[Reflex reactions of the spinal motor center of rats in the early periods following birth]. Reactions of the spinal motor center to tetanic stimulation of afferent nerve fibers in the peripheral nerve or dorsal roots L4--L6, have been investigated in rat pups ageing from 1 to 30 days. EMG was recorded in m. gastrocnemius. Within the first 12 days, in response to a constant stimulation periodic motor activity was observed which in its pattern was similar to the spontaneous cycles in newborn animals. On further development of rats, periodic form of the reaction is abolished, although it may be elicited after decerebration or during fatigue caused by a prolondged tetanization. Within the first week, tetanization of the afferents by the increasing stimuli either does not affect the periodic pattern of the activity, or results in a stepwise increase of the amplitude and duration of separate periods. On further development, gradual dependence of the intensity of the response from the stimulus strength is established, which is associated with functional differentiation of various motor units. The data obtained are discussed in relation to the role of afferent systems in evolution of functions of the central nervous system.


[Total electrical response to sound in the acoustico-lateral region of the carp, Cyrpinus carpio, medulla oblongata]. In order to investigate foci of the electrical activity, studies have been made on the topography and form of total reactions to sound in the acoustico-lateral part of the medulla oblongata in the carp C. carpio. Two foci of the activity were found -- medical and ventral ones. Responses in the medial and ventral foci differ with respect to the form, latency (2.0--2.5 and 1.3--1.5 msec. respectively) and amplitude (200--600 and 50--200 microvolts respectively). It is suggested that total reactions in the medial focus reflect the activity of the nervous elements of the medulla oblongata, whereas the responses of the ventral focus reflect mainly microphonic reactions of sacculus of the inner ear of the carp.


[Visual interneurons, sensitive to the size of objects and the direction of their movement in dragonflies of the genus Sympetrum]. Experiments have been made on 4 dragonfly species -- Sympetrum vulgatum, S. flaveolum, S sanguineum, S. danae. A pair of neurons was found in the thoracic ganglia and connectives, which has symmetrical contralateral receptive fields. These neurons are selectively sensitive to swift upward motion of a target of 3--10 degrees in size. This type of response was originally described by Zenkin and Pigarev [1, 2]. The receptive field, 120X25 degrees in size, is oriented horizontally from the medial rim of the eye. The center of sensitivity has the following polar coordinates: 15 degrees laterally from the medial plane and 20 degrees above the equatorial one. The relation of detecting properties of the observed neurones to key stimuli which trigger hunting behaviour is discussed. It is suggested that filtration of single and small optic stimuli by specialized detector neurons results not from the processes in the own receptive field of the neuron, but from the interaction with other neurons which are sensitive to motion of large objects and complex patterns.


[Ultrastructure of optic centers of the crayfish Artemia salina]. In electron microscopic investigations of the eyestalk of A. salina we were not able to find any elements of the most important neuroendocrine system X-organ--sinus gland which is typical of higher Crustaceans. The data obtained indicate that this system appears only in higher Crustaceans as the result of development of their central nervous system.


[Light and electron microscopic study of the photoreceptors of the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis]. Photoreceptors of the retina have been investigated by electron microscopic and light microscopic techniques using differential staining. The observed differences between short and long photoreceptors suggest that the former act as the receptors of scotopic system and contain rhodopsin, whereas the latter contain presumably cone pigment and may be classified as receptors of photopic system.


[Lipids of free-living Penecurva sibirica turbellaria]. Lipids were extracted from the lyophylized free-living planariae P. sibirica according to the procedure of Folch et al. [14] and fractionated by means of thin-layer and column chromatography on the silicagel KSK. Total lipid content of planariae is equal to 28.70% of lyophylized weight, 21.70% of them being presented by phospholipids. Polar lipids include phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine and cerebrosides. Neutral lipids are presented by triglycerides, cholesterol cholesterol esters and free fatty acids. Saturated and unsaturated C6--C22 fatty acis were detected in the lipids.


[Activity of serum sodium, potassium and calcium in vertebrates]. In all the animals studied (the lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis, teleosts Onchorhynchus nerka, O. kisutch, Limanda aspera, Salvelinus malma, frog Rana ridibunda, tortoise Agryonemys horsfieldi, hen, albino rat) and man, sodium and potassium were found in the blood serum in a free form, both before and after the addition of their salts in vitro. The initial level of active Ca varies within 20--42% of its total content in the serum. Significant interspecific differences were found with respect to the degree of Ca binding by albumin.


[Sodium and potassium concentration in the tissues of wild and domesticated representatives of the chicken order]. Na and K content has been studied in tissues of the hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia, black grouse Lyrurus tetrix, capercaillie Tetrao urogallus, domestic hen Gallus domesticus and turkey hen Meleagris gallopavo. With respect to the increase in potassium and sodium content, the tissues investigated in wild species form the following sequence: major thoracal muscle (red), minor thoracal muscle (white), gastrocnemius muscle, left ventricle of the heart, stomach muscles, brain hemispheres, spinal cord. Domestic birds exhibit lower sodium level in stomach muscles. Potassium distribution in tissues of wild birds is more even than in domestic ones; in the latter potassium content of the heart is significantly lower than that of other muscles. The main bulk of muscles in wild birds contain more potassium and less sodium as compared to the muscle tissue of domestic ones. No interspecific differences were found in potassium and sodium content of white and red pectoral muscles.


[Effect of adrenaline on the activity of the skeletal muscle UDPG-phosphorylase of chick embryos and chicks]. The level of UDPG-pyrophosphorylase activity has been determined spectrophotometrically. The enzymic activity in skeletal muscles gradually increases during the development of chick embryos and chick. Adrenalin does not affect the activity of the enzyme neither in embryos, nor in chick.


[Relationship between the concentration of vitamin A in the liver of the lesser suslik, Citellus pygmaeus, and the altitude of its habitat]. With the increase of the altitude of habitation of the ground-squirrel C. pygmaeus the content of vitamin A in its liver decreases. It is suggested that low vitamin A content of the liver in mountain animals is due to the increased utilization of vitamin A and carotenoids which provides for adaptation of these animals to lower partial oxygen pressure and lower temperature.


[Capillarization of the muscular tissue of the Black Sea dolphin Phocaena phocaena]. Studies have been made on morphological and diffusion parameters of capillaries in cardiac and skeletal muscles of the dolphin P. phocaena. As compared to that in terrestrial mammals, the degree of capillarization of muscle tissue in the dolphin was found to be higher. Higher density of capillaries, as well as shorter radii of diffusion and smaller volumes of tissue cylinders, are responsible for more intensive supply of oxygen per tissue volume unit in dolphins.


[Reactions of neurons of the disencephalon and midbrain of the salamander Salamandra salamandra to visual stimuli]. In 20 tectal and 33 diencephalic neurons, action potentials have been recorded in response to diffuse illumination and moving visual stimuli. In both visual centers, similar types of the neurons were found, i.e. directionally sensitive ones and those reacting to diffuse illumination, their receptive fields varying from 5 to 90 and more degrees. Some of the neurons were activated by stimulation of both ipsi- and contralateral eyes. Spontaneously active neurons were significantly more numerous in the tectum than in the diencephalon.


[Relationship between perception of low-frequency amplitude modulation, age and training in man]. As it was shown earlier, normal hearing in man is characterized by selective sensitivity to amplitude modulation (AM) of sound within the frequency region of 4--8 cps, which corresponds to the most probably AM frequency of the speech signal. Since this phenomenon is presumably due to a constant training for speech perception, it has been investigated in ontogenesis, i.e. starting from 7--8-year children, in whom the process of speech learning is especially intensive. The results obtained indicate that the auditory threshold in children at the age of 7--8, 9--10 and 13--14 years exhibits evident preferable sensitivity in the region of 4--8 cps. Besides, it was found that although the thresholds to 1--2 and 32--64 cps frequencies decrease with ageing, no decrease of the sensitivity takes place within the region of 4--8 cps. Similar data were obtained during special or professional (musical) training of the subjects.


[Participation of the hypothalamus in regulating the activity of rat liver energy metabolism enzymes]. In soluble fraction of rat liver studies have been made on the activity of glycolytic enzymes and dehydrogenases of the pentose phosphate pathway 3 and 20 hours after the electrical stimulation of the medial (HVM) and lateral (AHL) structures of the medial hypothalamus via chronically implanted electrodes. Electrical stimulation of the HVM within 3 hours decreased total hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities, and to a lower extent -- the activity of glucokinase. This effect was not prevented by the adrenalectomy. During stimulation of the AHL, the decrease of LDH activity was the same, whereas the activity of hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glucokinase decreased to a lower extent. Electrical stimulation of the medial hypothalamus within 20 hours decreased the response, this effect being presumably associated with the decrease in the content of endogenous noradrenalin in the liver of animals. The role of the hypothalamus and sympathetic nervous system in regulation of the investigated enzymes of energy metabolism in the liver is discussed.


[Oxidative processes in tissues of the nematode Mecistocirrus digitatus]. The tissues of the nematode M. digitatus were used to obtain mitochondria which swell under the effect of several factors. Intensive oxidation of succinate, fumarate, malate, oxalacetate, alpha-ketoglutarate and less intensive one -- of citrate, isocitrate and pyruvate were observed in the mitochondria; cis-aconitate was not oxidized at all. NAD and NADP increased the intensity of substrate oxidation, whereas parachlormercuribenzoate, malonate and benzoate decreased the latter.


[Physico-chemical properties and partial N-terminal amino acid sequence of chicken serum albumin]. Studies have been made on the molecular weight, solubility, electrophoretic mobility, isoelectric point and N-terminal fragments containing 4 amino acids of the serum albumin in two strains of hens and their hybrids. In all the animals studied, the albumin had Asp as the N-terminal amino acid. Amino acid sequence in the 4-acid fragments was also identical: NH2--Asp--Ala--His--Lys. With respect to all the physico-chemical parameters investigated (except isoelectric point), proteins of the parental strains and of their hybrids did not exhibit significant differences.


