrome P-450, on Day four of pregnancy, than the control females. The results also show that, under the experimental conditions used, neither the frequency of pregnancies nor the number of implanted ova per pregnant female differ significantly between the different groups.


Histochemical, ultrastructural, and functional evidence for a neurogenic control of CSF production from the choroid plexus. Histochemical studies have shown that the rabbit choroid plexus receives a well-developed adrenergic and cholinergic nerve supply. The adrenergic innervation, which originates almost entirely from the superior cervical sympathetic ganglia, begins to develop around birth and is fully established 3 weeks later. Electron microscopy has shown that the nerve terminals innervate both the plexus arterioles and its secretory epithelium. The sympathetic fibers have been shown to influence the plexus epithelium, as reflected by their effect on its carbonic anhydrase activity. They appear to have an inhibitory effect on the bulk CSF production, as revealed by electrical nerve stimulation and denervation experiments. The control seems to be exerted primarily on the plexus epithelium, although some of the effect may also be associated with alterations in choroid plexus blood flow.


Immunohistochemical localization of intestinal glycosidases. The presence of antigenic determinants of the following enzymes was detected in enterocytes by the indirect immunofluorescence method: 1. lactase in human biopsy material, 2. sucrase-isomaltase during ontogenesis in the rat. 1. Lactase: The antigenic relationship between rat and human lactase, demonstrated with the isolated enzymes, was utilized for the histochemical localization of human lactase. The indirect immunofluorescence method, using guinea pig antiserum to rat lactase, demonstrated the presence of human lactase in the enterocyte brush border. The usefulness of this method for clinical practice resides in the possibility of detecting enzymatically inactive protein immunologically related to lactase in cases of lactase deficiency, thereby facilitating more detailed classification of these diseases. 2. Sucrase-isomaltase: Guinea pig antiserum to rat sucrase-isomaltase (SI) was prepared. It was used to demonstrate antigenic determinants of the enzyme in the enterocyte brush border of the rat during ontogenesis. Structural SI protein is already present in 3-day-old rats, whereas enzyme activity can first be demonstrated histochemically from the 11th day of life and biochemically, in vitro, not until about the 18th day. We consider that this technique can be used for studying the biogenesis of membrane-bound enzymes.


Intestinal gradient of enterokinase activity in different species of animals. The proximodistal gradient of enterokinase activity was studied in mucosal homogenates of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caecum (or megacaecum) and sigmoid flexure of various mammals. The study was carried out in groups of 5 monkeys, guinea pigs, dogs and rats and also in gnotobiological rats--conventional (n = 5), germ-free (n = 10) and monocontaminated (n = 5) with Escherichia coli 0 86. Enterokinase activity was likewise determined in duodenal mucosal homogenates prepared from material resected at operation from adult humans (n = 5) and from a group of monkeys (n = 5), with and without the addition of Triton X-100. Enzymatic activity was determined by a modification of Nordström and Dahlqvist's method, using pH-stat titration. In all the animals, enterokinase values were unequivocally the highest in the duodenal mucosa; in the other intestinal segments it displayed a marked aboral decrease, so that we found about 30% of duodenal activity in the jejunum, trace amounts in the ileum and zero values in the caecum and the sigmoid flexure. In the individual animals, the enterokinase activity values fell in the sequence monkey greater than guinea-pig greater than dog greater than rat. Enterokinase activity in the human duodenum was practically the same as in the rat duodenal mucosa. No reciprocal differences were found in gnotobiological rats. Either whole homogenate or the supernatant of triton-treated homogenate can be used for the demonstration of enterokinase in laboratory practice. The only part which can be employed for diagnostic purposes in duodenal mucosa.