[Preoptic-hypophyseal neurosecretory system of the Baikal salmon, Coregonus autumnalis migratorius, during the prespawning period]. It has been shown that functional condition of the preoptic-hypophyseal neurosecretory system (PHNS) in the fish studied is associated with the activity of population. During early spring, when the fish are not yet completely active after winter, the PHNS is characterized by a low level of activity (accumulation of the neurosecretory substance and neurohypophysis, as well as moderate extrusion of the neurosecretory material along the axons beyond the preoptic nucleus). In July, some activation of synthesis and extrusion of the neurosecretory substance from cells of the preoptic nucleus and significant accumulation of the substance in the neurohypophysis are observed. In August and especially in September, during spawning migration, the rate of extrusion of the neurosecret from the preoptic nucleus and the extrusion of the neurohormones from neurohypophysis into the blood flow significantly increase. Neurosecretory cells of the preoptic nucleus remain highly active. During the same period, infiltration of the preoptic nucleus by leucocytes and neuronal hydroencephalokrynia are observed. During spawning migration, females (in contrast to males) exhibit more, significant decrease in the bulk of neurosecretory substance in the neurohypophysis, which is presumably associated with higher energy expenditures for the completion of ovogenesis.


[Morphofunctional organization of the mesencephalic visual center of the midbrain tectum of steppe and swamp turtle]. Neuronal receptive fields (RF) and dendritic arborizations (DA) in the midbrain tectum of the tortoise A. horsfieldi have been investigated and the results obtained were compared to those reported earlier for the tortoise E. orbicularis. It was shown that in A. horsfieldi, neurons with small RF (less than 10 degrees) are 3.2 times less numerous, whereas those with large RF (more than 30 degrees) are 1.6 times more numerous than in E. orbicularis. Ellipsoidal RF are predominant in A. horsfieldi, elongated ones -- in E. orbicularis. A. horsfieldi neurons more frequently react to large objects (36%), than to small ones (3%), whereas in E. orbicularis the ratio of these neurons is inverse (13 and 23% respectively). Neurons of A. horsfieldi are less effective in differentiation of the form of the object, the direction of its movement and changes in illumination. In highly specialized neurons of the species compared, the size of RF may correspond to the size of DA. The differences observed are presumably associated with differences in the ecology of the animals investigated.


[Activity of valyl-tRNA-synthetase and alanyl-tRNA-synthetase in intact and denervated rabbit muscles]. The rate of acylation of non-fractionated tRNA from baker yeast and beef liver with valine-I-C14 and alanine-I-C14 had been measured. The yeast tRNA was found to be the active acceptor of valine while the beef tRNA intensively accepted alanine. The specific activities of valyl- and alanyl-tRNA synthetases from intact m. soleus (red) when measured with yeast tRNA were 4.3 and 3.3 times higher than the activities of the respective enzymes from intact m. gastrocnemius (mixed). 30 days after sciatic nerve section the activities of both aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases in denervated red and mixed muscles had become nearly equal. Equalization of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases specific activities in the denervated muscles occured as a result of the changes in the catalytic properties and, possibly, in the intracellular concentration of the enzymes.


[Anaerobie glycolysis and resistance to oxygen starvation in rabbits and white rats]. In rabbits and albino rats, studies have been made on the resistance to high altitude hypoxia and acute blood loss, the rate of anerobic glycolysis and the activity of some enzymes of energy metabolism. It was shown that as compared to rabbits, the rats are more resistant to hypoxia, but less resistant to acute blood loss. Higher resistance of rats to hypoxia is due to the 1.5 times rate of anaerobic glycolysis in their brain as compared to that of rabbits. Their lower resistance to the blood loss is associated with the fact that the rate of anaerobic glycolysis in the heart of rats is 8 times lower. It is concluded that the resistance to high altitude hypoxia depends mainly on the anaerobic metabolism of the brain, whereas tia depends mainly on the anaerobic metabolism of the brain, whereas the resistance to acute blood loss depends mainly on the anaerobic metabolism of the heart.


[Effect of M- and N-cholinomimetics on the activity of an epileptogenic focus in the hippocampus of rabbits of different ages]. Experiments have been made on adult, 16-20 and 6-10 day old rabbits with electrodes chronically implanted into the left and right dorsal hippocamp. Solutions of arecoline (M-cholinomimetic) and nicotine (N-cholinomimetic) were administered into the penicillin epileptogenic focus of the hippocamp. Large doses of arecoline (10 mg) and nicotine (0.5 mg) did not affect the epileptiform discharges in the EEG, but inhibited the fits in adult and 16-20 day old rabbits...


[Size of the binocular zone of the field of vision of insects]. The insects selected for measurements-- predators and anthophiles -- presumably possessed the ability of binocular estimation of distances. The margins of visual field and of the binocular zone in a compound eye could be traced by means of ophthalmological methods, such as observation of a pseudopupil or of a glow of ommatidia lit from inside. Predators as well as males of flies and drones, which intercept a point target against the sky, have the smallest binocular zone. They could not discover the distance to a target by binocular vision. Anthophiles have a broad binocular "window" pointing in antero--ventral direction; their binocular zone encloses 20--25% of facets. Predators hunting amidst the vegetation have the largest binocular zone (30--75%). The binocular zone of the eyes in the insects of large and middle size consists of 2--9 thousand of ommatidia.


[Determination of antibody affinity using threshold values of serum activity in the passive hemagglutination test]. Agglutination of erythrocytes of the antigenic diagnostic agents with the IgG antibodies is attributed to the fact that the reactive centres of the same molecule of the antibody attached to the antigenic determinants located on different erythrocytes. A possibility of agglutination of erythrocytes under conditions of the maximal dilution of the immune serum depended on the number of molecules located on a single erythrocyte. When the erythrocytes are sensitized with the optimal dose of the antigen those serum antibodies are involved in the passive hemagglutination test (PHAT) which are characterized by the mean integrated association constant. When the antibodies participate in the PHAT with several batches of the erythrocytic diagnostic agent characterized by an average number of the antigen molecules on a single erythrocyte there appears a possibility of determining the extent of heterogeneity of the antibodies. Not only the amount of antibodies, but also their affinity can be ascertained by the PHAT, and also the heterogeneity of antibodies can be evaluated.


[Comparative findings on the stereoselectivity of cholinoreceptors]. The potency of the optical isomers of the muscarinomimetic agent 2-methyl-4-dimethylaminomethyl-1.3-dioxolane methiodide (F-2268) was compared on cholinoreceptors, (ChR) of different animals. The greatest difference between optical isomers was observed on the muscarinic ChR of guinea pig ileum smooth muscle cis-L(+)isomer being more than hundred times as potent as cis-D(-)isomer. On the ChR of muscarinic type in the holothuria Cucumaria japonica retractor muscle, cis-L(+)isomer was 25 times as efficient as cis-D(-)isomer. On the ChR of sea urchin and sipunculid locomotor muscles, optical isomers differ only 3 to 5 times. There was no difference between the effect of optical isomers on the ChR of muscarinic type which mediate hyperpolarization in the neurones of the gastropod mollusc Planorbarius corneus. This suggest that some changes in ChR stereoselectivity may occur in the course of evolution.


[Use of dispersion analysis for comparative evaluation of the effect of several factors on the frequency of secondary cases in foci of dysentery]. The author demonstrates a method of application of dispersion analysis in epidemiological studies. The results of this work emphasize the leading role of the living-communal conditions in the appearance of repeated cases in the dysentery foci.


[Physiologic mechanisms of use of the Doppler effect in echolocation by Rhinolophus ferrumequinum bats]. During the flight, the greater horse-shoe bat R. ferrumequinum decreases the frequency in the medial part of the emmited signal in proportion to the relative target--bat velocity. The value of the decrease is approximately equal to the Doppler shift; as a result, the animal picks up the echo at its species specific frequency irrespectively of the flight velocity. Threshold curve of bat's auditory system plotted in terms of N4, exhibits a sharp turning peak with a slope of about 83 dB/kHz towards low frequencies. The species specific frequency lies between the frequencies corresponding to the highest and the lowest thresholds. The described peculiarities of emission and perception of signals allow to consider the orientation system in the bat as a Doppler compensating system which provides the effective detection and discrimination of moving targets (e.g., a prey), improves spatial characteristics of hearing and enables the animal to evaluate the velocity during approaching the target.


[Method of differential prognostication of pertussis morbidity]. The authors present a method of differential prognostication of pertussis morbidity permitting to consider in prognostication the tendencies of individual subsets of the dynamic series which could be conditioned by individual causes. The general picture of the phenomenon to be prognosticated is obtained by superimposition of the values prognosticated by each of the segregated subsets.


[Histochemical study of the dorso-ventral flight muscles of the locust, Locusta migratoria]. Histochemical studies have been made on the activity of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), lipase and localization of lipids in flight monofunctional (83, 84 and 113) and bifunctional (118, 119 and 120) muscles of the locust L, migratoria. Three types of muscle fibers were found in the bifunctional flight muscle 120 which differ in their enzymic activity and the intensity of staining by Sudan Black. The activity of SDH and lipase was found to be the highest in fast muscle fibers, and the lowest -- in slow ones. For the first time muscle fibers were described which may be considered as "intermediate" with respect to their structure and histochemical characteristics.


[Effect of cold on catecholamine concentration in the great pectoral muscle of sparrows]. Birds (Passer montanus, P. domesticus, Fringilla coelebs) kept in open-air cages in Leningrad during winter, do not differ in total catecholamine content from avian species (P. domesticus, Serinus canaria) which were kept under laboratory conditions at 15--20 degrees. In the sparrow P. montanus, no significaut seasonal changes were observed in catecholamine content; however repetitive cooling up to--10 degrees only at night increased twice the content of catecholamines (especially, noradrenalin) in the pectoral muscle.


[Mixed infection with tularemia and Omsk hemorrhagic fever in experiments on aquatic field mice]. The authors carried out an experimental study of some aspects of the pathogenesis of mixed tularemia and Omsk hemorrhagic fever infection in Arvicola terrestris L. The results obtained reflected the dynamics of development of the pathological process of the mixed infection, peculiarities of distribution of Francisella tularensis and of the viral antigen in different organs, the character of pathomorphological changes in the organism at different periods after the administration of the causative agent.


[Epidemiologic significance of detecting shigellae during examination of a healthy population]. The authors present the results of examination of the healthy population for shigellae carrier state. The efficacy of detection of shigellae depending on the season of the year and indications to the examination was compared. Analysis of the data obtained indicated that any examination for shigellae during the extraepidemic period was inexpedient. This conclusion was confirmed by the results of selective examination with the use of bacteriological and serological methods.


[Role of meningococcal carrier state in formation of the immunologic structure of a collective with regard to that agent]. The authors present the results of the immuno-epidemiological studies of two collective bodies -- over 2000 persons in all -- equal by age composition and physical load, who were under the same sanitary-hygienic conditions. Observations were carried out from the time of formation of these collective bodies in November and were continued for a period of 6 months; they differed by the epidemic situation in respect to the meningococcus infection, i.e. cases of this disease and carriers were present in the first, and carriers only in the second group. The collective bodies were subjected to complete bacteriological examination (at the time of formation and in 3 and 6 months); blood was studied for the presence of antibodies to the complex meningococcus antigens of groups A, B and C (in the passive hemagglutination test.) There proved to be a marked increase in the percentage of positive tests with the A- and C-antibodies in both collective bodies and an increase in the number of positive tests with B-antibodies only in the collective body with no meningococcus cases. Since in the first collective body the percentage of generalized meningococcus infection cases was insignificant (about 0.85%) and there were no cases in the second collective body, a conclusion could be drawn that changes in the immunological indices among persons in these groups were caused by carrier state. Thus, the effect of meningococcus carrier state on the formation of immunological indices of collective bodies was revealed.


[Historical origin and evolution of the agents of infectious diseases]. Data on the establishment and further evolution of the causative agents of human infectious diseases were systematized. Saprophytes proved to be the initial stage of this evolution for all the parasitic species. It was demonstrated by concrete examples that evolution of parasitism was the result of an interaction of many factors (the mechanism of transmission of the causative agents, the immunity formation in the population, hereditary resistance, etc.) and not only the sequence of a unilateral action of the transmission mechanism. The author considers that some properties of the causative agents of the infecticus diseases of man (spore formation, the capacity to reproduction on the objects of the external environment) were not newly acquired in the process of the parasitic species formation, but atavistic signs which persisted from saprophytic ancestors. The dialectics of progressive and regressive processes in the acqisition of the parasitic properties by saprophytes is considered.


[Composition of nucleic acids and concentration of methylated bases in the DNA of Bifidobacterium bifidum var. Tissier]. Nucleotide composition of the sum total DNA of B. bifidum, biotype III, was determined by paper chromatography in combination with ultraviolet spectrophotometry. DNA of B. bifidum was referred to the GC-type (GC -- 62.6 mol%). Two additional nitrogen bases were present in the DNA composition; 5-methylcytosine and 6-methylaminopurine -- 0.45 mol% and 0.20 mol%, respectively. Nucleotide composition of the sum total RNA was studied with the aid of high-voltage electrophoresis in combination with ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The sum total RNA was referred to the high GC-type (GC -- 64.9 mol%). These data permit to consider it reasonable to refer bifidobacteria to the Bifidobacterium genus.


[Effect of staphylococcal toxin on the electrophoretic mobility and zeta-potential magnitude of BALB/c strain mouse erythrocytes]. Two hours after intraperitoneal injections of the staphylococcus toxin Lh=0.18 and Lh=0.15 (4 ml/kg) to BALB/c mice there was revealed a reduction of the electrophoretic mobility and of the zeta-potential of erythrocytes. In staphylococcus intoxication the value of zeta-potential varied within greater than normal range, this pointing to the individual sensitivity of mice to the toxin. The staphylococcus toxin caused the most significant reduction of the electrophoretic mobility and of the zeta-potential of erythrocytes in male mice of the BALB/c species.


[Fab fragments of immunoglobulins: specific activity and reactivity. II. Comparative study of the anaphylactogenic properties of anti-encephalitic gamma-globulin and Fab-fragments isolated from it]. With the aid of the active anaphylactic reaction a comparative study was carried out of the reactogenic (anaphylactogenic) properties of gamma-globulin against tick-borne encephalitis from horse serum and of Fab-fragments isolated from it by gel-filtration. There proved to be statistically significant differences in the reactogenic properties of the preparations under study on condition of their separate use (reactogenic property of Fab-fragments was four times less than that of gamma-globulin). In case of a combined use of Fab-fragments and gamma-globulin, i.e. administration of the former after the sensitization of experimental animals with the latter, reactogenicity level of the two biopreparations proved to be practically the same.


[Change in the activity of the enzymatic systems of rabbit macrophages following injuries to several hypothalamic nuclei (histochemical study)]. The authors conducted a histochemical study of the activity of some lysosomal and redox enzymes of the peritoneal macrophages in injury of the structures of the anterior and the posterior hypothalamus. Bilateral coagulation of the posterior hypothalamic nucleus proved to be accompanied by increase in the activity of the lysosomal enzymes and a corresponding reduction in the activity of the redox enzymes on the 10th and the 21st postoperative days. The activity of lysosomal enzymes decreased and of the redox--rose on the 15th postoperative day. A reduction in the activity of the lysosomal enzymes was observed on the 10th and the 15th days after the supraoptic nucleus coagulation; by the 21st day it was replaced by a marked increase in their activity. A conclusion was drawn that an important role in the regulation of the macrophage function and of their lysosomal apparatus belonged to the hypothalamus.


[Several indices of non-specific immunity in staphylococcal sepsis and staphylococcal gastroenterocolitis in children of different ages]. A study was made of some nonspecific immunity indices in staphylococcus sepsis and gastroenterocolitis during the infectious process in young children. Results of these investigations pointed to the depression of bactericidal and lysozyme activity of the blood serum and of the immunoadherence reaction at the acute period of the disease, and to some increase at the phase of recovery. There was also found an elevation of the phagocytic activity (of the phagocytolysis percentage) at the acute phase of the staphylococcus sepsis and gastroenterocolitis Antistaphylococcus gamma-globulin produced a positive effect on the lysozyme and bactericidal activity of the blood sera and promoted an increase of the blood phagocytic activity in the sick children.


[A simple method for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine with the fatty acid substituted in the 2-position]. The preparation of PC with the 14C-fatty acids palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid at OH-group in position 2 is described. The starting material is egg yolk lecithin. By the attack of snake venom phospholiphase lyso-PC is produced which is reacylated by the appropriate fatty acid anhydride. In comparison with the methods published up to now this preparation has the advantage of higher yields and greater simplicity. By means of in vivo synthesis it is impossible to get PC species with only one fatty acid in a defined position. Working with radioactive fatty acids the specific radioactivity can be adapted to the requirements. The procedure can be made on a semi-technical scale.


[The cation selectivity of calcium-binding structures of skeletal muscle. A physico-chemical interpretation as an ion-exchange process]. The binding forces acting in the binding of Ca and certain multivalent cations (Ce3+, La3+, Mg2+, Sr2+, Ba2+) in the membrane system fo skeletal muscles are discussed. From the similarity of effects in these biological binding sites and cation-exchange resins has been concluded an identity of both binding mechanism. The exchange affinity in the skeletal muscle decreases in the following order: Ce3+ greater than La3+ greater than Mg2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+. This sequence of selectivity is in contrast to the sequence which should be expected in view of the ionic diameters. On the other hand, the same selectivity reversal can be seen in phosphonous and phosphonic cations-exchange resins. Because of that we conclude the binding of Ca and other multivalent cations in membrane system of skeletal muscle to be a point-shaped, polar adsorption--predominantly at phosphate groups. Possibly these groups hold a special selectivity (specifity) related to strongly hydrated and polarizable cations.


[The effect of lesions of the caudate nucleus on the development of hypertonic blood pressure dysregulation due to learning stress]. Male albino rats were used to study the effect of excluding the nucleus caudatus upon the development of a hypertensive dysregulation induced by the load of learning (stress). A 3-week stress exposure considerably restricted learning and memory processes in all the animals with nucleus caudatus lesions. Systolic blood pressure values and adrenal weights were within the physiological range. In animals with intact brains, the same stress exposure caused a certain restriction of learning processes and a rise of blood pressure and adrenal weight. The results described here show that the lesions of nucleus caudatus structures, similar to the exclusion of circumscribed areas of the hippocampus and the reticular formation, prevents spreading of stress-induced emotional excitation into visceral functional areas.


Development of cerebellar somatosensory evoked potentials in the rat. In lobule VIa of the vermis cerebelli of 69 male albino rats aged from 7 to 90 days we studied the somatosensory potential evoked by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve. A response consisting of a marked positive wave and a small negative wave was constantly present in the group of 9- to 10-day-old animals. At the end of the second week, an initial negative wave appeared. The response of 18-day-old animals consisted of 5 waves of alternating polarity and started with a small positive wave as in adult rats. During subsequent development only the relative size of the individual components changed, the later negative wave, N2, being the most marked component in adult animals. An attempted explanation of the possible origin of evoked potentials in young animals, based on the available data on the morphological development of the cerebellar cortex, is submitted. The latent periods, measured to the maxima of the individual waves, shorten abruptly between the 10th and 20th day and then undergo little change. Greater fatigability of the responses of young animals can be demonstrated by using rhythmical stimulation and paired stimuli. Somatosensory responses appear sooner than visual evoked potentials in the cerebellum, but they develop later than somatosensory evoked potentials in the cerebral cortex.


[The anti-arrhythmic effect of prostaglandins A1, E1, A2, E2 and F2a in the cat strophanthin arrhythmia model]. The prostaglandins A1, E1, A2, E2 and F2a were comparatively studied for their antiarrhythmic action using the model of strophanthin arrhythmia of narcotized cats. Infusions of prostaglandins A1, E2 and F2a in doses of 1-5 mug/kg/min for 5 min improved the arrhythmias in 63%, 83% and 81% of the animals, respectively, whereas prostaglandin A2 was effective in 44%, and prostaglandin E1 in only 10% of the cats. Prostaglandins A1 and E2 transiently established a sinus rhythm in 54 and 50%, and prostaglandin F2a in 18% of the animals. The injection of 12 mu9/kg prostaglandin F2a brought about improvement of arrhythmia in 70% of the animals, producing a transient sinus rhythm in 40%. With ajmaline as the standard substance in doses of 0.3 mg/kg/min for 5 min produced an antiarrhythmic effect in 50% of the animals, while injection of 1 mg/kg was effective in 60% of the animals. Effects on the vegetative nervous system are discussed as the possible action mechanism of the prostaglandins.