Biochemistry and immunochemistry of membrane-bound enzymes. Membrane-bound enzymes have certain specific differences compared with soluble enzymes. Membrane-binding often enables greater catalytic activity of associated enzymatic reactions, their regulation by low molecular weight substances (substrates and allosteric effectors, hormones) and compartmentation, etc. On the other hand, the binding of enzymes to membranes causes considerable difficulties as regards their isolation and the determination of their homogeneity and substrate specificity. Membrane enzymes provide a unique opportunity for studying the biogenesis of membranes and their physiological properties, however. These problems are discussed in relation to two types of membranes--the inner mitochondrial membrane and the membrane of the brush border of the small intestine. An example of the utilization of immunochemical methods is given in the results of a study of biosynthesis of the cytochrome oxidase complex in yeast cells. In the case of the brush border of the mammalian small intestine, the fact that certain enzymes, which are also of clinical significance from the aspect of congenital genetic defects, can be isolated only as complexes, constitutes a very real problem. This applies particularly to the sucrase-isomaltase complex and the lactase-beta-glucosidase complex. Solving questions of substrate specificity is of significance for the choice of a suitable analytical or histochemical method. The common regulation of these complexes gives an insight into the problems of membrane biogenesis, however. Immunochemical methods can be employed as sensitive criteria to support biochemical and morphological studies. Collaboration between the biochemist and histochemist proved especially valuable when determining the substrate specificity of enzymes (glycosidases) in relation to histochemical substrates, when applying histochemical methods for detecting enzymatic activity in immunoprecipitates and acrylamide gels and in immunohistochemical studies of the localization and developmental differentiation of the enzymes of the brush border of the small intestine.


Melanogenuria as consequence of elevated tyrosinase activity in melanoma. The authors point out that melanogenuria, i.e. the excretion of specific phenolic and, particulary, indole metabolites in melanoma, is undoubtedly due to elevated tyrosinase activity in this disease. Other enzymes, in particular glucuronyltransferase, catechol-O-methyltransferase and possibly hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase, also evidently participate in the further biochemical conversion of the resultant metabolites, however.


Changes in the activity of certain lysosomal enzymes in the blood serum of rats subjected to whole body x-ray irradiation. In summing up, we find that only serum acid phosphatase activity rose immediately, and beta-galactosidase activity 6 hours, after whole body irradiation, in each case after an exposure dose of 800 R. At the other intervals, the three enzyme activities studied either remained unchanged or were statistically significantly lowered. The most pronounced decrease was found in serum beta-galactosidase and serum beta-glucuronidase activity on the 3rd, 5th and 7th day after exposure.


Isolation of multiple forms of dihydrofolate reductase from mouse liver. Dihydrofolate reductase isolated from the liver of normal adult mice was focused on a LKB analytic column. Separation was carried out in a sucrose gradient and a pH gradient was formed within limits of pH 7-10 by means of 1% ampholin. 48 hours' separation yielded two enzyme fractions focusing at pH 8.1 and pH 8.7 respectively, 80% of the total activity being found in the latter fraction. If the original enzyme was preincubated with NADPH, a further activity zone, at pH 7.5, was formed after isoelectric focusing and the other two peaks were depressed. The form of the enzyme focusing at pH 8.7 had higher specific activity than the form focusing at pH 8.1. Neither of these forms of the enzyme was as pure as the enzyme prepared by affinity chromatography. This was also confirmed by double radial immunodiffusion. Degree of Methotrexate inhibition and potassium chloride activation of the two fractions isolated by isoelectric focusing was the same.


Demonstration of "hetero-beta-galactosidase" "in situ". A method for the histochemical demonstration of "hetero-beta-galactosidase" was elaborated. The enzyme is demonstrated in cryostat sections by the semipermeable membrane technique. Pairs of membranes--one pre-washed in saline--are used. The most sensitive method is post-coupling demonstration with 6-Br-2-naphthyl-beta-D-glucoside. The incubation time must be short, to avoid diffusion. The method allows cellular localization. The method with alpha-naphthyl-beta-D-glucoside and hexazonium-p-rosaniline is less sensitive, but localization is better. Indigogenic methods are the least sensitive. The enzyme is localized in the supranuclear zone of differentiated enterocytes of the human, monkey and rabbit small intestine, with maximum activity in the jejunum. The activity of the enzyme is low in patients with coeliac sprue, in the active phase of the disease. In isolated lactase deficiency it is normal. In the kidney, the enzyme is localized chiefly in the cytoplasm of the proximal tubule cells.