Differentiation between type I and type II substrate binding to cytochrome P-450 by variation of temperature. The binding affinities of type I- and type II-substrates to cytochrome P-450 solubilized from phenobarbital induced rat liver microsomes in dependence on the temperature have been determined. Both classes of substrates have been found to exhibit different temperature behaviour. The tendency of type I-substrates (benzphetamine and hexobarbital) to form complexes increases with increasing temperature; type II-substrates show the inverse tendency. From the van't Hoff plot the binding enthalpy was calculated and discussed in connection with the entropy and free enthalpy values. These data ascertain the suggestion of different binding sites for both classes of substrates.


An infrared study of the carbon monoxide complexes of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-420. The infrared stretch vibrations (upsilonCO) of the CO-complexes of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome P-420 have been determined from infrared difference spectra. The CO-complexes exhibit IR-bands at 1949 cm-1 and 1966 cm-1 with half widths of approximately 17 cm-1 and approximately 20 cm-1 respectively. These results are compared with the CO-stretch frequencies of other haemoproteins and discussed with respect to specific interactions of the CO-ligand with the protein moiety and to the ligand trans to CO of the cytochromes.


Maturation dependence of fluoride-sensitive adenylate cyclase in red blood cells. Adenylate cyclase activity stimulated by fluoride was studied in membranes from different red cell populations produced by bleeding anemia in rabbits. The cells were fractionated by density gradient centrifugation in dextrane. The highest adenylate cyclase activity was found in the reticulocyte fractions with low density and the highest RNA-content. No activity was found in the mature erythrocytes. It is apparent that the adenylate cyclase in the red blood cells can serve as a useful indicator of the maturation process.


[Reproducibility of blood-flow measurement in the human forehead skin using thermodynamic probes]. The reproducibility (test-retest-reliability) of the forehead skin blood flow (method: fluvography or heat clearance) was tested by means of determination of the intraclass correlation coefficient. Defined changes of skin blood flow may be caused by loading a heat flow probe with weights; this was done in the range from 20 p to 500 p both in an ascending and a descending manner. A good reproducibility of results was reached in all repeated measurements made at intervals of one or several days. The correlation coefficient increases with increasing loads (r = 0.471 at a loading of 20 p; r = 0.813 at a load of 500 p).


[Learning and chronobiological regulation following experimental damage to the coronary-artery wall of albino rats]. Forty male albino rats were used to study the relationship between experimentally (concentrated hydrochloric acid) produced local structural changes of the coronary artery wall and central nervous information processing and chronobiological events, respectively. The alterations of the coronary arteries caused by this treatment did not produce infarction but initiated on the whole length of the arterial branch proliferative processes that are complete within 12 weeks following the intervention. Central nervous information processing and chronoregulatory processes showed, immediately after exposure to hydrochloric acid, pronounced malfunctions followed by a stage of hyperreactivity (4 weeks following the damage). At 8 weeks from the intervention, the parameters of information processing and chronobiological events of the CNS again equalled the control values. Since the central nervous functions were back to normal earlier than the structural alterations, the results are interpreted as reflecting CNS-controlled interactions between the complex of visceral afference and efference, the regulation of which is determined by the CNS after coronary damage in such a way as to restore the adaptational capacity of the organism by a predominance of sanogenetic processes.


[Relationship between the changes of spontaneous activity and responses of cortical neurons under microiontophoretic administration of glutamic acid]. In neurons of the gyrus sigmoideus posterior of cats, the influence of microiontophoretic application of varying doses of glutamic acid upon the reaction of those neurons to stimulations of the ischiadic nerve and clicks, and the changes of spontaneous activity were studied. The application of glutamic acid led, in 97% of the 90 neurons studied, to a dose-dependent increase in the mean firing rate; in 34% of neurons, to effectuation of click responses, and affected the reaction to stimulation of the ischiadic nerve to a varying extent. With increasing doses of glutamic acid, there was a linear correlation between the logarithm of spontaneous activity and the activity of excitatory responses with considerable differences in the steepness of the resulting straight lines for the individual neurons.


[Modification of insulin-secretion, induced by glucose, of the isolation-perfused rat pancreas using tolbutamide, glucosamine, diazoxide, glucagon and endogenous insulin]. The influence of tolbutamide, glucosamine, diazoxide, glucagon and endogenous insulin upon glucose-induced insulin secretion of the isolated perfused rat pancreas.


[Reactions of red-nucleus neurons in the alert cat to cutaneous stimulation]. Responses of the red nucleus (RN) neurones to cutaneous stimulation were studied in unanaesthetized chronic cats by means of microelectrode technique. It was revealed that the reactions were predominantly excitatory and the RN neurons had larger receptive fields covering one half of the body or all the limbs of the animal. The somatotopic principle of the cutaneous representation in RN was shown. The destruction of the cerebellar nuclei and sensorimotor cortex caused the lowering of the background activity of the RN neurones, changed their responses to cutaneous stimulation, as well as the narrowing and redistribution of the peripheral receptive fields. With all the changes described, the somatotopic character of the cutaneous representation in RN as preserved, though a large majority of RN neurones (52,8%) did not show this somatotopic distribution. The cerebellum is the main collector in transferring the cutaneous impulsation to the RN. In awake cats there were predominantly involved spinocerebellar pathways, activated by the flexor reflex afferents. The participation of the sensorimotor cortex in the reaction under study is revealed by the phenomenon of sprouting of the corticorubral axon terminals from the dendritic portions to the neuronal somata of RN.


Circulatory, respiratory and acid-base balance changes produced by anesthetics in the rat. The effects of several anesthetics on some cardiovascular, respiratory and metabolic responses were studied in the rat. Drugs were given by the intraperitoneal route and observations were made during a period of three hours after the injection of the agent. Results were compared with normal values obtained from unanesthetized animals. The most striking findings were: urethane produced a metabolic acidosis; chloralose increased heart rate, morphine-chloralose mixture produced a sustained hypoxia. None of these agents evoked arrhythmias in the rat. Effects of the anesthesia should be taken into account in the evaluation of drugs in anesthetized rats.


[Effect of psychopharmaceutic agents on cortical potentials and long-lasting post-tetanic changes in excitability released through stimulation of the dental pulp]. Short-time tetanic stimulation of the tooth pulp with square pulses affords, depending on the stimulation parameters selected, a long-lasting facilitation in the response of subsequently applied test stimuli in the sensomotor cortex of rabbits. The benzodiazepin derivatives, chlorodiazepoxide, nitrazepam (10 mg/kg i.p.) and clonazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) caused suppression of posttetanic facilitation with partly different influences on cortical potentials following individual stimulation. Meprobamate (200 mg/kg i.p.) had no effect on the processes of posttetanic facilitation, while the amplitudes of sensomotor potentials showed a long-lasting reduction on single stimulation. Chloropromazine (2 mg/kg i.p.) showed a rapid and transient inhibition of posttetanic facilitation and reduced the amplitudes of evoked potentials following single stimulation.


The binding of hexobarbital and aniline to cytochrome P-450 of liver microsomes from control and phenobarbital-treated rats of different ages. The spectral changes due to the binding of hexobarbital and aniline to cytochrome P-450 of rat liver microsomes were investigated in 10-day- to 15-month-old rats. The Ks values for both substances and consequently the affinity for cytochrome P-450 do not change during ageing. Phenobarbital treatment does not alter the affinity of hexobarbital, but enhances the Ks value for aniline. The maximal spectral changes (delta A max) due to aniline are nearly equal in all age groups whereas delta A max due to hexobarbital is very small in young rats and increases considerably during ageing. The age-dependence of the hexobarbital-induced delta A max is similar to the development of drug-metabolizing reactions. delta A max due to hexobarbital and aniline is enhanced by phenobarbital treatment of the rats. The addition of aniline to microsomes enhances the Ks value and diminishes delta A max for hexobarbital.


[Effects of aromatic bisamidines on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis]. The effect of the aromatic diamidine derivative 2,6-bis (4-amidinobenzyl)-cyclohexanon-(1) on blood coagulation and fibrinolysis in vitro and in vivo was compared with that of the benzamidine derivative 4-amidinophenyl pyruvic acid and the aromatic diamidine derivative 4,4'-diamidinophenoxypentane. 2,6-Bis(4-amidinobenzyl)-cyclohexanon-(1) was found to be a strong inhibitor of the clotting enzyme thrombin. Because of the toxic side effects and pharmacokinetic properties of both diamidine derivatives their in vivo use as anticoagulants is limited.


The effects of some cholinesterase reactivators on contractility of the isolated guinea-pig heart atria. The effect of eight monoquaternary and bisquaternary pyridine aldoxime cholinesterase reactivators was tested on isolated guinea-pig heart atria. 2. Acetylcholine and methylfurthretonium in concentrations ranging from 10(-7) M to 10(-5) M have negative inotropic effects in the electrically stimulated atria and negative chronotropic effects in the spontaneously beating atria. 3. In the presence of higher concentration of cholinesterase reactivators alone, the parameters of heart muscle contractility are significantly altered. 4. Cumulative dose-response curves of methylfurthretonium in the presence of reactivators in the range of concentrations from 10(-5) M to 10(-3) M are shifted parallelly to higher concentrations of the agonist.


Insulin kinetic, glucose tolerance, and lipid metabolism in genetically spontaneous-hypertensive rats. Genetically spontaneous hypertension in rats (SHR) showed a significant rise not only in systolic blood pressure in the early age groups, but also, from the 8th week of life onward, in diastolic blood pressure together with a rise in heart rates, when compared with control rats. Following an i.p. glucose injection a disturbed glucose tolerance, increased insulin level and a reduction in plasma triglycerides and cholesterol occurred. These findings in SHR allow to draw interesting analogous conclusions as to the protodiabetic disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism accompanied by insulin enhancement after glucose and diminished glucose- and increased lipogenetic effects, which had been demonstrated by R. BAUMANN et al. in 58% of all studied cases of juvenile human hypertension (Stage I and Stage II, NITSCHKOFF and R. BAUMANN), in which possibly hereditary factors may be involved.


[The role of carriers of intracellular fixed charges in the regulation of the resting potential of cells with ion pumps]. The living cell is considered as a nonideal phase, surrounded by an anion-permeable membrane in a stationary state. Ionic pumps maintain a nonequilibrium state for Na+ and K+. When assuming the water inside and outside the cell to be in thermodynamic equilibrium and the cell without wall not to resist the hydrostatic pressure difference, it is possible to calculate a membrane potential which strongly depends on the concentration of charged nonpenetrating molecules inside the cell. Living cells with a high resting potential should therefore contain a high inner charge density (nerve cells) or must be resistant to an inner hydrostatic pressure (plant cells). Cells in isotonic solutions with low ionic strength are not able to attain a stationary state. The regulations derived here are applied to the concrete conditions of human red cells.


[O2-consumption and CO2 formation by kidney cortex sections incubated in an optimal substrate mixture]. Basing on the knowledge of renal metabolism a substrate mixture has been developed which appears to be promising for the preservation of this organ. Slices of rat kidney were incubated in different solutions, and the oxygen consumption and 14CO2 formation were determined at 6 degrees C after 4 and 9 hrs. In the substrate mixture the rat kidney cortex shows a continual O2 consumption, which could be increased by more than twice the amount compared with the values obtained after incubation without substrate. The proportion of fatty acid and amino acid mixture supplied amounts to 90% of the total CO2 formation by the renal cortex. Under the conditions selected, the incubation mixture allows one to spare endogenic substrates. The criteria of O2 consumption and CO2 formation alone are not sufficient to decide whether the functioning of the mitochondria and thus the energy supply are ensured under these conditions. Further studies are necessary to solve this problem.


[Protein hydrolysis by immobilized enzymes]. The enzymic hydrolysis of some proteins (insulin-B-chain-S-sulfonate, S-aminoethylated lysozyme, bovine serum albumin) by immobilized peptidolytic enzymes is reported. Sepharose-bound pronase, trypsin and a protease from Thermoactinomyces sp. (MP), the latter both cross linked by glutaric dialdehyde and an exopeptidase mixture containing Sepharose-bound leucine aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A and a crude preparation of prolidase were used. After enzymic hydrolysis nearly all amino acids, except proline, were recovered in a 100% yield compared to the value of an acid reference hydrolysate. Tryptophan and methionine, which are partially destroyed by acid hydrolysis in the presence of oxygen could be recovered completely.


[Nigrostriatally induced motor reactions in the rat. I. Rotational behavior and posture asymetry after intracerebral injection of apomorphine and dopamine]. Using a rotameter described by Ungrstedt, the influence of pretreatment with 6-hydroxy-dopamine and transections of the Capsula interna on the asymmetry of the animal's poise and movement following systemic and intracerebral administration of dopamine and apomorphine was studied. After lesion of the nigrostriatal tract, i.p. administered apomorphine caused the animals to rotate towards the damaged side. After injection of apomorphine in the Nucleus caudatoputamen of healthy animals, initial rotations towards the injection side with subsequent opposite rotation were observed, whereas dopamine injected into the Nucleus caudatoputamen and the Substantia nigra initiated rotations in contralateral direction only. Pretreatment with haloperidole nullified the effect of apomorphine. The results have proved the effectiveness both in the Nucleus caudatoputamen and the Substantia nigra of drugs stimulating the dopamine receptors. With intact rats, the two sides of the nigrostriatal system are functionally asymmetric, which is reflected by the quantitative differences of responses following stimulation of dopamine-sensitive receptors and the individually different preference of one rotational direction. These individual behavioural patterns are modified by experimental influences.


[Nigrostiatally induced motor reactions in the rat. II. Cholinergic effect on rotational behavior and posture asymetry]. The rotational behaviour released in rats by apomorphine (5 mg/kg i.p.) following nigrostriatal lesions with 6-hydroxydopamine can be inhibited both by oxotremorin (1 mg/kg i.p.) and by injections of carbachol (30 mug) in the Nucleus caudatoputamen or Substantia nigra of the intact side. The rotations released in healthy animals by intrastriatal injections of apomorphine or carbachol are in opposite directions. The bendings of the body towards the side of injection (posture asymmetry) also observed after apomorphine administration in the Substantia nigra are inhibited by intrastriatal injections of carbachol. The results indicate that a dopaminergic-cholinergic interplay in the Nucleus caudatus, corresponding to the control functions of this nuclear area, is involved in the animals movement and poise.


Different inhibitory effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol, iodoacetate, and probenecid on renal excretion of p-aminohippurate, cyclopenthiazide, and sulfamethoxypyridazine in rats. The present study was undertaken to determine whether the renal excretion of drugs can be modified by inhibition of the carrier system for organic acids in vivo. The renal excretion of p-aminohippurate is not influenced by 2,4-dinitrophenol but is reduced by iodoacetate and probenecid. The renal excretion of cyclopenthiazide is decreased by all inhibitors. Rats excrete only a very small portion of the administered dose of sulfamethoxypyridazine. Renal sulfamethoxypyridazine excretion is 3 times higher when the tubular reabsorption is blocked by simultaneous administration of NaHCO3. However, even then only a small portion of the injected dose is excreted. Renal sulfamethoxypyridazine excretion is only reduced by probenecid. This finding can be explained by the reduction of the urine volume. It can be concluded that p-aminohippurate and cyclopenthiazide are renally excreted by tubular secretion, whereas sulfamethoxy-pyridazine is excreted by glomerular filtration.


[Early postnatal overfeeding as an etiopathogenetic factor in adult obesity]. In 114 men and to a less degree in 111 women, significant positive relations were found between the weight gain during the first trimenon of postnatal life and the body weight per body length in adulthood. In contrast, there were not observed any significant relations between birth weight, birth length or weight gain during the second trimenon of postnatal life and the body weight per body length in adulthood. These findings suggest that over-nutrition during the first three months of life may be considered an essential risk factor for the development of obesity and its complications.


[Relationships between course of anesthesia, depth of anesthesia and acetylcholine content of the brain after urethane and pentobarbital administration in the rat]. Urethane (1.25 g/kg) and pentobarbital (0.06 g/kg) 30 min after i.v. application increase the content of acetylcholine in telencephalic areas but not in the brain stem. These acetylcholine levels are normalized again 120 min p.i.; but urethane treated animals show an elevated acetylcholine content in the brain stem at this time. A different course of anesthesia by pentobarbital and urethane respectively correlated with this result: Only in the presence of urethane a persistent depression of spontaneous motility was seen, whereas the effectivity of both anesthetics on pinna and corneal reflexes and in respect of pentobarbital also on active movements occurrence declined in the end of the test period.


[Comparative study of ticarcillin and of carbenicillin as prophylactic treatment in the oncologic surgery of head and neck (author's transl)]. The frequency of postoperative infections in oncologic head and neck surgery can be reduced by the prophylactic use of antibiotics. In order to assess such preventive treatments as to their advantages and disadvantages, a controlled clinical trial was undertaken. The prophylactic use of antibiotics was used in 107 patients, operated for tumors of the upper airway-digestive tract. According to a previous randomisation, the patients received either carbenicillin either ticarcillin. The efficiency of carbenicillin and ticarcillin proved similar. The results obtained with these antibiotics turned out to be superior to those previously obtained with combined ampicillin and cloxacillin; the number of wound infections, primary and secondary, was lessened. The most frequent complications were thrombophlebitis at the site of intravenous perfusion of the antibiotics and hypokaliemia.


[Intestinal by-pass for obesity (author's transl)]. Obese people, more than 45 kg above their ideal weight, can be treated by an intestinal by-pass. This operation must be reserved for patients where conservative treatment failed, where there is no organic origin, and given the operative risk be not increased by underlying serious disease. Good pre- and postoperative collaboration of the patient together with clinical and biological controls are essential. The operation consists of an end-to-side jejuno-ileostomy with proximal suture of the blind loops; or an end-to-end jejuno-ileostomy with implantation of the blind loops in the colon. Loss of weight to near ideal plus improvement of diabetes, hypertension, gout and hyperlipaemia can be expected. Diarhea will occur for a few months or one year. Biochemical values usually remain stable: values for lipids decrease to lower normal if elevated before the operation. During fast weight loss, there are changes in the liver structure and hepatic tests; these are transient and reversible.


[Truncal vagotomy in duodenal ulcer (author's transl)]. Since 1961, the authors have treated 369 patients for a duodenal ulcer. Emergency operation was performed in 69 cases (mortality: 7.2 percent) and elective operation in 300 (mortality: 0.86 percent. Procedures associated truncal vagotomy to hemigastrectomy (257 cases), to pyloroplasty (85 cases) or to gastroenterostomy (27 cases). Three hundred and thirty-nine patients were followed for an average of 8 years. The authors preferred truncal vagotomy associated to hemigastrectomy. This yielded excellent long term results (Visick I) in 89 percent of cases (221 out of 246 reviewed cases), with a very low mortality rate (3 out of 257 or 1.2%) and without known recurrence. (Acta chir. belg., 1976, 75, 294-305).


[Superselective vagotomy. Preliminary results]. Twelve patients suffering from an intractable duodenal ulcer are included in this review. Eleven were treated by superselective vagotomy without drainage, one had a selective vagotomy with pyloroplasty. A peroperative control of the gastric acidity after pentagastrin stimulation was used in all cases and permitted section of forgotten nerve fibers. Short-term results are satisfactory: after 2-6 months the clinical state of the patients is excellent (Visick I and II), basal acidity is decreased by 58 to 66% of preoperative value, the Hollander tests are negative except two. After more than 6 months, the few available results are satisfactory except one case of recurrent ulcer. The one case with a 1 year follow-up is excellent, clinically and as to acid secretion.


[Discharge of cerbrospinal fluid through the nose: late sequella of a cranial trauma]. Loss of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose is known complication of cranial fronto-basilar traumata. Such a fistula generally appears immediately or some time after the trauma; in some cases however the fistula appears a few months or years after. One of the causes of delayed fistula is the existence of leptomeningeal cyst. The clinical symptom of this fistula is often a meningitis. Detection of the fistula is performed through scinticisternography with radioactive media: in case of a leptomeningeal cyst there is a concentration of radioactivity in the fromto-basilar region. In a patient with meningitis and a known history of cranial trauma, even if the latter occurred many years before, it is wise to search for a possible cerbrospinal fluid fistula.