Changes in antithrombin III levels in pregnancy, labour and in women on the contraceptive pill. Antithrombin III activity as determined by the modified Mancini technique is reported for the first time in different groups of Nigerian women as well as in a group of male blood donors. The mean level of activity (78.69%) observed in women during their second and third trimesters was lower than the mean value in the same group of women at parturition (93.18%) and significantly lower than a control group of non-pregnant women who were also not on the contraceptive pill (109.67; P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference between the mean activity of the female control group and that of women on the contraceptive pill and that of a group of male blood donors of the same age range.


Tomography of petrous bone in deafness associated with Paget's disease. Two cases of Paget's disease presenting with deafness are described. Tomography of the petrous bones showed, in both cases, an upward tilt of the long axes of the bones including their auditory canals, generalized sclerosis of the petrous pyramids and enlargement of the ossicles. In one case, there was narrowing of the internal auditory canal. Review of the literature revealed three radiological phases in Paget's disease of the temporal bone:--(i) early changes consisting mainly of demineralisation; (ii) an intermediate phase consisting of diminishing visibility of the semicircular canals and cochlea; and (iii) a late phase consisting of complete blotting out of the structures of the optic capsule and replacement of the ossicles by Pagetic bone. Our two cases fall within the last phase.


Sero-epidemiological study of Lymphogranuloma venereum in Western Nigeria. A sero epidemiological study involving 5009 individuals resident in the two largest cities (Ibadan and Benin) in the Western Region of Nigeria has been carried out, using the LGVCFT to determine the presence of LGV antibodies. These individuals come from various population groups and social classes (i.e. blood donors, antenatal clinic patients, general out-patients, venereal diseases clinic patients and prostitutes). Among the 3638 subjects tested in Ibadan, the seroreactivity rates ranged from 5.3% to 11.5%, while of the 1371 in Benin, the seroreactivity ranged from 7.3% to 18.3%. The seroreactivity rates confirm previous suspicion that there is a considerable reservoir of infection among the female population both in normal women and in prostitutes. While the value of LGVCFT as an epidemiological tool in the estimation of latent or active infection in a community has been substantiated, a puzzling variation in the endemicity of the LGV agent, even within the same region, has been observed. It is suggested that routine testing of blood donors and antenatal women with LGVCFT such as done with serological tests for syphilis should be carried out in tropical countries where LGV is endemic.


Epidemiology and treatment of dog bites in Ibadan: a 12-year retrospective study of cases seen at the University College Hospital Ibadan (1962-1973). A retrospective epidemiological study was made of dog bite accidents seen at the Casualty department of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, between 1 January 1962 and 31 December 1973. A variety of host, agent and environmental factors were analysed. The incidence per 1000 attendances was 11.5 with a male/female ratio of 57:43. Majority of the bites occurred in the dry season and 75.4% of the victims were less than 20 years of age. 83.5% of the bites were inflicted on the extremities and 59.1% were moderately severe or severe. 50% of the bites were unprovoked and 80.3% of the biting dogs belonged to known owners. 86.9% of the victims reported for treatment within 24 hours of the accident but only 6.6% attended for follow up beyond four weeks. 73.5% of the victims received active immunization with rabies vaccine but only 50.2% of these completed the prescribed course. The findings in this study provides a factual basis for making recommendations to prevent, control and treat dog bites.


Assessment of nutritional status.

Assessment of nutritional status. This review is a critical evaluation of the various methods of assessing the nutritional state of a community. Greater emphasis has been placed on the more recently developed and highly sensitive immunochemical and immunobiological methods because biochemical and immunological changes occur long before any anthropometric abnormality can be detected. Of the serum proteins the transferrin level would appear to be the most sensitive (and most practical) index of nutritional state. The immunochemical estimation of this protein is therefore recommended in the assessment of nutritional status. When adequate precautions are taken in the handling of specimens complement (C3) levels may also yield valuable information. Of the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) would appear to be the most sensitive as an index of nutritional state. For the rapid monitoring of nutritional programmes it is important that facilitates for these procedures be made as rapidly and widely available as possible.