Appendicular mucocele and peritoneal pseudo-myxoma. From 2 personal cases the authors present a pathological appraisal of appendicular mucoceles. They distinguish between a benign kind with an atrophic mucous membrane and a malignant type with a hyperplasic epithelium arranged in papillary and vegetating structures; this is a neoplasm with local malignancy. This variety remains the most liable to become a peritoneal pseudo-myxoma representing the most serious complication of the appendicular mucecele. Treatment of the mucocele, which consists in an appenicectomy or a right bemi-colectomy, usually yields good results provided operative rupture can be avoided. Contrarily the peritoneal pseudo-myxoma remains a serious disease with a disappointing treatment.


[A propos a case of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (author's transl)]. This is a case of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with a rare clinical evolution. A first metastasis causes paraplegia; a second causes obstructive jaundice; a third subcutaneous metastasis is resected; the primitive tumor is discovered accidentally in the right calf, 8 weeks after the beginning of the disease. The literature is reviewed. Diagnosis of the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma is often difficult because of confusion with a lymphoma, another type of sarcoma, a melanoma or even an epithelial tumor. The surgeon who removes a superficial node, obviously malignant, in a young subject, should think of this type of tumor. A multidisciplinary treatment associating radical resection, radio- and chemotherapy improves the very poor prognosis of this sarcoma.


Induced fat embolism in rabbits by means of radioactively labelled fat. Evaluation of different treatments. Fat embolism was induced in the rabbit by administering a suspension containing radioactively (triglyceride) labelled homologous fat. Different kinds of treatment were tested: Ringerdex, 2% dextran 70, 2.2% dextran 40 SoluMedrol, and EPL-a phospholipid mixture with detergent properties. It was sound that fat injection gave a macroscopically and histologically verifiable fat embolism with lung edema. 2% dextran 70 significantly increased edema, whereas 2.2% dextran 40 did not. SoluMedrol significantly decreased edema caused by fat injection. Of the triglyceride administered, 99.5% was recovered as such from the lungs. Practically no radioactivity was found in cerebrum and kidneys. Compared with Ringerdex, no other treatment increased elimination of fat from lungs.


Autonomous hyperparathyroidism: a possible late complication of neck radiotherapy. In a series of 170 patients operated on for autonomous hyperparathyroidism (HPT) during a four-year period ending 1974, 24 patients (14%) had, earlier in life, received radiation therapy to the neck region for various benign conditions. Treatment records were traced in 19 cases. The estimates of absorbed dose in the parathyroids ranged from 200 to 3 000 rad. Eighteen patients had their first course of treatment in childhood or early adult life. The diagnosis of HPT was established in these patients 42 years (average) after exposure to radiation. Six patients who were irradiated after the age of 48 had an average time lapse of 12 years before the diagnosis of HPT was made. The occurrence of signs and symptoms related to HPT was similar in exposed and non-exposed patients. The high incidence of previous neck radiotherapy in our series suggests that radiation may be a contributory factor in the development of HPT.


A percutaneous intra-arterial technique for producing renal artery stenosis. A technique for creating an intra-arterial renal artery stenosis in the dog by a percutaneous approach is described. The effect of such a stenosis is evaluated with angiography, renal blood flow measurements, arterial blood pressure determinations and kidney histology. It is concluded that the method is applicable in studies on renal artery stenosis with the advantage of producing a progressive stenosis without any exploration of the kidney.


The haemodynamic and antithrombotic effects of intermittent pneumatic calf compression of femoral vein blood flow. A comparison between different pump types. The haemodynamic effects of intermittent pneumatic calf compression on femoral vein blood flow in dogs and patients were studied by measurement with an electromagnetic flow meter. Two pump types were compared at different inflation pressures, one with a continuous inflation-deflation cycle of 2 min and the other causing inflation over 3 sec and deflation over 20 sec, with a frequency of three per minute. A fast rate of splint inflation created a greater haemodynamic change in net volume flow, peak flow and flow amplitude with an optimal pressure of 40 mmHg. The slower pump in fact decreased mean volume flow. Using an experimental thrombosis model both pump types significantly prolonged the occlusion time of implanted steel tubes, but did not differ from each other.


Skeletal muscle metabolism in two Pavulon treated tetanus patients. In two patients with severe tetanus the skeletal muscle metabolism was studied. Muscle biopsies were taken 4-6 weeks after the development of tetanus. The patients were treated during this time with a neuromuscular blocking agent. In one of the patients a biopsy was also taken before treatment, 2 days after the first symptoms of the disease. Enzyme activities representative for glycogen synthesis, glycogen greakdown, glycolysis, fatty acid beta-oxidation and respiratory chain, and fluxes of glucose, palmitate and leusine in vitro, and the concentrations of glycogen, triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins and RNA were determined in the muscle tissue. The enzyme activities in the muscle tissue examined 2 days after the development of tetanus were close to normal, excep for decreased activities of phosphofructokinase and glycogen synthase. After 4-6 weeks of treatment the fluxes of glucose and palmitate and the corresponding enzyme activities were low in both patients. These findings are consistent with muscular inactivity. In contrast the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, the incorporation rate of leucine-carbon into proteins and the RNA content were high, indicating a high protein synthesis as a probable manifestation of active repairative processes. It is concluded that the skeletal muscle metabolism in these patients was affected in a degenerative manner and that this effect was attributed more to the treatment than to the disease per se. Dynamic physical training under supervision is recommended for the period after the generalized spasms to overcome the "disuse" effects in the skeletal muscles.


Recurring subareolar abscess.

Recurring subareolar abscess. Recurring subareolar abscess is an infrequent but troublesome disease of the breast in young women. On the basis of a review of the literature and four own cases the fistelous character of the disease is stressed. The histology behind the lesion is described because if this is not fully understood this chronic disease will often lead to unnecessarily mutilating surgery with poor results. Finally the simple surgical procedure for an effective treatment of this condition is illustrated.


Formation and inhibition of lysolecithin in human gallbladder bile. Homogenized human gallbladder epithelium was incubated at 37 degrees C with 14C-lecithin in diluted gallbladder bile. During the incubation, lecithin was transformed to lysolecithin. The reaction rate was higher at pH 4.5 than at pH 7.0. No degradation of lecithin occurred if the reaction mixture did not contain the homogenate. Lysolecithin was mixed with red blood cells in (a) diluted human gallbladder bile and (b) 0.15 M saline. The surface activity in the different systems was then assessed from the amount of hemoglobin recovered in the red cell pellet after centrifugation. In human bile, 500 mug lysolecithin/ml did not affect the amount of hemoglobin recovered whereas in saline, concentrations exceeding 25-30 mug/ml affected the red blood cells such that no hemoglobin was pelleted by the centrifugation. Lysolecithin was further studied for effect upon lecithin-3H-cholesterol-dicetylphosphate liposomes containing 14C-glucose. The surface activity of lysolecithin was assessed from the distribution of 3H- and 14C-activity after centrifugation. Although 500 mug lysolecithin/ml increased the non-sedimented 14C-activity, 5000 mug lysolecithin/ml was necessary to decrease significantly the amount of sedimented 3H-activity. The results are interpreted such that phospholipase A activity from the gallbladder epithelium, if released into the gallbladder bile, may generate lysolecithin from lecithin. However, the surface activity and, thus, the inflammatory mediating activity of lysolecithin is inhibited by components in the gallbladder bile, possibly lecithin.


Peritoneal reaction in acute appendicitis. A biochemical study. The present study shows that appendicitis and its associated peritoneal inflammation produce microscopic and biochemical changes in the peritoneal membrane. With increasing age, the peritoneal concentrations of DNA, RNA, nitrogen, hydroxyproline, and uronic acids seemed to decrease. In general the greatest chemical changes were observed in younger age groups between the control and peritonitis patients. The amounts of DNA and RNA reflecting the cellularity of the peritoneum were affected most clearly. The location of the appendicular process and the severity of the disease markedly influenced the chemical composition of the peritoneum, whereas the duration of the disease appeared to have no effect on the results. In peritonitis, the concentrations of uronic acids and non-collagenous nitrogen increased markecly, while the concentrations of hydroxyproline and the hydroxyproline/nitrogen ratio decreased. Meseneric lymphadenitis produced no significant changes in the biochemical parameters.


Cyclic sciatica of endometriosis. Case report. A 27-year-old woman with right-sided cyclic sciatica and stiffness of the right hip joint, unresponsive to orthopaedic measures, is presented. An exploratory laparotomy revealed pelvic endometriosis. On oestrogen suppression therapy, she has been symptom-free for eleven months.


A new cholangiography catheter.

A new cholangiography catheter. A new cholangiography catheter has been evaluated in 66 consecutive gall bladder operations. The catheter has an integral moulded cone shaped locking attachment and a tap to reduce the risk of air bubbles entering the biliary tree. The catheter coulc not be introduced into the duct in 10% of patients. In the remainder both surgeon and radiologist were satisfied with the cholangiogram.


Rectal administration of 13N-ammonia in cirrhosis of the liver. 13N-ammonia, applied rectally, after absorption and transportation visualises the liver. After release of 13N-aminoacids and 13N-urea by the liver, 13N-activity can be measured over other organs. In patients with porta-systemic shunts, 13N-ammonia will appear in the systemic circulation as well. In 16 controls and 26 patients with cirrhosis, activities were measured for 20 minutes over liver, spleen, heart, lungs and forearm. In all subjects, the liver was visualised within a minute, in some patients with cirrhosis faintly, however. Release by the liver of 13N-ammonia metabolites started within a few minutes. Liver/heart activity ratios proved to be more discriminating between the control- and the cirrhosis group than liver/lung and liver/spleen ratios. In the control group, the 20 minutes' liver/heart ratio was most suitable for determining the normal range. The lower normal level was found to be 2.25. Fourteen of the 26 patients with cirrhosis had a normal, 12 an abnormally low 20 minutes' liver/heart ratio.


Rectal 13N-ammonia test (13N-liver/heart ratio), hepatic sinusoidal pressure and prevailing portal flow direction in cirrhosis of the liver. The 20 minutes' liver/heart activity ratio after rectal administration of 13N-ammonia was abnormally low (less than 2.25) in 12 of 26 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. An abnormal conventional rectal arterial ammonia test (porta-systemic shunts), an abnormally low urea index (prevailing hepatofugal portal venous flow direction), marked portal hypertension (hepatic sinusoidal pressure greater than or equal to 8 mm Hg), ascites and extreme enlargement of the spleen occurred significantly more often in the patients with an abnormally low 13N-liver/heart ratio than in those with a ratio greater than or equal to 2.25. There was no correlation between the 13N-liver/heart ratio and absence or presence of oesophageal varices. The non-invasive rectal 13N-ammonia test appears to be an easy to perform, informative test in cirrhosis of the liver.


Amylase activity of parotid saliva in acute and chronic pancreatitis. The activity of the alpha-amylase was estimated in the parotid resting saliva of 17 subjects without evidence of pancreatic disease, 17 patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis in the intervals between acute attacks, and also in 4 patients with acute pancreatitis and 3 patients with an acute attack of chronic relapsing pancreatitis. In the patients with chronic relapsing pancreatitis between attacks the concentration, output and specific activity of the salivary amylase were significantly lowered. The patients with acute pancreatitis exhibited salivary amylase concentrations in the uppper normal to grossly supranormal range, whereas those of the patients with acute attacks of chronic relapsing pancreatitis were distinctly reduced. Unlike the amylase output, the amylase concentration was independent of the rate of salivary flow. Simultaneous infusion of secretin and pancreozymin produced a significant increase in the parotid salivary amylase levels in both the patients without pancreatic disease and in those with chronic relapsing pancreatitis between acute attacks.


Family patterns of antro- fundal gastritis. 311 first-degree relatives of 78 consecutive patients with gastric carcinoma and 386 first-degree relative of control probands computer matched from a large Finnish population were studied by means of biopsies from antrum and the fundus and by functional and immunological methods. Both the A and B type of Strickland the McKay as well as the AB types of Pitchumoni and Glass were discernable in the present series and often accumulated in the same families. Particularly the A type associated with high serum gastrin values and parietal cell antibodies revealed a family accumulation. In general members of the same family tended to behave similarly with regard to morhology, function and immunology of the antro-fundal mucosa. The 386 computer matched controls from the general population were treated by means of mathematical methods derived from stochastic theory. It appeared that on a family level there was clearly discernable a line representin families with predominance of fundal gastritis (A type?) which significantly deviated from the main population. However, no such behavior was found as to the families with predominantly antral gastritis (B type?) which behaved like the population at large.


Functional study of the gastric mucosal barrier in hepatic cirrhosis. The net ionic flux through the gastric wall was determined in eleven patients with hepatic cirrhosis and five normal controls. The back-diffusion of C1- and H+ was significantly increased in the cirrhotic group. In nine patients of this group the H+ loss was above the upper limits of normal. The Na+ flux was positive in both the control and the cirrhotic group. The Na+ flux towards the gastric cavity in the cirrhotic patients was not proportional to the loss of H+. Vasodilatation and edema of the lamina propria was always present as judged by gastric biopsy; in five cases mucosal hemorrhage was observed, in three superficial epithelial desquamation and in one melaena due to hemorrhagic gastritis. One the basis of the increase in H+ loss and the histological findings, we suspect an alteration in the gastric mucosal barrier in the patients with hepatic cirrhosis.


[Subtypes of HBs antigen in Poland].

[Subtypes of HBs antigen in Poland]. A total of 187 sera positive for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) were collected from blood banks and clinics representative for the various regions of Poland. 139 sera were from symptomless carriers of HBSAg, 34 sera--from patients with acute hepatitis, and 14 sera--from patients with chronic hepatitis. In the group of HBSAg carriers, subtype HBSAg/adw was found in 80,6% of cases, and sybtype HBSAg/ayw--in 19.4% of cases; in patients with acute hepatitis subtype adw was found in 82,5% of cases, and subtype ayw--in 17,5% of cases; in patients with chronic hepatitis subtype adw was found in 78,6% of cases, and subtype ayw--in 21,4% of cases.


[Effect of calf thymus extracts on the surface structure and the lysosomal apparatus of lymphocytes in patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia]. In 6 patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia receiving subcutaneously purified calf thymus extract a greater frequency of the following processes was observed: 1) increase in the number of smooth-surface lymphocytes (T cells) in scanning electron microscopy, 2) increased number of lymphocytes forming rosettes with uncoated sheep erythrocytes, 3) increased number of lymphocytes showing high activity of acid phosphatase in cytochemical investigations.


[Polycardiographic evaluation of cardiotoxic effects of rubidomycin in patients with acute leukemia]. In 6 out of 11 patients treated with rubidomycin deterioration of haemodynamic indices was observed including prolongation of the pressure rise subperiod, isometric contarction subperiod and reduction of mechanical index. These changes appeared already after the first administration of the drug and were followed in 4 cases by signs of circulatory failure.


[Effect of estradiol on lymphatic cells in the thymus, lymph nodes and spleen]. Male and female mice were given oestradiol and its effect on the tissues in the lymphatic system were observed including the thymus, lymph nodes and spleen. The weight of these organs was determined together with the number of cells present in them, with the percent proportion of live cells, their proliferative ability and metabolic activity. The obtained results indicate that oestradiol exerts a suppressive effect on the cells of these organs both in males and females and that this effect is strongest in the thymus.


[Autotransfusion in patients undergoing surgery for thyroid diseases]. Autotransfusions were performed in 80 patients operated upon for thyroid diseases at the Department of Surgery, Institute of Haematology in Warsaw. For autotransfusions patients were selected in good general condition and with haematological indices in the range accepted for blood donors. Planning of autotransfusion is purposeful only in these cases of thyroid disease in which the necessity of blood transfusion can be predicted in advance (e.g. Graves-Basedov-disease, retrosternal goitre, mediastinal goitre). The transfused volume may cover completely or partly the intraoperative blood loss. Autotransfusion protects the patients against possible isoimmunization which may develop after transfusion of blood from donors. Protection of patients against possible immunization is a problem of considerable value. It is important particularly in young subjects, especially young women who may become mothers. Operations connected with blood loss up to 500 ml do not require supplementary transfusions. Intraoperative blood loss in the range from 500 to 1000 ml requires supplementation. The risk of posttransfusion complications is lowest when autotransfusion is done.


Duodeno-gastric reflux in gastric ulcer patients in relation to intestinal metaplasia of the gastric mucosa. Using vitamin B12 labelled with Co58 as an exogenous marker, and bilirubin as an endogenous marker, the duodeno-gastric reflux was determined quantitatively in 13 gastric ulcer patients under basal conditions and under stimulation (1 CU secretin/kg body weight + 1 CU pancreozymin/kg body weight) of the exocrine pancreas; in addition, a histological examination of the gastric mucosa was carried out by taking multiple biopsies from along the greater and lesser curvatures of the stomach. Altogether, a more marked mean duodeno-gastric reflux was found in the ulcer patients than in the 14 control subjects. If, however, the ulcer patients are differentiated in accordance with the results of the histological findings in the biopsy material, it is seen that an increased reflux is found only in those ulcer patients presenting with an intestinal metaplasia in the antrum. Statistically, no increase in the duodeno-gastric reflux can be verified under secretin/pancreozymin stimulation of the pancreas.


[Effect of supernatant from PHA-stimulated lymphocyte culture on blastic transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes in healthy controls and patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia]. It was found that supernatant from a PHA-stimulated 3-day-old culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy people had the ability of stimulating blastic transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes of other healthy people. The same amount of supernatant caused a much lower blastic transformation of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia. The tested supernatant caused no increase in the degree of blastic transformation of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia.


[Surface receptors on lymphocytes and blast cells developing from them after a 3-day culture stimulated with concanavalin A]. Surface receptors were studied by means of rosette tests E and EAC on lymphocytes cultured for 3 days without stimulation and in the presence of a mitogen--concavalin A. It was observed that lymphocytes cultured for 3 days maintained the ability or rosette E and EAC formation and a considerable proportion of these cells formed additionally rosettes E at 37 degrees without a close contact between the cells obtained during centrifugation and without incubation at 4 degrees C. Blast cells developing from lymphocytes after concavallin A possessed on their surface receptors for sheep erythrocytes and formed E rosettes under generally known conditions as well as after incubation at only 37 degrees C. EAC rosettes were found sporadically among transformed cells. Comparative investigations of cells forming rosettes E and EAC before culture and after 3 days of culture with concavalin A confirm the hypothesis that this mitogen stimulates to blastic transformation mainly T cells. The possibility of stimulation of lymphocytes not possessing receptors for sheep erythrocytes or for C3 component of complement is discussed.


Treatment policy for maxillary sinus carcinoma. Some 908 cases of malignant tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses treated from 1957 through 1974 were statistically analysed. The most common tumor site was the maxillary sinus (91.4%) and the most common histological figure was carcinoma (92.4%). The crude and relative survival rates for each treatment mode were calculated in January 1975. The number of cases and the 5 year relative survival rates of the main groups were as follows: I. Primary cases of malignant tumors (761 cases) 29.2% A. Carcinoma (709 cases) 29.3% B. Sarcoma (45 cases) 27.4% II. Primary cases of maxillary sinus carcinoma (561 cases) 26.1% A. Period 1957-66 (282 cases) 22.8% 1. Combination of irradiation and surgery (114 cases) 36.9% 2. Irradiation alone (168 cases) 12.7% B. Period 1967-69 (130 cases) 34.5% 1. Irradiation with 5-FU intra-arterial infusion (25 cases) 36.1% 2. Irradiation with intra-arterial infusion of other radiosensitizers (35 cases) 35.7% 3. Irradiation only without infusion (45 cases) 35.2% C. Period 1970-71, Linac X-ray irradiation (61 cases) 15.9% D. Period 1972-73, Irradiation with 5-FU infusion (80 cases), 3 year relative survival rate 39.3% The stage-grouping of maxillary sinus carcinoma based on the classification of tumor spread in the TNM system was recommended for the comparison of survival rates. The best mode of treatment in our experience is the combination of Co-60 gamma-ray irradiation and continuous intrarterial infusion of 5-FU. A curettage during irradiation is recommended. A maxillectomy should be performed only for irradiation failure cases.