Staphylococcal endocarditis: clinical observations on 113 patients. A 10-year analysis of 113 cases of staphylococcal endocarditis seen in two Washington, D.C., hospitals is presented. 96% of the cases occurred in parenteral drug addicts, but 4% complicated septicemia from known foci of infection. Coagulase positive staphylococcus was responsible for 97% of the infection, and the rest were caused by coagulase negative staphyloccus. Except in four patients with previously known cardiac murmurs, infection occurred on normal valves in these patients. Infection was isolated to the tricuspid valve in 71%, to the mitral valve in 6% and to the aortic valve in 3.5% of our cases; and more than one cardiac valve was affected in the remaining patients. All patients were treated with antibiotics based on bacterial sensitivity testing. The mortality from isolated tricuspid endocarditis was 5%, from isolated mitral endocarditis 33%, and from isolated aortic valve endocarditis 100%. The overall mortality was 18%. The better prognosis documented for acute tricuspid endocarditis is related to the much less severe haemodynamic consequences of acute tricuspid regurgitation, and the probably milder consequences of septic pulmonary embolism compared with coronary or cerebral embolism.


Pattern of heart disease in adults of the Nigerian Savanna: a prospective clinical study. The pattern of heart disease in 404 patients seen prospectively from the guinea savanna region of Africa is presented. Over 90% presented with cardiac failure. Hypertension, Peripartal Cardiac Failure (PPCF), Congestive Cardiomyopathy and Rheumatic Heart Disease are major problems. The highest incidence of PPCF in the world probably occurs in this area but the prognosis is good. The reasons for this and the possible interrelationship of hypertension with cardiomyopathy and PPCF are discussed. In contrast to the tropical rainforests, no case of endomyocardial fibrosis was seen. During the period of study, vascular thrombosis is uncommon and coronary heart disease is non-existent in Zaria.


Alternating left anterior hemiblock without associated tachycardia. This case report describes a 64-year-old woman with a cardiomyopathy and associated fascicular conduction disturbances partly related to digitalis therapy. Electrocardiograms showed incomplete left bundle branch block with left anterior hemiblock the latter, consistently changing in pattern and rhythm as in bidirectional tachycardia but at a relatively normal heart rate. The relationship of severe myocardial disease to the apparent likelihood of pre-existing depression of fascicular conduction in cases of bidirectional tachycardia precipitated by digitalis, is exemplified.


Malignant melanoma in Nigeria-pathological studies. Pathological features of twenty-one cases of malignant melanoma studied in the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu during the period January, 1974 to December, 1975 are presented. Malignant melanoma accounted for 2.4% of all tumours and 4.5% of all malignant tumours, greatest age incidence being in the fifth to seventh decades. The male to female sex ratio was 2:1. 73.2% of cases were of the nodular variety. 81% melanomas occurred on the sole of feet validating the hypothesis that the pigmented skin in Africans is resistant to malignant melanoma. Melanoma in Nigerians would appear essentially to be arising from epidermal melanocytes and not from preexisting naevus cells. Hence we do not feel prophylactic removal of plantar moles as suggested by Onuigbo (1975) is desirable. Histologically, there was no clear association between the cell types and the kind of melanoma or invasion of the tumour. The difference in behaviour and natural history of malignant melanoma would appear to have a bearing on the local tissue and also general immune mechanisms of the host.


Case report. Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). A case report of SSPE (Subacute Sclerosing pan encephalitis) is presented to demonstrate some of the characteristic clinical, pathological, electroencephalographic, and laboratory features of the disease.


Some helminthozoonotic infections in Zambia. Parasitic infections constitute an important group of zoonoses. Stool examination of inpatients, medical examinees and out-patients in a sub-tropical environment established that Inermicapsifer madagascariensis and Schistosoma mattheei are occasionally anthropozoonotic in Zambia. Strongyloides fülleborni, a species normally parasitic in primates is not uncommon in man; whether it is anthropozoonotic or a parasite well adapted to man in this part of Africa needs further investigation. The finding of unidentified spiruroid ova was considered to be due to a spurious infection. The need for the differentiation of such organisms from those commonly infecting man is emphasized especially since the literature on such a subject is so sparse in the country and on the continent.