The unmyelinated nerve fibres of the cochlea. A quantitative analysis was made of the unmyelinated nerve supply to the cochlea in normal cats and after various nerve lesions with different survival times. The normal fibre distribution in the intraganglionic spiral bundle (IGSB) and the osseous spiral lamina (OSL) varies characteristically along the cochlear turns. The unmyelinated nerve fibres are mainly associated with the IGSB and originate partly in the superior cervical ganglion and partly in the brain stem. They seem to have an excellent capacity to regenerate.


Wegener's granulomatosis, immunosuppressive therapy. We present a study of 11 patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. Seven of these were treated with Azathioprine (Imurel) combined with prednisone. Of these, 4 patients rapidly improved after the treatment was started. Atelectatic changes in the lungs disappeared. A rapidly progressive renal failure was reversed, and renal function returned to normal. Large lesions of the skin also improved. The treatment has now lasted 2 1/2-4 1/2 years without interruption. We have not had any serious side effects due to Imurel. We believe that the good effect of the treatment is due to immunosuppression by the drugs.


Concentration of immunoglobulins in nasal secretion from children with recurrent infections in the upper airways. Concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, IgE and albumin were determined in nasal secretion from 14 children suffering from chronically recurrent infections in the upper airways and from normal subjects. The only statistically significant difference observed was increased albumin values during infection.


Genetic aspects of some orofacial anomalies. The increased importance of congenital anomalies in childhood disease is stressed. It is suggested that treatment and research in congential craniofacial anomalies would benefit from centralized registration. Their clinical management should be delegated to centres with a multidisciplinary team. Some problems related to genetic counselling and identification of microforms are illustrated by cleft lip and palate. An account is given of some orofacial anomalies.


Heredity and symptoms in acromegaly.

Heredity and symptoms in acromegaly. The author has performed clinical and follow-up studies of 80 acromegalic patients treated by transanthro-sphenoidal removal of the pituitary adenoma. Heredity for acromegaly or gigantism was recorded in 3.8% of the patients and other hereditary factors in 13.8%. Head trauma, meningitis or encephalitis was recorded in the case histories in 18.8%. The predominant symptoms were sweating, paraesthesiae, headache and joint pain. Acromegaly was in 37.6% associated with goitre, parathyroid adenoma, gastric or duodenal ulcer, parotid tumours of submandibular swelling. The fecundity among the married patients was good, 34.4% having three or more children. Successful pregnancies occurred after the transanthro-sphenoidal removal of the adenoma.


Two families with Alport's syndrome.

Two families with Alport's syndrome. Alport's syndrome is a hereditary disease striking cochlea, eye and kidney. The diseased women usually have a nonlethal degree of the kidney disease, but the prognosis for the men is worse. They often die from renal failure before the age of 35. Most cases of hearing loss occurs in men. The hearing loss is progressive after the age of 10. Audiological tests are characteristic for a cochlear lesion. The debut of the disease usually appears in the post natal period giving microscopic haematuria. It can, however, occur later with haematuria and proteinuria. The hearing loss may be the first symptom, which is an observandum to otologists. Two families with Alport's syndrome are described. The patients have been examined concerning kidney disease, audiological and vestibular pathology. The hereditary pattern is described.


Immunological findings in a case of Cogan's syndrome. The immune system of a case of Cogan's syndrome was investigated. A transient depression of the cell-mediated immunity was found. Thus, during the acute stage of the disease, there was a depression of the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reaction to PPD and a decrease in the number of T cells. There were also signs of complement consumption. A possible pathogenesis based on immune complexes due to a preceding viral infection is discussed.


Labyrinthine malformations. Genetical and radiological aspects. A family is described, three members of which presented progressive deafness, of mixed type, not present at birth. The two living, mother and daughter, exhibited a Mondini-like malformation of the labyrinth. The canaliculus cochleae was delated in the daughter. In addition, a middle ear malformation was found in the mother. The findings, being unique, are discussed in the light of Brown-Farrior og Endicott's paper on progressive, noncongenital deafness, attributed to abnormally wide canaliculus cochlea.


Identification of normal hearing carriers of genes for deafness. The dominant and sex-linked forms of hereditary hearing loss, which have long been recognized, are readily identified on the basis of the family history and routine hearing tests. The mode of inheritance of the recessive forms of hereditary deafness, on the other hand, has been extremely difficult to determine. The research of the last few years, however, has disclosed that carriers of genes for recessive deafness can be identified by audiometric recording of certain peculiarities in the hearing function. This is an important advance, not only as regards diagnositc work, but also in the research into the genetics of deafness.


Mucous elements in the airways.

Mucous elements in the airways. Based on studies of the mucosa in foetuses, infants, children and adults, using whole-mount methods, the mucous-gland and goblet-cell density in the nose, rhinopharynx, pharynx, phypopharynx and trachea is described. Glandular density was highest in the nose, lowest in the trachea, where the glands are considerably larger than in the nose. The nasal, pharyngeal and hypopharyngeal glands contain more serious elements than do the tracheal ones. The goblet-cell density is greatest in the lateral wall and the roof of the rhinopharynx, smallest in the anterior part of the nose, In acute and chronic tracheal disease, and on constant exposure to dust, the goblet-cell density is increased.


Nasal cancer and nasal mucus-transport rates in woodworkers. Among 17 patients with adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity, 12 had been heavily exposed to wood-dust inhalation, 10 as furniture makers, one as a turner, and one as a coach builder. Measurements of the nasal mucus-transport rate in 68 wood-dust workers demonstrated a significantly higher frequency of mucostasis than in a control group.


Audiological treatment of preschool children with hearing impairments. A system by which children with impaired hearing are given early audiological treatment is reported. The treatment has been carried out during short admissions to institution alternating with stays at home. Special training and instruction of the parents are important. The authors are of the opinion that this type of preschool training is suitable for regions with scattered population. Even a small institution with a limited staff can give treatment to a considerable number of children.


Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome is a multisystemic connective tissue disease. The syndrome is associated with other major connective tissue disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and others, Reticulo-endothelial malignances have repeatedly been reported in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. A clinical study of 20 patients with Sjögren's syndrome was performed in the Department of otolaryngology, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway. A considerable complexity of symptoms was seen. One patient with malignant lymphoma and one with a thyroid carcinoma were encountered.


Late results in tympanoplasty. Staging the operation. Based on the late results of tympanoplasty on 300 ears and of one-stage mastoidectomy and tympanoplasty on 269 discharging ears, the problems involved in staging tympanoplasty are discussed. The results of one-stage operations were found to be satisfactory 2-10 years after operation. The frequency of recurrent cholesteatoma was low, 3.4%. Instead of two-stage operations, re-operation is recommended in cases of functional failure and in cases in which further improvement of hearing can reasonably be expected.


The natural course of Meniere's disease. The case history and disability of 111 patients suffering from Meniere's disease are reported. Observed for more than 5 years, the patients have had no, or only medical treatment, in most cases of short duration. The number of patients disabled and their degree of disability seems to justifiy surgical treatment in patients with frequent and incapacitating attacks of vertigo.


Accumulation of 14C-lidocaine in the inner ear. Preliminary clinical experience utilizing intravenous lidocaine in the treatment of severe tinnitus. Clinical experience has demonstrated that intravenously administered local anaesthetics have a mitigating effect on severe tinnitus. In an attempt to gain some insight into the mechanism of this effect, autoradiography of the inner ear of young pigmented rats was performed after intravenous injection of 14C-lidocaine. Some accumulation of lidocaine was found in the modiolus, but almost none in the stria vascularis. A large accumulation was observed in other melanincontaining tissues, such as the hair follicles and uvea. The in vitro accumulation of 14C-labelled lidocaine adsorbed on melanin granules was low (12%) as compared with that of other drugs, such as kanamycin (89%) and chloroquine (85%). These autoradiographic results indicate that lidocaine has an effect upon the inner ear, in addition to its previously demonstrated effect on the CNS.


Nosocomial parotitis.

Nosocomial parotitis. A total of 22 cases of acute suppurative parotitis are reviewed. The causative factors were severe primary disease with salivary gland hyposecretion related to age (77 years), dehydration, oral inactivity and drugs (19 patients). The oral hygiene was poor and permitted ascending canalicular invasion of resistant staphylococci. The mortality was 27%. The treatment, including preferably cloxacilline and incision, is discussed. To stress the importance of prophylaxis the name "nosocomial parotitis" is suggested.


Intravenous xylocaine in the treatment of attacks on Meniere's disease. The effect of xylocaine on epileptic attacks suggested a study of its effect in attacks on Meniere's disease, as the symptoms can be very much alike in the two conditions. The results were found to be excellent, especially as regards the vegetative dysfunctions. In attacks of Meniere's disease the tinnitus disappeared for 20 minutes, vomiting generally disappeared for good and nausea for an hour or two. Nystagmus was unaffected.


Secretory otitis media. Pathology and pathogenesis related to clinical picture. Secretory otitis is divided into three stages, and from a description of the pathogenic processes taking place in each stage it is attempted to explain how secretion is generated, and why it stops. The initial stage is characterized by inflammatory changes by way of capillary dilatation and proliferation, lymphatic infiltration, increased goblet-cell density and formation of mucous glands; the secretion is exudative with admixture of mucus. The secretory stage is dominated by secretion of mucus from the metaplastic mucosa with extremely high density of goblet cells and glands. In the degenerative stage, the production of mucus abates because the goblet-cell density decreases, and the glands degenerate.


Heat exchange in cryosurgery of Meniere's disease. Experimental and clinical studies. The course of the temperature in the lateral semicircular canal and the heat exchange were measured on temporal-bone specimens when cooling with a cryoprobe on the lateral semicircular canal was performed. The measurements showed a correlation between the heat exchange, the cooling time and the temperature in the lateral semicircular canal. In 15 patients with unilateral Meniere's disease, this was utlized to achieve a controlled temperature course during cryosurgery on the lateral semicircular canal. The effect of the treatment on the attacks of vertigo and on the hearing in these patients is reported.